If you suspect an animal is suffering in your community there’s a new number to call: 1-833-9-ANIMAL (264625).
Animal welfare protection laws will be enforced by the Province rather than the OSPCA moving forward, although exact details have not been released.
A letter sent to all municipalities from the OSPCA made its way to Huntsville’s Development Services Committee on October 16, 2019. It essentially states that issues of enforcement will now be undertaken by the Province.
The move comes as a result of a January 2019 Ontario Superior Court decision which found that giving a charitable organization, such as the OSPCA, enforcement powers is unconstitutional. The decision also gave the Province 12 months to rewrite the laws governing the relationship between the province and the OSPCA. According to the letter circulated by the OSPCA, the “ruling was a catalyst behind the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s decision not to renew its contract with the government, which expired on March 31, 2019.” It also stated that to help ensure a smooth transition it would continue to enforce animal welfare legislation until June 28, 2019.
Committee chair Nancy Alcock questioned who was enforcing the legislation now.
Chief bylaw enforcement officer for Huntsville, Andrew Stillar, said he had an opportunity to speak to two former enforcement officers for the OSPCA who are now working for the Ministry of the Solicitor General. “So basically they work for the Province now. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is still in place, the laws are still there,” said Stillar, adding that the only difference right now seems to be who they report to.
Alcock questioned whether the Province had rolled out a communication strategy related to the changes. Stillar said the Province had been given a year to figure out its strategy and the enforcement officers he had spoken to indicated that “something is coming out very soon but they don’t even know what that is yet.”
It is unclear whether municipalities such as Huntsville will be required to play a bigger role when it comes to enforcing animal welfare legislation. “I think we should wait until they come out with their new plan and new idea and see how things go from there,” said Stillar.
“Provincial inspectors will work with local police, veterinarians, agriculture commodities and local humane societies, as appropriate, to ensure animals remain protected while Ontario transitions to a more robust, transparent and accountable permanent animal protection system,” states the Ministry of the Solicitor General on its website. You can find out more about where to call and the protocol expected to be followed here.
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