Animal Cruelty Legislation

Thank you for your incredible continuing support of Humane Canada. We are happy to share these updates with you since our last report.

Bill Introduced to regulate zoos and protect captive wildlife in Ontario 

A new bill was announced in Ontario on December 4^th, The Captive Wildlife Protection Act, addresses Ontario’s lack of regulation over captive wildlife which has led to the proliferation of cruel and dangerous roadside zoos. These unregulated facilities often house wild animals in poor conditions, risking both animal welfare and public safety. Ontario currently has the highest number of such facilities in Canada and is the weakest regulatory jurisdiction in this area with no mandatory licensing or consistent standards for the keeping of wild animals.

The proposed bill would mandate licensing for zoos, requiring proof of financial resources and emergency preparedness plans, with annual inspections to ensure high standards of care. It also prohibits the use of animals for entertainment that compromises their welfare, such as petting sessions, performances, and photo opportunities. The bill aims to bring Ontario's regulations in line with other provinces to better protect animal welfare and public safety.

In other news, as you know on January 6^th Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation, and the Governor General has granted his request to prorogue Parliament.  Here is what prorogation means for the bills that Humane Canada, its members and other animal welfare partners have been working on over the past Parliamentary session: 

• Bill S-15 that would have banned the captivity of elephants and great apes, which was amended again by the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs to remove the Noah Clause and passed third reading in the Senate in December, died at the end of the session and must be introduced as a new bill in the new session of Parliament. 
• Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act, which had been split to separate the child sexual exploitation measures in the hope that it would pass quickly, has also died. It was in pre-study with the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Humane Canada had submitted a brief published December 11th asking that the bill be amended to include animal sexual abuse and torture videos and images, as well as any other materials that depict harming or killing animals. 
• For Private Members Bills, the process is somewhat different. According to procedure after prorogation, “the Standing Orders of the House of Commons contain specific provisions that automatically reinstate Private Members’ Bills (PMBs) at the same stage the bill was at in the Commons before the prorogation”. Therefore, in theory, those bills that had passed the House of Commons and reached various stages in the Senate, such as C-332 on coercive control and live horse export bill C-355 along with farm biosecurity bill C-275, would be eligible to continue for as long as the government avoids dissolution. 

We are hopeful that some of these bills will be able to pass quickly through the remaining stages and onto Royal Assent before there is a call for election. 

Finally, we are incredibly proud to share that our CEO, Barbara Cartwright, was awarded the Coronation Medal in the Senate of Canada by the inspiring Senator Yvonne Boyer.

For over 25 years, Barbara has been a driving force in the charitable sector, committed to building a more humane world through her leadership. Her work in policy development, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning has led to groundbreaking initiatives and significant legislative reforms. This recognition is a testament to Barbara’s unwavering dedication and the collective efforts of our amazing team, members, supporters, and partners.

Links:

• http://www.humanecanada.ca