Animal Welfare and Rights in Canada: Progress and Challenges

In Canada, animal welfare and rights have made significant progress in recent years. The Canadian government has implemented various laws to protect animals from cruelty and abuse.

The Animal Protection Act, which came into effect in 2015, prohibits animal cruelty and provides for the seizure of animals in cases of neglect or abuse. This law has helped to reduce animal cruelty cases across the country.

However, despite these advancements, animal welfare and rights in Canada still face many challenges. According to the article, over 1 million animals are killed in Canadian shelters every year.

The Canadian government has taken steps to address this issue, but more needs to be done to ensure that all animals are treated with respect and care.

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Canada's primary federal animal protection legislation is found in Sections 444 to 447 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits causing unnecessary pain, suffering, or injury to animals.

The Criminal Code includes special protections for certain farm animals like cattle, horses, and pigs, but excludes chicken and fish, which make up the majority of animals raised and killed for food in Canada.

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Federal laws like the Health of Animals Act and the Meat Inspection Act regulate the welfare of animals during transport and slaughter, but permit electric prods and do not require chickens and domesticated rabbits to be unconscious before slaughter.

Canadian provinces have varying provisions for farm animal welfare, but animal agriculture is often exempt from anti-cruelty and duty of care provisions of provincial animal welfare legislation.

Animal testing for cosmetics was made illegal in 2023, and in Ontario, Manitoba, Newfoundland, Labrador, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, animals used in research are exempt from duty of care and/or prohibitions on causing distress.

The federal government has introduced bills to modernize and improve animal cruelty laws, but none have become law, leaving Sections 444 to 447 of the Criminal Code outdated and insufficient.

Private member's bills, such as Bill C-246, have been introduced to consolidate and improve animal welfare legislation, but were defeated in 2016.

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Animal testing in Canada is a concerning issue. 3.57 million animals were used in experiments in 2015, with 76,646 experiencing severe pain.

Cosmetic testing on animals was legal in Canada until 2023, when a bill was passed to ban it. The ban includes the sale of cosmetics tested on animals.

Canada's animal welfare standards are not as comprehensive as they could be. The World Organisation for Animal Health's (OIE) standards are not incorporated into federal legislation, and provinces have varying laws.

The OIE's standards focus on transport, slaughter, and production systems. All Codes of Practice in Canada should meet or exceed these standards, but there is a disparity across provinces.

Canada received a D rating for not having adequate legislation protecting wildlife in captivity, working animals, and animals used in research and pets. An estimated 1.4 million wild animals are kept as exotic pets in Canada, with their ownership and trade governed by inadequate laws.

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Farm animals in Canada are often raised in intensive systems with little room to move and are subjected to painful procedures. The National Farm Animal Council of Canada's Codes of Practice guide farm animal care, but these requirements are not legally mandated.

The Canadian government has pledged support for the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare, but national regulations protecting animals are not as comprehensive as they could be.

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Animal use and testing in Canada is a concerning issue. According to the Canadian Council for Animal 2015 Animal Data Report, 3.57 million animals were used in experiments.

Severe pain was experienced by 76,646 of these animals, which is a staggering number. Testing cosmetics on animals was legal in Canada until 2023, and it's only recently been banned.

The ban on cosmetic testing was introduced to the Canadian Senate in December 2015, and it's a step in the right direction for animal welfare.

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In Canada, over 660 million chickens were slaughtered in 2015, a significant increase from 621 million in 2007. This large number highlights the significant animal agriculture industry in the country.

The majority of these chickens were raised in battery cages, with 80% of Canadian egg-laying hens living in such conditions as of 2012. This raises concerns about the welfare of these animals.

Egg Farmers of Canada has pledged to phase out battery cages by 2036, which is a positive step towards improving animal welfare. However, as of 2024, only 18% of Canadian egg production is cage-free.

Canada also allows the use of veal crates, which confine calves in a way that can be detrimental to their health and well-being. This is a concerning practice that needs to be addressed.

The National Farm Animal Care Council has pledged to phase out gestation crates by 2029, but this commitment was initially set for 2024. This delay highlights the challenges in implementing changes to animal agriculture practices.

In addition to these issues, Canada's fur farms raise millions of animals each year. In 2014, over 3 million mink and fox were raised on 230 and 50 fur farms, respectively.

Animal testing is a significant issue in Canada, where 3.57 million animals were used in experiments in 2015.

Many of these animals, 76,646 to be exact, experienced severe pain that was near, at, or above the pain tolerance threshold of unanesthetized conscious animals.

Until 2023, testing cosmetics on animals was legal in Canada.

A bill to ban testing cosmetics on animals, as well as the sale of cosmetics tested on animals, was introduced to the Canadian Senate in December 2015.

The ban on cosmetic testing was finally implemented in 2023.

