COURT CHALLENGE OF OSPCA POLICING POWERS

   PERTH — The Ontario Landowners Association’s legal challenge that could cripple the policing powers of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) will finally have its day in court. 

 The landowners argue that the search and seizure powers of the OSPCA go beyond what even the police are allowed to do and that is unconstitutional, said Ottawa-based agricultural lawyer Kurtis Andrews. The OSPCA had $18 million in revenues in 2016. About $7 million came from donations, while $5.3 million came from provincial grants.
   The OSPCA is a private company but has police powers and answers largely only to itself, the landowners’ court filing said.