EC’s key actions this week:
- Published the Return to Competition Guidelines for the Sport Horse Following a Break in Training Due to COVID-19, which provide guidance and multi-discipline sample training plans for the safe and gradual return of horses to competition following a loss of fitness that may have resulted from limited or no training due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please note: The information in this document are guidelines, not rules or mandates, and are intended as a resource for those who choose to use them.
- To date, EC has engaged the offices of 33 Members of Parliament (MPs), the Premier of Ontario and the Ministers of Agriculture, Finance, Economic Development and Heritage with written letters, follow-up phone calls, emails and/or teleconferences. This week, we reached out and had meetings with the following:
- Will Amos, MP for Pontiac, QC, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, who has indicated strong support;
- Karen Vecchio, MP for Elgin–Middlesex–London, ON, who has offered support;
- Kody Blois, MP for Kings–Hants, NS, and member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food;
- Lianne Rood, MP of Lambton–Kent–Middlesex, ON, and member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, who committed to speaking to her fellow Committee members in order to reach consensus on a government ask;
- Francis Drouin, MP of Glengarry–Prescott–Russell, ON, and member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food;
- Leona Alleslev, MP of Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill, ON, and Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, who has committed to pressuring government to provide relief;
- Karen McCrimmon, MP of Kanata–Carleton, ON, who has committed to communicating requests to the Minister of Agriculture, as well as Finance; and,
- Maryam Monsef, MP of Peterborough, ON, and Minister of Women & Rural Economic Development.
Additionally, EC would like to remind the community that as provinces/territories reopen, Learn to Ride programs and evaluations will be able to restart if permissible by regional and provincial health authorities. Please contact your Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization for information about program status in your area.
Previous weeks:
EC is making every effort to ensure continuous, thorough and up-to-date communication concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. EC’s complete statement on COVID-19, including regular updates, can be found on our website here. For a list of important COVID-19 resources, visit our COVID-19 Resources page. Want to help save Canadian working horses? Visit our COVID-19 Response page.