Animal activism is a significant force in Canada, with major international groups like Mercy for Animals (MFA) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, as well as homegrown groups like Toronto Pig Save and the Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals.

These organizations work tirelessly to raise awareness about animal welfare issues, promote legislative changes, and push for stronger animal protection laws. In 2010, Toronto Pig Save started the international Save Movement, where activists stop trucks transporting animals to slaughter and hold vigils for them.

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A 2014 MFA investigation of a dairy farm in British Columbia found workers kicking, beating, and hanging cows, leading to a guilty verdict and a fine of 5,600 Canadian dollars for Hybrid Turkeys.

The Canadian government has also shown support for international animal welfare standards, with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) standards being incorporated into law or policy. In fact, all Codes of Practice in Canada should meet or exceed OIE standards.

However, there is a disparity across the provinces in terms of what animal welfare legislation contains, and the current federal level legislation does not incorporate the OIE standards on animals used for scientific research.

Disaster response is a critical aspect of animal welfare in Canada. The 2021 Abbotsford floods, which were the largest-ever agricultural and animal welfare disaster in B.C. history, highlighted the need for better disaster management.

In response to this disaster, the British Columbia government has taken steps to include animals in risk assessments and evacuation plans. This is a significant shift in how they approach disaster management.

The Emergency and Disaster Management Act, passed in 2023, makes animals a priority in emergency planning. This means that animals will be considered in evacuation plans and risk assessments, just like humans.

This new approach has the potential to save countless animal lives in the event of a disaster.

Animal cruelty is prohibited under the Criminal Code of Canada, and contravention of certain sections can result in fines, imprisonment, probation, and house arrest.

The court may also make an order prohibiting ownership, custody, control, or living with an animal or bird for as long as is deemed appropriate, with a minimum of five years for a second offence.

British Columbia's penalties for a provincial animal cruelty offence are up to CA$75,000 and up to two years imprisonment.

In Quebec, the Act to Improve the Legal Situation of Animals provides various degrees of fines for offences relating to animal cruelty or abuse.

The Federal government should play a more active role in ensuring consistent protection for all animals across the country, working with provinces and territories to improve animal welfare standards.

Enforcement Mechanisms are in place to hold individuals accountable for animal cruelty.

Contravention of Sections 445 and 446 of the Criminal Code can result in a violator being found guilty of an offence punishable with fines, imprisonment, probation and house arrest.

The court may also make an order prohibiting ownership, custody, control or living with an animal or bird for as long as is deemed appropriate. In the case of a second offence, this will be for a minimum of five years.

Most provinces and territories have fines for animal cruelty offences, and some also have imprisonment penalties. British Columbia’s penalties for a provincial animal cruelty offence are up to CA$75,000 and up to two years imprisonment.

In Ontario, the Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act established fines of CA$75,000 for a minor first offence and up to CA$1 million for a major corporate offence.

Quebec’s Act to Improve the Legal Situation of Animals provides various degrees of fines for offences relating to animal cruelty or abuse.

Holding countries accountable for animal welfare is crucial for their citizens and the animals themselves. World Animal Protection is calling on all governments to improve their animal welfare standards immediately.

According to a nationally representative poll, 73% of Canadians believe it is essential for the government to pass stronger legislation to protect animals and prevent them from experiencing pain and suffering.

Canada did make some progress by banning animal fighting, bestiality, shark finning, and the keeping, breeding, and capture of cetaceans for public entertainment. However, these initiatives did not improve the country's overall ranking in animal welfare.

The Federal government should play a more active role in ensuring consistent protection for all animals across the country. This includes working with provinces and territories to establish a unified animal welfare standard.

Canada should be a leader in animal welfare, not a laggard. By taking concrete steps to improve animal welfare, the country can set a positive example for others to follow.

If you're concerned about animal welfare and rights in Canada, there are several organizations you can support, including Mercy for Animals, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Direct Action Everywhere, and Humane Society International.

Toronto Pig Save began the international Save Movement in 2010, where activists hold vigils for animals being transported to slaughter.

Canadian freelance journalist Jessica Scott-Reid has been writing about animal rights and activism in Canada since 2014, helping to raise awareness about the issue.

The Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals works to educate Canadians about farm animal welfare, promote reduced consumption of animal products, and push for legislative changes like banning battery cages and gestation crates.

Animal Justice lobbies for stronger animal welfare legislation and litigates on behalf of animals in Canada.

Undercover investigations, such as those conducted by Mercy for Animals, have exposed animal cruelty on farms in Canada, including a 2014 investigation of a dairy farm in British Columbia and a 2015 investigation of a Hybrid Turkeys farm.

Following the 2015 investigation, Hybrid Turkeys was found guilty of animal cruelty and fined 5,600 Canadian dollars.

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