Pamela Anderson asks Prime Minister to end federal subsidies for seal hunt

Pamela Anderson is hoping Prime Minister Justin Trudeauwill hear her out on behalf of seals.

In a letter to Trudeau, the Canadian-born actress asks him tomeet her to discuss phasing out or ending federal subsidies for theEast Coast commercial seal hunt.

Anderson writes in the letter obtained by The Canadian Press thatOttawa has poured millions of taxpayers' dollars into propping upthe fading industry.

The honorary director of the PETA animal-rights group says themoney could be better spent promoting businesses with a brighterfuture that would help the world see Canada as a sophisticated,enlightened country.

The former star of Baywatchis among several prominentfigures such as U.S. President Barack Obama and music legend PaulMcCartney who have spoken out against the hunt.

Anderson notes that major markets such as the European Union, theUnited States and Russia have all banned seal-fur products overanimalwelfare concerns.

The former Conservative government steadfastly defended thecommercial hunt as beneficial for local economies, humane and wellregulated.

In recent years, the federal government has invested in programsto promote seal meat in domestic and foreign markets.