Montreal, December 4, 2015 – Bill 54, An Act to Improve the legal situation of Animals, was passed today by Quebec’s National Assembly. With the adoption of Bill 54 a new provincial act exclusively dedicated to animal welfare will replace the existing welfare provisions of the Animal Health Protection Act. The Civil Code of Quebec will also be amended to explicitly recognize animals as sentient beings.
The Montreal SPCA remains cautiously optimistic that the adoption of Bill 54 will help improve the situation for certain species of animals, in particular dogs, cats, horses, and animals raised for their fur. We are also hopeful that the Minister of Agriculture will make use of the powers provided under the new law to promulgate regulations banning the permanent chaining of dogs and establishing basic standards for the care and handling of farm animals.
We are, however, thoroughly disappointed that exotic animals, as well as many species of wildlife in captivity, will continue to be excluded from the ambit of Quebec’s animal welfare legislation. These animals remain in desperate need of appropriate legal protection to ensure that they are not neglected or abused, particularly when they are exploited for commercial purposes.
To read the executive summary of the AQSS’s (Quebec Association of SPCA’s and SPA’s of which the Montreal SPCA is a member) commentary on Bill 54’s position, please click here (available in French only).
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Media contact: Anita Kapuscinska, Media Relations Coordinator, Montreal SPCA, 514-226-3932, or anitak@spca.com.
About the Montreal SPCA
Founded in Montreal in 1869, we were the first humane 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.
