A businesswoman from Connecticut, has written an open letter to the Prime Minister of Canada, offering $16 million to immediately end a controversial seal hunt.In her letter, Cathy Kangas said: "Your government has repeatedly stated that the 16 million dollars realized from the slaughter of Canadian baby seals is vital to the fishing communities of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and Newfoundland...If you stop this year's hunt immediately, we will provide you with this 16 million dollars to be distributed at your discretion".
Canada however, is not interested. Steven Outhouse for Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn, told AFP: "The short answer is no. We're not interested in the offer and would prefer she put the money in another worthwhile cause."
Kangas is chief executive and founder of cosmetics firm Prai Beaut, and long-time animal activist with ties to the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the US Humane Society.
Outhouse said the hunt is legal and regulated and asked the very valid question, "is she going to offer 16 million dollars over the next 10 years? This is an ongoing form of income for people (in the region)".
He then added: "It's just another example of people with money trying to tell other people how to live their lives and most people don't respond positively to that."
