! Support Animal Cruelty Bill C-22, ask that it be reintroduced as soon as possible

From the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies website:

No More Stalling!

October 5, 2004

Now that Parliament is back in session, it is time to remind politicians about the animal cruelty amendments to the Criminal Code, most recently named Bill C-22.  This Bill was passed unanimously and repeatedly in the House of Commons over the past year but has been repeatedly held up by the Senate, and died for the 4^th time in May when Parliament prorogued.  Members of Parliament need to hear from their constituents that this Bill is extremely important to Canadians and it is time to pass it with no further amendments.

The CFHS urges Canadians to write to Justice Minister Irwin Cotler and to their MPs expressing their support for the Bill and asking for it to be reintroduced as soon as possible.  We are also asking MPs to encourage Senators to support the Bill.

Over the past year the Senate has acted in contravention with public opinion on this Bill.  With the House’s acceptance of one amendment from the Senate and a slight modification to another last June, the House of Commons voted unanimously in support of Bill C-22.  At that time, the Bill also received the support of many animal use industries, such as farmers and researchers, who previously had concerns about it.  With such enormous support from all sides - animal lovers, animal users, veterinarians, police associations and ordinary Canadians - it really is time to end the stalling and pass this Bill.

Current legislation regarding animal cruelty was written in 1892 and does not provide adequate protection for animals, nor does it allow for appropriate punishments.  We need a law that recognizes animal abuse as a serious crime and a form of violence in our society.

To those of you who wrote letters, sent emails, faxes and made phone calls in support of Bill C-22, we thank you on behalf of animals across Canada.  Justice Ministers in office during the 4-year life of these amendments have repeatedly stated that they have received more correspondence in support of this Bill than any other in history.   If you wish, use this sample letter to ask your Member of Parliament to support the legislation.

Click here to find your local Member of Parliament. 

You can reach Justice Minister, Irwin Cotler at:

Justice and Attorney General
Wellington St, Ottawa  ON, K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-992-6762
Fax:613-995-0121
Email: cotler.i@parl.gc.ca

Stay tuned for more updates!

Questions and answers about the animal cruelty bill.

More information on the CFHS website

View letters supporting Bill

Animal Cruelty Amendments
Die for the 4th Time!

May 18, 2004

Friday, May 14th was another sad day in the seemingly unending saga of the animal cruelty amendments to the Criminal Code.  The Senate adjourned on the 14th and, with an election call expected this week, Parliament will prorogue until the fall.  To make it even more frustrating, the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs had finally scheduled Bill C-22 for discussion on May 19th.  The Bill had been referred to the Committee on April 20th, but just couldn’t get on the agenda.

To those of you who wrote letters, sent emails, faxes and made phone calls in support of Bill C-22, we thank you on behalf of animals across Canada.  The public has spoken loudly and clearly in support of this Bill, but unfortunately, the Senate wouldn’t listen.  The Senate has continued to defy the wishes of the Canadian public, the House of Commons, veterinarians, police associations, farmers, researchers and many other groups.  In fact, there is so much broad support for the Bill that it is a violation of democratic process that the Senate is blocking this Bill.

Justice Ministers in office during the 4-year life of these amendments have repeatedly stated that they have received more correspondence in support of this Bill than any other in history.  Last June, the Bill was supported by the industry groups that had previously opposed it - hunting, farming, trapping groups, etc.  These groups now support the Bill.

The CFHS will be watching closely to see what develops in the government and to see to it that Bill C-22 is brought back in the fall. 

Stay tuned for updates.

For more information please visit the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies website: http://www.cfhs.ca/CriminalCode/index.htm

Animal Cruelty Bill C-22 running out of time!

May 7, 2004

We NEED your help NOW!!  We are on the verge of losing Bill C-22, the Bill that will amend our outdated and weak animal cruelty laws!!

The Senate is poised to let Bill C-22 die on the order paper when Parliament adjourns on May 21^st for an end-of-June election. 

The Bill, formerly C-10B, passed through the House of Commons on March 8^th and was referred to the Senate.  On April 20^th it passed Second Reading in the Senate and was referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee.  If the Bill is to be passed before adjournment, it MUST get on the agenda at their next meeting, May 12^th.  It is possible the Bill could be passed in the 2 weeks that remain.  However, it is not currently on the Committee’s agenda.

