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We’ve Got Mail!
Last week, Montreal Dog Blog contacted 10 local candidates regarding their thoughts on animal cruelty in Quebec. Read and send your own letter here! Our second reply is from Marlene Jennings, Liberal Party:
Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding animal welfare.
I too share your views about puppy mills: they breed puppies and other domestic animals in an inhumane and cruel fashion. Their methods are not acceptable to society, and as such, their operations should not be tolerated.
The Criminal Code of Canada sets out the offences on cruelty to animals. They have not been substantially revised since 1892 and thus are woefully inadequate. One of these many weaknesses is that crimes of neglect towards animals are not covered.
The previous Liberal government attempted many times to update Canada’s cruelty to animal laws. The most recent, Bill C-50 An Act to amend the Criminal Code in respect of cruelty to animals, was killed when Stephen Harper pulled the plug on the Liberal government in late 2005.
As you may know, I’ve recently been involved in several campaigns aimed at both strengthening Canadian animal cruelty laws while ensuring Canada becomes a world leader in animal welfare protection. From the immediate response to the many petitions have garnered, I am learning that Canadians are passionate about protecting animals. I think there is huge untapped goodwill towards the creation of tougher laws towards animal cruelty.
I am very supportive of updating Canada’s animal welfare legislation, which I believe lags far behind the rest of the world. The range of indictable offenses against animals has barely changed since the original 1892 Criminal Code. That is why I wholeheartedly support the Private Member’s Bill C-229 tabled and championed by my colleague, Mark Holland, which is identical to the previous Bill C-50. His proposed bill would bring Canada’s Criminal Code provisions into the 21st century and it is supported by ALL animal welfare organizations in Canada.
I also support the initiative my colleague Alexandra Mendes, M.P. On October 28, 2009, Madame Mendes tabled Bill C-468, which aims at amending the Health of Animals Regulations, to reduce the maximum allowable amount time for transporting animals.
Finally, I am pleased to be able to co-chair the second Animal Law Conference taking place on May 20, 2011 in Ottawa.
I believe that people’s attitudes and behaviour towards animals overlap with their attitudes and behaviour towards each other. Animals can’t speak up for themselves, and so we must do it for them. I urge you to get involved in the campaign to make Canada a world leader in animal welfare protection.
Petitions supporting animal welfare can be found here. If you would like to get more involved, I urge you to print out the petitions and pass them around to get some signatures on them. They can then be sent to my office in Ottawa or Montreal, and I will table the petition in the House of Commons.
Also, should your organization be holding any events in the near future, I would be glad to attend, should my schedule permit. Please contact my campaign office at 514-667-7095.
Please accept my warmest regards,
The Honourable Marlene Jennings, NDG-Lachine
