SUPPORT NEEDED FROM THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY

   Five years ago, in 2013, the OLA, with the help of lawyer Kurtis Andrews, challenged the constitutionality of the OSPCA (Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Act. We challenged 3 different aspects of the Act. The judge rendered his verdict in early January and agreed with us on one plank of the Act that we challenged. We contended that it was unconstitutional to give police powers to a charity, since there was no oversight and no accountability. The judge agreed and struck down the Act, giving the government one year to fix the legislation. He also said that he thought the Act needed to be rewritten because the judgment affected over twenty parts of the Act.
   The Auditor General is going to appeal this judgment, and this is why I am trying to contact all groups in Ontario that represent livestock farming of all descriptions, or animals in general. If this judgment is not defended by the agricultural community, then we will be ignored when it comes time to rewrite the act. We already have a number of animal rights groups lining up as interveners, to make sure this case stands. But their reasons for wanting this Act opened up is not to necessarily help the farm community, and their design for this new legislation could make things far worse if we are not at the table to defend our livelihood.
   Speaking on the Agenda with Steve Paikin on Friday, Feb. 1st, Camille Labchuk from the group called “Animal Justice”, accused the Dairy Farmers of Ontario of animal abuse because they separated calves from their mothers when they were born. When asked by the host, Steve Paikin, if she was Vegan, she replied “Animal lawyers don’t eat their clients”. Obviously, there will be very little common ground to consider when people from groups like Animal Justice, become involved to help the government write the changes to the OSPCA legislation.
   The OLA has already submitted a draft of thoughts to the government on how we feel this Act could be approached when it is rewritten. We do not however, want to defend this case alone. We want everyone in agriculture to show the government that they want it fixed. If you do not look like you care, then the extremists will help the government write the new Act and the human element of the legislation will be omitted.
OLA Recommendations for a New Animal Care Act in Ontario – Draft 4