Assuming responsibility for animal welfare law enforcement a positive move by Ontario government
Bill 117, An Act to amend the OSPCA Act, mirrors Animal Alliance/Zoocheck recommendations
TORONTO, May 28, 2019 /CNW/ - In tabling Bill 117, An Act to amend the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the Ontario government is accepting responsibility for the delivery of animal welfare law enforcement in Ontario, one of the main recommendations made in a report authored by Animal Alliance and Zoocheck.
The amended version titled "Blue Print for Change: A cost-effective path to modernizing Ontario's animal welfare system and animal welfare law enforcement program" was submitted in early May to The Honourable Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General of Ontario.
"This Bill is a good first step," said Zoocheck Director Rob Laidlaw. "It recognizes the role of the Ontario government in the coordination and delivery of the province's animal welfare law enforcement and, even though it is an interim step, it provides direction for the development of a new Provincial Animal Welfare (PAW) Act that is built on that premise."
"We thank the Minister, the Honourable Sylvia Jones, for proactively moving to fill the animal welfare law enforcement gap until new animal welfare legislation is developed", said Liz White, Director, Animal Alliance of Canada. "What is exciting about Bill 117 is that it establishes the provincial government as the body responsible for the delivery of animal welfare enforcement in Ontario as we recommended in our report," continued White. "We urge the Minister to ensure that the authority for animal welfare law enforcement is kept with the government when a new Provincial Animal Welfare (PAW) Act is developed."
"We look forward to the development of new, comprehensive animal welfare legislation that provides meaningful protections to all animals in the province and law enforcement delivery that is transparent and accountable, something Ontarians overwhelmingly support," added White.
SOURCE Animal Alliance of Canada
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