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Quebec continues to hold the status of one of the best provinces for an animal abuser to get away with their crimes. Through a press release, The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) informed the media of the 2014 Canadian Animal Protection Laws Rankings. According to ALDF, since they began publishing its Canadian animal protection laws rankings, no improvements were noted since last year. Sadly, we continue to see the Province of Quebec not wanting to let go of the shameful title: Worst Province for the protection of animals.
“Our annual reports aim to gather support to strengthen and enforce animal protection laws throughout the Canadian provinces,” says ALDF executive director Stephen Wells. “One major step toward that end is for all provinces to improve their protection for farmed animals.”
The Montreal SPCA made a statement after the release of the 2014 Canadian Animal Protection Laws Rankings. They claim that they remain “hopeful that with the appointment of Pierre Paradis as the new Ministre de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (MAPAQ), [and that] things are starting to look up for the animals of Quebec.” “We are encouraged by Minister Paradis’ commitment to rectifying Quebec’s reputation when it comes to animal protection” said Alanna Devine, Director of Animal Advocacy at the Montreal SPCA. “We believe that we are on the verge of seeing real changes for animals in this province, and we look forward to working with Minister Paradis and his team to help bring about these changes”.
The ALDF believes that the reason why Quebec continues to be a province where animal abuse is overlooked is because Quebec’s standards of basic care need to apply to a wider range of species, rather than just companion animals. There is no prohibition related to animal fighting, recognition of psychological welfare for all species, and mental health evaluations and counseling for abusers.”
During the month of April of this year, the nonprofit organization Mercy for Animals Canada conducted an undercover investigation at a veal farm in Quebec. The footage was taken at the Pont Rouge barn, where close to 800 calves are subjected daily to harsh treatment and inhumane confinement. Mercy For Animals Canada is calling on law officials to file animal cruelty charges against the Pont Rouge farm managers and employees. So far the only action taken by Pierre Paradis, Minister of MAPAQ, is an interview in the newspaper Le Journal de Montreal, in which he challenges himself to bring changes to the legislation. No charges have been filed against the alleged abusers at the veal farm.
Undoubtedly, the laws and status for animals will not change unless the people ask for it to be changed. Those that live in Quebec can have faith in a promise made by Mr. Paradis, or Quebecers can ask for the government to make the changes now. The moment that the province becomes tired of being known as one of the cruelest provinces of the country, then there is hope that things will change for animals.
People need to be aware of the 3 keys to make a social movement successful: mobilization, action, and outcome. The day Quebecers decide on organizing themselves in order to take action then there will be a positive outcome for the animals.
Will Quebec be the top province for animals in 2015? It is up to Quebecers to make that call.
Top Tier:
1. Manitoba
2. British Columbia
3. Ontario
4. Nova Scotia
Middle Tier:
5. Newfoundland & Labrador
6. New Brunswick
7. Yukon
8. Alberta
9. Prince Edward Island
Bottom Tier:
10. Saskatchewan
11. Northwest Territories
12. Quebec
13. Nunavut
