By Canadian Press

Health Canada says it won’t consider animal suffering in strychnine review

Feb 2, 2021 | 11:14 AM

OTTAWA — Health Canada says it won’t consider cruelty to animals when it reviews whether using poisons such as strychnine to kill predators should be continued.

Health Canada says it won’t consider the cruelty of toxins used to kill predators when it reviews whether the use of poisons such as strychnine should be continued.

It says in a ruling that there’s no scientific way to measure how animals suffer.

Animal welfare groups, humane societies, veterinarians and scientists question the use of strychnine and two other poisons used to control wolves and other predators.

Sara Dubois of the B.C. SPCA says other countries have developed ways of assessing how much animals suffering from various poisons.

BCHL Playoffs

Langley's goalie steals game one over Spruce Kings

1h ago

ckpg news special

The Resource Reality

20h ago

Crime

Paramedics injured after object thrown through ambulance window

Apr 03, 2026

Alberta is one of the biggest users of strychnine to poison wolves as a way to help caribou survive on a heavily industrialized landscape. 

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency plans to review the use of strychnine and two other poisons later this spring. 

A petition opposing their use has nearly 700 signatures. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 2, 2021

The Canadian Press