Protests against the killing of horses for human consumption took place across Canada Monday.

About 20 animal-rights activists blocked the entrance to a slaughterhouse near Montreal, and demonstrations of varying sizes occurred in Vancouver, Toronto, Halifax, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Charlottetown.

The protesters urged MPs to support a private member's bill in Ottawa that would ban the slaughter of horses for meat.

The legislation, tabled by the NDP's Alex Atamanenko, appears stalled in Parliament.

Atamanenko has argued that horses haven't been raised in accordance with food safety practices in Canada and says many of the animals are treated with medications.

-- With files from The Canadian Press

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(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)

CBC.ca community members weighed in on the matter. Many commenters believed there was nothing inherently wrong with eating horse meat.

"What is the difference between slaughtering a horse, pig or any other animal?" wondered Winkles Sneeze.

Formervancouverite agreed. "I fail to see what the big deal about eating horse meat is about. In Europe, it is not uncommon to find horse meat in the deli section of supermarkets as well as in butcher shops."

Commenter lclmanehere, however, said slaughtering horses for food was "reprehensible."

"Horses spend their lives serving humans in so many capacities. And this is how we repay them for all their loyalty and hard work."

FedUpManitoban found the idea of eating horse meat unappetizing as well. "C'mon, eating a horse? What's next? The great popularity of eating crows?"

What's your take? Should Canada ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption? Why or why not?