Ontario is moving ahead with enhanced standards of care for marine mammals – such as dolphins, belugas and walruses – to ensure both greater protection and improved treatment.
These new standards of care, reflecting advice from an expert report by University of British Columbia marine biologist Dr. David Rosen, will be among the best in the world.
New standards would be developed in a number of areas including:
The size of pools used to house marine mammals
Environmental considerations such as bacteria content, noise and lighting
Appropriate social groupings
Regulations for the handling and display of marine mammals
The government will establish a technical advisory group composed of veterinarians, animal welfare groups, industry, and enforcement partners to provide advice on the final standards and timing of their implementation. This group will report back with their findings within six months.
The government will also be moving forward with legislation to prohibit the future breeding and acquisition of orcas (killer whales) and establish Animal Welfare Committees at every facility with marine mammals. These committees will provide both oversight and access to additional protections such as veterinarians with expertise in marine mammals.
“Our government is moving forward with stronger protections for marine mammals to ensure these unique animals receive the best possible treatment and care. This is something that Ontarians expect and these animals deserve. These higher standards of care, along with prohibiting any future breeding or acquisition of orcas in Ontario, are both the right thing to do and builds on our government’s ongoing efforts to have the strongest animal protection laws in Canada.”
Yasir Naqvi, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
QUICK FACTS
- Ontario will be the first province to set specific standards of care for marine mammals.
- Ontario has the toughest animal protection laws in Canada.
- There are over 60 zoos and aquariums in Ontario — more than any other province.
- Ontario provides the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) with $5.5 million annually to strengthen the protection of animals.
LEARN MORE
Find out about the work of the OSPCA
Read the University of British Columbia Report on Standards of Care for Marine Mammals in Captivity
Ministère de la Sécurité communautaire et des Services correctionnels
L’Ontario renforce la protection des mammifères marins
La province prend des mesures pour mieux protéger les mammifères marins et interdire l’acquisition et la reproduction en captivité des épaulards
L’Ontario va de l’avant avec des normes de soins améliorées pour les mammifères marins – dont les dauphins, les bélugas et les morses – afin d’assurer à ces animaux à la fois une plus grande protection et un meilleur traitement.
Ces nouvelles normes de soins, fondées sur les recommandations d’un rapport d’expert rédigé par David Rosen, un biologiste respecté spécialisé en vie marine de l’Université de Colombie-Britannique, seront parmi les plus rigoureuses au monde
De nouvelles normes seront ainsi élaborées sur divers sujets, dont les suivants :
- Taille des bassins utilisés pour garder les mammifères marins;
- Facteurs environnementaux, comme la teneur en bactéries, le bruit et l’éclairage;
- Groupements sociaux appropriés;
- Règlements relatifs à la manipulation et à l’exposition des mammifères marins
Le gouvernement mettra en place un groupe consultatif technique, composé de vétérinaires ainsi que de représentants de groupes de protection des animaux, de l’industrie et de partenaires de l’application de la loi, pour fournir des conseils sur les normes définitives et sur le calendrier de leur mise en œuvre. Ce groupe communiquera ses conclusions dans un délai de six mois.
Le gouvernement ira aussi de l’avant avec une nouvelle législation pour interdire la reproduction en captivité et l’acquisition de ces animaux à l’avenir et pour établir des comités pour la protection des animaux dans tous les établissements où se trouvent des mammifères marins.
Ces comités seront chargés de la supervision et fourniront des protections additionnelles, dont l’accès à des vétérinaires spécialisés dans les mammifères marins.
CITATIONS
« Notre gouvernement va de l’avant en renforçant la protection des mammifères marins afin que ces animaux uniques reçoivent les meilleurs soins et traitements possibles. C’est ce à quoi s’attendent les Ontariens et aussi ce que ces animaux méritent. Ces normes de soins plus rigoureuses et l’interdiction d’acquérir et de reproduire en captivité des épaulards à l’avenir en Ontario sont des mesures appropriées qui s’inscrivent dans le cadre des efforts continus de notre gouvernement visant à doter l’Ontario des lois les plus rigoureuses du Canada pour la protection des animaux. »
- Yasir Naqvi, ministre de la Sécurité communautaire et des Services correctionnels
FAITS EN BREF
- L’Ontario possède la législation la plus rigoureuse du Canada pour la protection des animaux.
- Il y a plus de 60 zoos et aquariums en Ontario — plus que dans toute autre province du Canada.
- La province accorde à la Société de protection des animaux de l’Ontario une subvention de 5,5 millions de dollars par an pour renforcer la protection des animaux.
POUR EN SAVOIR DAVANTAGE
- Renseignez-vous sur le travail de la SPAO (en anglais seulement)
- Lisez le Rapport de l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique sur les normes de soins pour les mammifères marins en captivité
The Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act Is Now Law
Last spring the Ontario Government introduced temporary measures to ensure the
welfare of animals, after the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals announced it was withdrawing enforcement. Temporary measures were necessary
while the province worked with animal welfare stakeholders to develop a new
provincial enforcement model.
We have now passed the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act – also known as PAWS.
Ontario is the first province in Canada to introduce a provincially-operated
enforcement system that will include locally deployed provincial inspectors, and
specialized inspectors for zoos, aquariums, horses and other livestock.
The public demands tough enforcement to ensure the welfare of our animals. This new
oversight framework will be accountable and transparent and will introduce the
strongest penalties in Canada for offenders.
Under this made-in-Ontario model, the province will have: the highest degree of
direct provincial oversight and direct accountability and transparency for animal
welfare enforcement and investigation; it will have flexibility to rapidly respond
to operational uncertainties, such as a surge in call volume; and it will have
stable funding set by the province.
Provincial inspectors will have the authority to conduct investigations and perform
enforcement activities related farm livestock. Inspectors will have the expertise
required to perform this work through extensive training, while also having the
option to consult veterinarians and industry experts, if required. As a further
measure of oversight, we will be keeping the Animal Care Review Board in place and
there will be on-going consultation with the agriculture sector to develop and
maintain agriculture-specific standards of care.
Our new law will provide inspectors with the specific powers they need to carry out
their duties rather than the broad, police-like powers that were provided under the
OSPCA Act. A mandatory code of conduct for the chief animal welfare inspector and
animal welfare inspectors will be established. Under the Provincial Animal Welfare
Act, a one-window public complaints process to review any complaints submitted by
the public on an animal welfare inspector’s conduct will be developed.
We have also strengthened provisions related to harming an animal that works with a
peace office, or service animal.
To date I have received favourable feedback on the PAWS approach to be desirable.
During committee hearings, Keith Currie from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
said, “This bill is a step in the right direction.” Mike Zimmerman from Animal
Welfare Watch Ontario said, “This bill is the best law in Canada, possibly North
America, and maybe the best in the world.”
Earlier this year, our government set up a call centre. It is a toll-free line for
the public to report an animal in distress or animal abuse. Call 1-833-9ANIMAL.
Enforcement is now the responsibility of the province. As stakeholders indicated,
vigorous training and oversight is imperative for the efficacy of inspectors. The
chief animal welfare inspector – appointed by Ontario’s Solicitor General – and the
provincial inspectors are subject to oversight by the Auditor General, the
Ombudsman, and the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
PAWS is the first step to a permanent enforcement model, a detailed oversight
framework, and a modernized legislative framework. For development of future
long-term regulations, the Ontario government will be setting up a multidisciplinary
advisory table made up of a wide range of experts including veterinarians,
agricultural representatives, academics, animal advocates and others to provide
ongoing advice to the ministry.
Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk