Iqaluit, Nunavut - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Member of Parliament for Nunavut, Regional Minister for the North and Minister of Health, is pleased to announce today that her colleague the Honorable  Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has reached a significant agreement with China on the export of Canadian seal products.

The cooperative arrangement will allow all Canadian seal products to be exported to China, including meat and oil for human consumption effective immediately.

“Across our country and especially here in Nunavut, sealing is a part of who we are – an important aspect of our culture, our heritage and our food security,” said Minister Aglukkaq.  “This agreement demonstrates our Government’s commitment to the North and how hard we have been working both domestically and at the international level to advocate for sealers.”

The Government of Canada worked closely with Chinese officials to establish the necessary export conditions for edible seal products. The new market access arrangement is a direct result of these negotiations.

One year ago, the federal government went to China to begin this process. The Chinese market holds great potential for the Canadian seal industry. One year later, the federal government continues to demonstrate support of the thousands of Canadian families in coastal and northern communities, particularly Nunavut, that will directly benefit from this new market access arrangement with China.

“This is great news for all Nunavummiut,” said Aglukkaq.  “As a Northerner I have grown up eating seal meat, and I am pleased to hear that people living across the world will now get to experience this nutritious and sustainable food.”


For more information:

Cailin Rodgers
Northern Media Relations
Minister’s Office
613-957-0200