The Ontario government has announced its new animal welfare model and it will include stiffer fines and more enforcement officers.
The new system is in response to a court case that said that determined that the powers exercised by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) were had to be more regulated. The OSPCA stepped away from providing inspection services for agriculture at the end of May and for companion animals at the end of July. Police have been providing response since then.
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Why it matters: The creation of a new Ontario animal welfare system is a chance to improve on some of the criticisms of the former system in which a non-governmental organization had police-level powers.
The government says the Ontario penalties will be the strongest penalties in Canada for offenders. Potential fines have doubled for serious offences to $130,000 on first offence and $260,000 on second offence. Corporate offences for serious offences can reach $500,000. Jail time can reach two years. Minor offences which used to have $1000 maximum fines are now at $75,000.
The new inspectors will provide outreach and education on animal care best practices along with reacting to complaints. Veterinarians will be required by law to report cases of animal abuse.
“We made a commitment to take action and develop a modern animal welfare enforcement system to keep animals safe. I am proud to say we are delivering on that commitment with new legislation that includes the toughest penalties in Canada,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “Ontarians can be confident the government is proposing a system that will better protect animals from negligent care.”
The proposed Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act, 2019 will:
- Establish a multi-disciplinary advisory table made up of a wide range of experts, including veterinarians, agriculture representatives, academics, animal advocates and others to provide ongoing advice to the ministry to improve animal welfare.
- Introduce new offences to combat activities such as dog fighting.
- Give inspectors necessary powers to help animals in distress and to hold owners accountable.
- Give government the ability to empower others, beyond inspectors, to take action when an animal is in imminent risk of serious injury or death when a pet is left in a hot car.
- Significantly increase penalties for serious, repeat and corporate offenders. These new penalties would be the strongest in Canada.
- Improve oversight and ensuring increased transparency and accountability, including establishing a one-window complaints mechanism for the public.
More provincial inspectors to ensure better coverage across the province, including specialists in livestock, agriculture, horses, zoos and aquariums.
The proposed new animal welfare system was developed based on input from municipalities, police, industry, technical experts, veterinarian organizations, animal sheltering and advocacy organizations, and the public.
Close to 17,000 people responded to a public survey earlier this year asking how animal welfare in Ontario could be improved.
- After over 100 years of enforcing the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) Act, the OSPCA stopped providing enforcement services as of June 28, 2019.
- In June, the government passed the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) Amendment Act (Interim Period), 2019, a temporary measure to keep animals safe during the transition to the new animal welfare model.
