Part of the focus of the argument from some of my colleagues who oppose the legislation has been around the Canadian side. It's fair that they are speaking to certain regulatory components that exist within Canadian legislation, but that completely ignores the second half of the process, which is that we are where the horse originates. The animal is ultimately being provided the opportunity, through this legislation, to get into the hands of a foreign market and then out of our control.
It's concerning to me that we're not spending more time talking about what's happening to these animals once they get to their ultimate destination, because we don't have the moral or ethical capacity to raise our hands and say we did everything right on our side, but now that they're over there, it's up to the Japanese, or whichever other receiver of those animals, to decide how they're going to be treated. It simply speaks to us doing a part of our role.
I want to turn quickly to another thing, though.
Some of my colleagues have poked at me a bit and said, “Ben, this is not something that matters to people. You're just bending to the will of animal rights advocates.”
Ms. Mitchell, you're actually a constituent of mine. Could you speak to the degree to which you hear, in our riding of Winnipeg South Centre, about the concern from your neighbours, your friends, your family and the people I represent in relation to this particular practice?