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1h ago

Ottawa Rejects Bailout as Marineland Threatens to Euthanize 30 Belugas

The decision rests on a 2019 anti‑captivity law, leaving Ontario under pressure to decide whether to step in.

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Beluga whales swim in a tank at Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, June 9, 2023. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Overview

  • Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson denied export permits to China and called Marineland’s request for emergency federal funds inappropriate.
  • Marineland set an Oct. 7 deadline and warned it would euthanize its 30 belugas if funding or export approval did not arrive, citing insolvency and no viable relocation options.
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged Ottawa to reconsider, while the federal government pointed to the province’s responsibility for animal welfare under its laws.
  • Animal‑welfare groups pressed Ontario to use its Provincial Animal Welfare Services powers to seize the whales and recover costs from the owner.
  • No sanctuary is ready to receive the belugas, with a proposed Nova Scotia site not operational, and records show 20 whale deaths at Marineland since 2019 as the park remains closed and for sale.