Tri-City MP James Moore voted with fellow Tories last week to sink a proposal by another Tri-City MP that would have banned shark fin imports in Canada.
The private member's bill by New Westminster-Coquitlam NDP MP Fin Donnelly was scrapped after federal politicians voted 143 to 138 against granting it second reading.
"I am disappointed more Conservative MPs did not support this important legislation," Donnelly said in a statement released following the March 27 vote. "I hope the government will take immediate action to restrict the importation of shark fins to Canada."
Many municipalities have adopted bylaws based on Donnelly's lobbying to regulate shark fins. Last year, Coquitlam was the first B.C. city to ban shark fins from "being possessed, traded, sold and distributed" in its jurisdiction; Port Moody was the first B.C. city to have such a bylaw in place and that imposed fines.
Donnelly said "tens of thousands" of Canadians have also signed petitions supporting his bill.
