Mike Colle is the Ontario MPP who was so sincerely horrifed by what he saw on a television exposure of puppy mills in Ontario that he proposed a really effective private member's bill which the Ontario Conservatives derailed with its own member's weak bill. That MPP is Julia Munro, a breeder. Note: As with the BC SPCA, the Ontario SPCA knew about these vile puppy mills for decades and did nothing. In fact, Colle expressed dismay to AAS when the OSPCA seemed slow to offer him any assistance.

----- Original Message -----
From: Mike_Colle-MPP@ontla.ola.org
To: Mike_Colle-MPP@ontla.ola.org
Sent: Friday, December 13, 2002 10:24 AM
Subject: Animal protection law lacks teeth, critics say; Won't stop abuse or keep tabs on breeders Bill's author accused of conflict of interest

Dear Friends of the Animals,

Don't be fooled by the passage of Bill 129. Every one should know that this is a phony bill that will do more harm than good.

Thanks to all of you for your support,

Mike Colle M.P.P.
Eglinton-Lawrence

Animal protection law lacks teeth, critics say; Won't stop abuse or keep tabs on breeders Bill's author accused of conflict of interest

The Toronto Star
Fri 13 Dec 2002 - News - A07
Theresa Boyle

The provincial government yesterday passed animal welfare legislation, but critics charge it has no bite and will do nothing to stop horrible incidents of abuse.

"This bill doesn't protect animals in distress, it doesn't give the humane society officers or (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) officers the right to inspect and basically it allows anybody to call themselves a breeder," said Liberal MPP Mike Colle (Eglinton-Lawrence).

The Conservative government used its majority to defeat a harsher piece of legislation authored by Colle, replacing it with their own private member's bill introduced by Tory MPP Julia Munro (York North).

"Bill 129 simply put is a lump of coal in the animals' stocking this Christmas, courtesy of premier grinch," Pat Tohill, of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, said in reference to the government's legislation, which passed in a vote of 52 to 37.

He said it would do nothing to stop incidents of abuse, such as the recent burning death of a kitten, or dogs being dragged by their owners' cars.

Animals' rights activists brought three abandoned puppies with them to Queen's Park to highlight their cause.

The 7-week-old, shepherd-Labrador retriever cross pups were found in a municipal dump north of Toronto earlier this month.

Critics allege Munro had a stake in bringing in weak legislation because she is a dog breeder.

"We don't really need someone who has financial interest in a business to be writing legislation," Colle argued, charging that Munro has a conflict of interest.

Under her bill, "you don't need a licence to be a breeder, you don't get inspected. Anyone can claim to be a breeder and you don't need any qualifications," he said.

Munro's bill is aimed at cracking down on puppy mills. It makes it a provincial offence to raise dogs and cats for sale in conditions of neglect.

"(It) gives very clear standards about food and water, shelter, adequate medical attention, the appropriate size and space they are allowed in an enclosure, and the safety of that enclosure," she said.

But Rob Sinclair of the International Fund for Animal Welfare said he was disappointed that the bill didn't cover neglect of animals, other than cats and dogs.

Leslie Bisgould of the Animal Alliance of Canada, accused the government of pandering to the hunting and fishing lobbies.

"It's obvious there's a profound amount of pressure put on this government by ... hunting and fishing lobbies," she said. "If you use animals as part of your business or your recreational experience then any step to entrench respect for animals in the law is bad for business."

Liberal MPP Mike Colle holds a 7-week-old pup at Queen's Park yesterday. Three shepherd-Labrador retriever cross puppies were found in a municipal dump north of Toronto earlier this month. Colle says the new legislation doesn't protect animals in distress.

SOURCE Toronto Star