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By the time the next edition of our national newsletter, Animal Welfare in Focus, arrives on your doorstep, Canadians may be saddled with new but woefully inadequate Criminal Code animal cruelty legislation. Clear demands from the majority of citizens for new legislation that would move animal cruelty laws out of the 19th and into the 21st century have been ignored by our elected officials.
More than 85% of Canadians^1^ support legislation that would increase the likelihood of convicting those who abuse or are cruel to wild or stray animals. It’s worth noting this view is shared among 85% of rural Canadians and 87% of those who hunt or fish, too. Our government’s reaction? Ignore them.
A national petition with more than 111,000 signatures demanding improved animal cruelty legislation was presented to the federal government in the House of Commons. Our government’s reaction? Ignore them.
Tens of thousands of postcards were mailed to the Prime Minister by Canadians from across the country asking that the government enact legislation that will properly protect animals from cruelty. Our government’s reaction? Ignore them.
Canadians want animal cruelty legislation that will make a real difference while safeguarding heritage activities like fishing, hunting and farming. Time and again, Canadians have let our government know that real animal cruelty legislation to replace our 1892 law is beyond overdue.
When our elected officials ignore the express will of more than three-quarters of Canadians, they make a mockery of democracy. When they disregard a petition of more than 111,000 signatures, they make a mockery of democracy. When they blindly move to pass bad legislation to appease a handful of special interests, they mock you and me.
Please call your Member of Parliament^2^ and urge that he/she not support S-203. If the government passes S-203 into law, phone your MP anyway and give him/her an earful.
Our government talks a good game on accountability, on justice, on being tough on crime. But until they start listening to you, me and the millions of Canadians who care so deeply about ending animal cruelty, they will continue to make a mockery of democracy. French critic and poet Paul Valery wrote, “Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.” Certainly when it comes to bringing a democratic process to bear on animal cruelty legislation in Canada, Valery is correct. We have been shut out. But with your support, we won’t let our elected officials get away with this.
1 SES National Poll, November 2006
2 To obtain your MP’s office telephone numbers, please dial toll-free,1-800-622-6232
Thank you to all who have supported and participated in our ‘Stop Bill S-203’ postcard campaign. We have run out of the English version. Please send your postcards to Prime Minister Harper as soon as possible.
Please continue to call/write your Member of Parliament urging them not to support Bill S-203. To obtain your MP’s office telephone numbers, please dial toll-free, 1-800-622-6232.
