Competition Bureau drops inquiry into false advertising claim against Canada Goose

One year ago Animal Justice Canada filed a complaint with Competition Bureau Canada, accusing Canada Goose of false advertising.

The animal rights group challenged the coat manufacturer’s claims that all of the coyotes used in the fur trim on the clothing have been killed “humanely.”

“The coyotes suffer greatly in the leg hold traps and snares where they have broken bones from the leg hold traps. Sometimes they gnaw their own leg off,” said Nick Wright, director of Animal Justice Canada.

But months later, with no detailed reasons why, the Competition Bureau has dropped the claim, writing in part that “The inquiry has not satisfied the Commissioner that Canada’s (sic) Goose’s representations are false or misleading in a material respect…”

The Canadian fur industry insisted leg hold traps are humane — after all, they are legal in Canada.

When the complaint was launched last year Canada Goose refused an interview, instead sending a statement to Global News saying in part that they “…never use fur from endangered animals and only purchase fur from certified Canadian trappers.”

This time Canada Goose declined any comment on the decision, or on another issue raised with their fur trim — the possibility it is not all coyote.

Eastern Wolves, found in Ontario and parts of Quebec and long known as a species of special concern, can also get caught in the leg hold traps and killed.

For preservation experts, that’s a problem.

Linda Rutledge has studied Eastern Wolves extensively and points out that when the Eastern Wolves were reassessed in 2015, they went from being of special concern, to being threatened.

She said bans on where wolves and coyotes are hunted should be expanded to save the wolves.

“Predators are really important for maintaining ecosystems,” said Rutledge from Princeton, B.C.

Not all customers are concerned with the wolves, or how the animals are caught.

“I don’t think it matters,” said one man wearing a Canada Goose coat in downtown Toronto.

But among some the tide is turning.

One woman had taken the fur trim off of her Canada Goose coat.

“I don’t wear my fur because I don’t really support that.”

Animal Justice said it’s considering its legal options.