Communiqué de presse – Pour diffusion immédiate
Montreal, March 2, 2023 — Québec solidaire has committed to introducing a bill before the end of the parliamentary session that would allow animals in all Quebec housing. The MNA for Sainte-Marie-Saint-Jacques, Manon Massé, and the MNA for Laurier-Dorion, Andrés Fontecilla, made the commitment this morning in the presence of the Montreal SPCA’s executive director, Sophie Gaillard.
“Allowing people to keep their animals in their homes is an easy way to relieve some of the pressure on tenants as the housing crisis continues to unfold,” said Massé.
“It’s hard enough as it is to find affordable housing, and it’s even harder if you have an animal. So, people have no choice but to abandon them in order to find housing. It’s unacceptable that thousands of Quebecers must resort to this when the solution is so simple,” explained Fontecilla.
Animal Abandonment: A serious problem with real consequences
Sophie Gaillard spoke about the impact of the current legal framework on animal welfare. “As we approach moving season, the Montreal SPCA is concerned about the scarcity of animal-friendly housing. In fact, one of the main reasons why animals are surrendered in shelters is because of how difficult it is to find such housing,” explained Gaillard, pointing out that nearly one animal is abandoned at the Montreal SPCA every day because of a move.
Animals Benefit Our Mental Health
Animals have a profound impact on our mental health. “People love animals because they make us feel good. It’s been proven. Animals reduce stress and even lower blood pressure. There are studies that say that seniors who have an animal at home go to the doctor 30% less often than those who don’t,” explained Massé.
A Pragmatic Proposal
This very simple bill will help reduce the number of animals abandoned in Quebec, provide tenants with some flexibility in the midst of a housing crisis, and have a positive impact on thousands of people’s mental health, particularly seniors and more vulnerable individuals. It’s also worth noting that the bill does not require any public spending.
“France did it in the ’70s and Ontario in the ’90s. It doesn’t cost the government anything. It’s just common sense,” added Fontecilla.
As a reminder, on June 7, 2022, Manon Massé tabled a Montreal SPCA petition at the National Assembly calling for a ban on residential lease clauses prohibiting animals. Although the petition collected 33,000 signatures, the October 3rd general election limited its progress, as it “died on the Order Paper.”
-30-
Source : Montreal SPCA
Information : Simone Lirette, Québec solidaire press secretary, (514) 994-5095 – simone.lirette@assnat.qc.ca
Montreal SPCA public relations officer : Jeanne Beauchamp, public relations account manager, tök communications, 514-535-0326 | ext. 201, jeanne@tokcommunications.ca
About the Montreal SPCA
Founded in Montréal in 1869, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (now better known as the Montreal SPCA) was the first animal-welfare organization in Canada. The SPCA has come a long way since its beginnings and is today the largest animal-protection organization in Québec, speaking on behalf of animals wherever there is ignorance, cruelty, exploitation or neglect.
