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If animals could vote, which party would they choose?
Tuesday, October 24, 2000
Ottawa – Right and left united on some issues, divided on others. NDP and Greens emerge as parties of choice for animal lovers.
According to a survey of the major federal parties conducted by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, the NDP and Greens have emerged as the parties of choice for animal lovers.
Responses were received from all major federal parties, except the PCs and the Bloc which were not received as of release time.
Here's where the parties stand on animal-welfare issues:
Criminal Code amendments:
- NDP and Greens: support stronger criminal laws for all animal species and tougher penalties for convicted animal abusers.
- Liberals: introduced and continue to support tougher penalties for animal abuse as per Bill C-17 amendments to the Criminal Code.
- Alliance: believes animal cruelty should be a “hybrid offence,” leaving tougher penalties to the discretion of the Crown.
Listing of endangered species:
- NDP and Greens: support endangered species legislation that puts scientists, not politicians, in charge of listing endangered species.
- Alliance: believes that “science plays a critical role in the decision to list endangered species.”
- Liberals: final decision on listing should rest with politicians, with input from arm's length experts.
Protecting endangered species habitat:
- NDP and Greens: support endangered species legislation that protects a species' habitat, not just residence.
- Alliance: supports habitat protection, but through cooperation between the federal government, the provinces, stakeholders and the public.
- Liberals: would reintroduce the Species At Risk Act “which would provide protection for endangered species and their critical habitats everywhere in Canada.”
Endangered species protection on lands under provincial jurisdiction:
- NDP and Greens: support the automatic application of federal endangered species legislation to provincial lands in the absence of parallel provincial legislation.
- Alliance: In the absence of harmonized legislation, supports the application of federal legislation to provincial lands, but only with the consent of the provinces.
- Liberals: Federal legislation would apply only if provincial or community initiatives offer insufficient protection.
Trapping:
- NDP and Greens: support the phasing out of leg-holding and body-holding traps for all animal species.
- Alliance: supports the development of humane animal traps.
- Liberals: supports improved trapping practices and humane trapping standards.
Whale capture and trade:
- NDP and Greens: support a ban on the import, export and capture of whales and other marine mammals.
- Alliance and Liberals: support international laws and the protection of threatened or endangered species.
Whale hunts:
- Alliance, NDP and Greens: opposed to the renewal of whale hunting in Canada.
- Liberals: opposed to commercial whaling, but supports whaling “for Aboriginal sustenance purposes, subject to conservation.”
Sealing regulations:
- NDP and Greens: support tougher commercial sealing regulations that would require sealers to verify a seal's death immediately following clubbing or shooting.
- Alliance and Liberals: support the review of sealing regulations that minimize animal suffering.
Hunting by children:
- Alliance, NDP and Greens: opposed to spending tax dollars to promote hunting by children as young as 12 years old.
- Liberals: Liberals support helping “young children hunt safely” without the expenditure of tax dollars.
Appeal to animal lovers:
- NDP, Greens and Alliance: believe their party would appeal to animal lovers.
- Liberals: committed “to the intrinsic value and inherent dignity of animals.”
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies is a registered charity representing over 100 humane societies, SPCAs and animal-protection groups across Canada, speaking collectively for more than 400,000 Canadians.
For more information, please contact:
Tanya O’Callaghan, Communications Coordinator
T: (613) 224-8072
tanyao@cfhs.ca
or
Shelagh MacDonald, Program Director
T: (613) 224-8072
shelaghm@cfhs.ca
