Montreal, November 5 2017 – Following the election of the Projet Montréal party to the mayorship of the metropolis, the Montreal SPCA is pleased that a party whose agenda gives prominence to animal issues has been brought to power. The SPCA intends to work with Valérie Plante’s administration to implement this plan as quickly as possible.
Valérie Plante’s election as mayor of Montreal is historic on several levels. This is the first time that animal welfare issues have become so important in public debate. Projet Montréal’s election was made possible in part by citizens who are committed to animal well-being mobilizing to vote. The Montreal SPCA is confident that the mayor and her team will act according to the wishes of Montreal’s population.
Commitments to sound animal services
The Montreal SPCA demands clear commitments from Projet Montréal to invest in responsible animal services and adhere to the scheduled opening date of the municipal animal center in its term. Over the years, the Montreal SPCA has been managing animal services for the majority of Montreal’s boroughs. These services – which would normally fall under the responsibility of the City rather than a non-profit organization such as the SPCA – include the care, housing, veterinary treatments and placement of stray, lost and abandoned domestic animals, including the management of wildlife. Although the SPCA is partially compensated for these services, the organization relies heavily on the generosity of its donors, who give thousands of dollars each year to make the provision of these services possible. Moreover, if the City of Montreal invested more in animal services and adhered to the opening date of the new Centre de services animaliers municipal (CSAM), which has been postponed many times, the Montreal SPCA would be able to focus more on its core mission of animal welfare with its sterilization, inspection and outreach programs.
Phase-out of Montreal’s carriage horse industry
Concerned about the welfare of horses, the Montreal SPCA is asking the elected administration to maintain its commitment to abolishing the horse-drawn carriage industry. The SPCA therefore encourages the City of Montreal to begin the gradual and permanent phase-out of this cruel, dangerous and outdated industry by next summer. World-class cities such as Toronto, Beijing, London, Reno, Santa Fe and Las Vegas have done away with the horse-drawn carriage industry, and other cities around the world, including New York, are following in their footsteps.
End of Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL)
The Montreal SPCA also expects Projet Montréal to meet its commitment to immediately repealing the breed ban currently in force in Montreal. As the Coroner’s Office recently pointed out in its investigative report on the death of Christiane Vadnais, this measure goes against scientific consensus and expert opinions. “The breed ban introduced by the Coderre administration has been a key issue in the electoral campaign and citizens have clearly expressed their opposition to this measure. The SPCA is relieved that the elected administration plans on repealing these provisions of the by-law and is more than willing to provide assist the new administration with the development and implementation of fair and effective measures to address the problem of dog bites,” said Sophie Gaillard, lawyer for the Animal Advocacy Department of the Montreal SPCA.
“This election is wonderful news for the animals in the Montreal area,” said Élise Desaulniers, Executive Director of the Montreal SPCA. “Citizens of Montreal expect to see big changes in animal welfare and services in their city during the tenure of Mayor Plante, with whom we look forward to working,” she adds.
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Media contact: Anita Kapuscinska, Communications Manager, Montreal SPCA, 514 656-2760, or anitak@spca.com.
About the Montreal SPCA Founded in Montreal in 1869, we were the first animal welfare society in Canada and our mission is to:
- protect animals against negligence, abuse, and exploitation;
- represent their interests and ensure their well-being;
- raise public awareness and help develop compassion for all living beings.
For more information about the Montreal SPCA, please visit our website at www.spca.com.
