Perfectly Indecisive

At Queen’s Park on April 3, 2008, Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Rick Bartolucci introduced Bill 50, the Provincial Animal Welfare Act, to a standing ovation. The Bill seeks to overhaul the 89-year-old Ontario SPCA Act to widen the definition of animal cruelty, improve the Society’s ability to address critical animal welfare issues, and allow investigators to bring more abusers to justice.

Chief Inspector Hugh Coghill, a 30 year veteran in animal welfare, spearheaded the Society’s input into the development of the Bill. Proposed changes will have the single greatest, positive impact for animals in the province since the Ontario SPCA Act was enacted in 1919. Currently the Ontario SPCA lays more Criminal Code of Canada charges against animal abusers than any other provincial organization, because the Society does not have adequate provincial legislation to effectively deal with animal abuse.

Passage of Bill 50 has become more critical since amendments to the Criminal Code (Bill S-203) were approved by the House of Commons on April 9, 2008. Although Bill S-203 makes some amendments to increase penalties for animal cruelty offences, it fails in a number of critical areas, including closing loopholes in the Criminal Code that make it difficult for enforcement agencies and the courts to convict animal abusers.

The Ontario SPCA looks forward to working with the government in this positive new direction and applauds the Ontario government for its historical commitment to improving animal protection in Ontario.

To support Bill 50, please contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament today! For more information, visit www.ontariospca.on.ca.

Sincerely,