We are asking you PLEASE to phone, fax and/or email Senator George Furey, Senator Jack Austin and Prime Minister Paul Martin to tell them how strongly you feel about  Bill C-22.  Tell them how much this Bill is needed to increase protection for animals.  The current law was enacted in 1892 and is highly inadequate!!!

You can also tell them that there probably has NEVER been another bill that has such HUGE support from the public as well as from both sides of the issue that has had such a rough time in Parliament.  Justice Ministers in office during the 4- year life of these amendments have repeatedly stated that they have received more correspondence in support of this Bill than any other in history.  Last June, this Bill was supported by the industry groups that had previously opposed it - hunting and farming groups, etc.  It was passed unanimously in the House last June.  It is just OUTRAGEOUS that the Senate continues to stand in its way.  This Bill is not controversial anywhere except in the Senate.

The Senate Committee meets next Wed, May 12th.  We need you to take action NOW and get as many supporters as you can to do the same.  If you need more info, please call our office (1-888-678-2347).

Here's the contact info you need:

Senator Jack Austin
Government Leader in the Senate
Tel:613-992-1437
Fax:613-995-7329
email: austij@sen.parl.gc.ca

Senator George Furey
Chair, Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Tel: 613-943-7805
Fax: 613-943-7807
email: fureyge@sen.parl.gc.ca

Prime Minister Paul Martin
Tel: 613-992-4211
Fax: 613-941-6900
email: pm@pm.gc.ca

The Bill has been adopted at all stages and passed by the House of Commons. On April 20, 2004 it passed Second Reading in the Senate and has been sent to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee where it faces further debate.  The CFHS will be making a submission to the Committee but are concerned with time constraints due to the possibility of an election being called.

The Bill has been brought back in the same form as it appeared when it left the House of Commons on June 6, 2003.  At that time, the Bill had received the support of all parties in the House of Commons, of some 75 industry groups representing farmers, hunters and researchers, and of humane societies, SPCAs and other animal welfare groups across the country.  We expect these groups and individuals to reiterate their support for the Bill C-22.

The CFHS will update this page with the latest progress of Bill C-22 over the coming days. 

The amendments to the animal cruelty provisions of the Criminal Code, formerly known as Bill C-10B, had died on the order paper when Parliament prorogued last November, after spending nearly four years in the House of Commons and the Senate.  Are you looking for more background on Bill C-22 and the amendments being proposed to this legislation? Read our latest article in Animal Welfare in Focus.

From the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies website: http://www.cfhs.ca/CriminalCode/index.htm

Updated: March 18, 2004

ANIMAL CRUELTY BILL BROUGHT BACK BEFORE PARLIAMENT

On Monday, March 8, the House of Commons voted to bring back before Parliament the amendments to the animal cruelty provisions of the Criminal Code.  The Bill, formerly known as C-10B, will now be referred to as Bill C-22.

Now that it has been adopted at all stages and passed by the House of Commons, Bill C-22 is moving to the Senate, where it faces further debate by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. 

The Bill has been brought back in the same form as it appeared when it left the House of Commons on June 6, 2003.  At that time, the Bill had received the support of all parties in the House of Commons, of some 75 industry groups representing farmers, hunters and researchers, and of humane societies, SPCAs and other animal welfare groups across the country.  We expect these groups and individuals to reiterate their support for the Bill C-22.

The CFHS will update this page with the latest progress of Bill C-22 over the coming days.  Check back soon to see how you can help make Bill C-22 become law once and for all.

The amendments to the animal cruelty provisions of the Criminal Code, formerly known as Bill C-10B, had died on the order paper when Parliament prorogued last November, after spending nearly four years in the House of Commons and the Senate.  Are you looking for more background on Bill C-22 and the amendments being proposed to this legislation? Read our latest article in Animal Welfare in Focus.

For more information please visit: www.cfhs.ca

Updated: March 1, 2004

! THE ANIMAL CRUELTY BILL NEEDS YOUR URGENT HELP

We need your help now to make sure Bill C-10B returns on the government agenda this spring.

When Parliament prorogued last November, a number of Bills died on the order paper -- including the amendments to Canada's animal cruelty laws.

Last week the government published a list of 11 Bills they plan to bring back before Parliament immediately.  Unfortunately, the animal cruelty Bill was not on the list.

Jacques Saada, Government Leader in the House of Commons, has said that Bill C-10B remains very important, and that no final decision has been made about its future.  He noted that he would personally “very much like to see the Bill come back.”

