TORONTO — The furry frills on Justin Trudeau’s Christmas card have drawn fire from an animal rights group.
The card that the Liberal MP sent to his constituents this year has Trudeau and his family in parkas with thick fur-lined hoods huddled under a fur blanket.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has blasted the MP and his family for wearing coyote fur, calling it “a lurid way of celebrating peace on Earth.”
PETA spokeswoman Jane Dollinger calls the fur a product of misery and says coyotes are often killed in steel-jaw traps which have been banned in many other countries.
Trudeau’s office refused to comment on PETA’s fiery reaction to the cards.
But spokesman Alex Lanthier says Trudeau and his family were wearing parkas made by Canada Goose, a Canadian company which has a “sustainable way” of collecting fur.
Canada Goose says it obtains the fur in the most humane ways and adheres to the guidelines of the Fur Council of Canada.
The company’s policy also says it uses coyote fur “only as absolutely necessary, and exclusively for functional purposes.”
Lanthier says this seems to be the first time Trudeau’s family has been photographed in fur, but pointed out the MP’s late father and former prime minister was photographed in similar fur-lined parkas multiple times in the past.
In a posting on Twitter, Trudeau suggested he wasn’t out to create any controversy.
“I’m glad to support both Canadian products and sustainable fur. But it’s mostly just a family Christmas card,” he wrote.