“The arrival in Montreal of a planeload of endangered long-tailed macaques is a troubling reminder of Canada’s role in the global primate trade.”
The recent arrival in Montreal of a planeload of endangered long-tailed macaques destined for biomedical research is a troubling reminder of Canada’s role in the global primate trade.
Notably, the United States paused imports of these animals after several people, including Cambodian wildlife officials, were indicted for allegedly conspiring to smuggle thousands of wild-caught Cambodian long-tailed macaques into the country for experimentation.
Despite this, Canada continues to allow Charles River Laboratories to charter flights carrying long-tailed macaques from Cambodia, potentially putting public health and biodiversity at risk.
According to the U.S.-based Animal Welfare Institute, the lucrative trade in long-tailed macaques is pushing the species closer to extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature designated long-tailed macaques as “endangered” in 2022, emphasizing that the research industry’s demand is a significant factor in their dramatic population decline.
The monkeys, human patients and Charles River would be better served by investments in alternative methods of research.
Madeleine Skinner, Montreal
Who am I and where do I live?
So it appears Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault doesn’t know who he is, reminding me of the expense scandal when Senator Mike Duffy couldn’t figure out where he lived.
One has to wonder, given these two examples and all the others in between, who we so readily hand authority to.
David Bernstein, Dollard-des-Ormeaux
Different words, same message
Letter writer Lindi Ross is quite right to cite Tom Mulcair concerning the solution to our peaceful coexistence — “embrace each other as kin.”
Also, notably, the op-eds of both Clifford Lincoln and Iris Weinstein Haggai in The Gazette on the following day are of the same opinion.
Accordingly, I humbly suggest that it is time to circle back to the Bible and the great commandment to “love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Or, if you prefer, cue Bob Marley: “One love. One heart. Let’s get together and feel alright.”
After all, we are each a spirit worthy of love.
George McArthur, Montreal
French classes cut as OQLF grows
Does the government prefer to spend funds on the Office québécois de la langue française than on French courses for immigrants?
It strikes me that offering sufficient French courses for immigrants would not likely translate into political points in the next election. On the other hand, fighting Uber on the language used with customers, for example, generates headlines showing support for the French language while trying to suffocate the English minority.
The OQLF’s annual budget has grown by 61 per cent — to $39.3 million — since the CAQ came to power. Such increases make headlines and might bring in votes.
I bet cutting funds to help immigrants learn French would have hardly been noticed by the public at large.
Ragnar Radtke, Beaconsfield
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