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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 fourth reply is from Thomas Mulcair, NDP:
Dear Montreal Dog Blog,
Please find attached our replies about some issues concerning animals in Quebec.
Have a nice afternoon,
Thomas Mulcair’s Campaign Team, NDP Outremont
On Puppy Mills and euthanasia:
New Democrats recognize that animal welfare is very important. We support strengthening provisions of the Cruelty to Animals Section of the Criminal Code of Canada to discourage violence and cruelty against animals and to punish those responsible for such acts.
We continue to support meaningful legislation to provide real protection for animals. The abuse of any vulnerable creature, human or otherwise, is something that we should all take extremely seriously. Specifically, the NDP are on record in support of amending the Criminal Code to:
• move animals out of property law and extend protections to wild animals
and strays
• make it illegal to train animals for fighting or profit from animal fighting
• close loopholes that allow 99 per cent of those charged with animal cruelty
to escape conviction.
We fought tirelessly in the past to get these important amendments through the House of Commons. We agree that the legislation Bill S-203, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals), is deeply flawed and that is why we joined the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS), International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) in opposing this Bill. We also fully support the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare and will work with the Provinces, Territories, government departments and agencies and stakeholders to update Canada’s laws and policies on animal cruelty and welfare to reflect the principles of UDAW.
Pet Stores:
The banning of selling animals in pet stores falls under provincial jurisdiction but New Democrats are open to working with the Provinces, Territories and other stakeholders to implement measures to prevent cruelty and suffering of animals,
C-229 & C-468:
The NDP is in favour of these two bills. Bill C-229 seeks to improve Canada’s antiquated animal cruelty laws and is line with the party’s policy on this issue. With regard to bill C-468, the NDP’s Agriculture critic, Alex Atamanenko, MP, has also been working to promote policies that protect animals from the various stresses they may endure during the excessively long transport times allowed under the current regulatory regime.
He has been corresponding with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and meeting with officials since 2006 to urge them to move more quickly to modernize the current regulations around animal transportation. Although the CFIA has been studying this issue for several years, changes in regulations are still outstanding.
In 2008, Mr. Atamanenko had his motion passed at the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (SCAAF) calling for CFIA officials to be brought before the Committee to present a briefing on the status of their regulatory review process. According to their presentation they were still working With the Justice Department and preparing the regulatory amendments for publication in the Canada Gazette to
be followed by a public consultation process. In response to Mr. Atamanenko’s November, 2009 follow up letter, the CFIA indicated there was still no movement on this file.
Mr. Atamanenko also re-introduced his previous motion in the House of Commons. It states as follows:
M-436 – September 15, 2009 – Mr. Atamanenko (British Columbia Southern Interior) – That, in the opinion of the House, the government should immediately move to publish the revised regulations governing animal transportation under the Health of Animals Act.