Help us encourage Mr. Saada to bring Bill C-10B back before Parliament:

Please contact Mr. Saada, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler and your Member of Parliament to tell them:

• Canada's animal cruelty laws are more than 110 years old -- they are outdated and no longer reflect the realities and beliefs of this country;
   
• The amendments to the animal cruelty laws have been before Parliament for nearly five years now;
   
• A majority of Canadians support this legislation, which last June also garnered the support of all five parties in the House of Commons;
   
• The Bill to amend the animal cruelty provisions of the Criminal Code (last known as Bill C-10B), must be brought back before Parliament immediately.

Click here to read the CFHS' letter to Mr. Saada. Feel free to take wording and ideas from our letter when drafting your own.

You can contact Mr. Saada by e-mail at: saadaj@parl.gc.ca; by phone at (613) 995-9287; or by fax at (613) 992-7273.  You can also reach Mr. Cotler by e-mail at: cotlei@parl.gc.ca; by phone at (613) 995-0121; or by fax at (613) 992-6762.

To find your MP’s name and contact information, please follow this link to the Parliamentary website: http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/PostalCode.asp?lang=E&source=sm.

Please act quickly!

For more information see: http://www.cfhs.ca/CriminalCode/index.htm

or contact:

Tanya O'Callaghan, Communications Coordinator

Canadian Federation of Humane Societies
Suite 102, 30 Concourse Gate
Nepean, Ontario K2E 7V7
(613) 224-8072
Toll free in Canada: 1-888-678-CFHS
Fax: 613-723-0252
www.cfhs.ca

! Liberal Senators Vote To Derail Animal Cruelty Bill

Nov. 7/03  Press release: 23 Liberal Senators Vote To Kill Animal Cruelty Legislation
 

Call upon the 23 Liberal Senators to reverse their position and vote for the passage of Bill C-10(b).

November 8, 2003

Friends, As you may have already heard, yesterday was an extremely sad day for Canadian animals.

We still need your urgent help to pass Bill C-10B. The following 22 Liberal Senators ignored the Canadian public and our elected House by referring the Bill back to Committee again.

Because of the timeline, this means there is a VERY REAL probability that the Bill will not pass, before Parliament adjourns for the year.

It means no tougher penalties for those convicted of the most serious crimes against animals.

It means that four years of hard work, millions of letters, phone calls, faxes and emails from individuals and groups all across Canada were for nothing.

It means the Bill is effectively dead, and the changes it called for are unlikely to ever become law.

PLEASE - help us one more time! Please call the following Liberal Senators right now and tell them to stop ignoring both the Canadian public and their own government.

PLEASE call TODAY - the animals are running out of time.

Here is the list of Liberal Senators who voted to sideline C-10B: You can call direct or use this Toll Free link 1-866-599-4999 (During office hours).

BACON, Lise (613) 995-6194

BAKER, George S. (613) 947-2517

BIRON, Michel (613) 992-0923

BRYDEN, John G. (613) 947-7305

CHALIFOUX, Thelma J. (613) 943-0445

CHAPUT, Maria (613) 943-2435

CHRISTENSEN, Ione Jean (613) 996-5937

COOLS, Anne Clare (613) 992-2808

CORBIN, Eymard Georges (613) 996-8485

CORDY, Jane Marie (613) 995-8409

GILL, Aurélien (613) 943-7851

HERVIEUX-PAYETTE, Céline (613) 947-8008

JOYAL, Serge (613) 943-0434

LAPOINTE, Jean (613) 992-0166

MAHEU, Shirley (613) 947-2212

MOORE, Wilfred P. (613) 947-1921

PEARSON, Landon Carter (Lucy) (613) 947-7134

PÉPIN, Lucie (613) 996-1726

PHALEN,Gerard A.(Jigger)(613) 996-4680

SIBBESTON, Nick G. (613) 943-7790

SPARROW, Herbert Orval (613) 996-5994

WATT, Charlie (613) 992-2981

Call the Prime Minister's Office and ask him to encourage these Liberal Senators to do the right thing and reverse their position. It would be an important legacy for him and his government.

For further information:

Contact the Animal Alliance office at 416-462-9541, or email: info@animalalliance.ca

Call Liz White, Director, Animal Alliance of Canada, 416-462-9541 (23) or 416-809-4371 (cell) and Barry MacKay, Animal Protection Institute, 905-472-9731, Anne Gibson, Toronto Coalition for Anti-Cruelty Legislation, 416-504-4310 (p).

Thank you for helping!