MPP Michael Bryant’s email to Sunny Reuter

On Mon 10/11/08 12:57 PM , "Bryant_Michael-MPP-CO" mbryant.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org sent:

Thank you for contacting my office and for your interest in animal welfare. I would like to give you an update on our efforts to improve animal protection in this province.

Bill 50, the Provincial Animal Welfare Act, 2008, was introduced in the Ontario legislature for First Reading on April 3, 2008. The bill contains the first comprehensive changes, in almost 90 years, to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) Act.

Highlights of the improvements to animal protection in Bill 50 include:

· Standards of care for all animals.
· New provincial offences including:
Failing to meet those standards of care;
Causing or permitting distress to an animal;
Training or permitting an animal to fight another animal; and,
Harming a law enforcement animal.
· Authority for the OSPCA to inspect places where animals are kept for exhibition, entertainment, boarding, hire or sale to ensure standards of care are being met. This includes roadside zoos, circuses, pet stores and other premises.
· Appropriate penalties for those who harm animals, including fines, jail, and a potential lifetime animal ownership ban.
· The requirement for veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse to the OSPCA and protection from personal liability for doing so.
· A number of modernizations to the law that will help the OSPCA do its job more effectively and efficiently.
· Protection for current legal practices in agriculture, hunting and fishing.

The bill passed Second Reading in the legislature on May 28, 2008, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy. That all-party legislative committee conducted hearings and took written submissions from Ontarians across the province.

The information from these hearings was considered by the committee in its review of the bill on August 18, 2008, including:

· A "grandfathering" clause that enables all current OSPCA-affiliated humane societies to keep their names if they become disaffiliated with the OSPCA in the future.
· The addition of an offence for knowingly making a false complaint to the OSPCA.
· Among the sentencing options, the ability to order someone convicted of an animal cruelty offence to take counselling or training.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your concerns with me. Should you require any additional information or assistance please do not hesitate to contact my office in the future.

Yours truly,

Michael Bryant, MPP
St. Paul’s