Overview

• Marineland’s Oct. 3 letter warns it will euthanize its 30 belugas if the federal government does not fund care or allow an export by Oct. 7.
• Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson denied permits to send the whales to China under a 2019 legal framework and said Marineland is responsible for their care.
• Thompson called the park’s emergency funding request inappropriate and noted Ontario has a role in ensuring animal welfare at the facility.
• Ontario has legal power to seize animals to protect their safety but has not taken custody, as Premier Doug Ford presses for a viable placement.
• No immediate alternative exists because a proposed Nova Scotia sanctuary is not operational, and Marineland says Chimelong was the only facility able to accept all 30 belugas; 20 whales have died at the park since 2019 as it winds down operations and runs low on funds.