by SUSAN MANN
Farmers will have to wait and see what changes the government is introducing to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ authority and funding to determine what impact they’ll have on the agricultural community.
Craig MacBride, press secretary for Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Madeline Meilluer, says they plan to announce the details of their proposals near the end of October. “We’re not releasing details at this point.”
The government announced last October that it would propose legislative amendments to improve care for marine mammals at aquariums and zoos and strengthen animal welfare enforcement across Ontario after reports on the care and treatment of marine mammals at Marineland in Niagara Falls raised concerns about their welfare.
Among the changes the government says it will introduce are:
• Legislative amendments to the OSPCA Act to improve province-wide enforcement of animal protection measures in the Act.
• Creating new regulations to further protect marine mammals in captivity.
• Licensing zoos and aquariums.
MacBride says the community safety and correctional services ministry is hammering out the details now “about exactly what they (the OSPCA) will be covering and how their authority will change.”
One of the proposals calls for expanding the society’s authority, he notes. But the rules around standards of care won’t be changed as part of these proposals.
The amount of increased funding for the society hasn’t been worked out yet, MacBride says. By email he notes the government has given the society $500,000 annually since 2007 for the training of inspectors and agents. The OSPCA is primarily funded through donations.
Crystal Mackay, executive director of Farm & Food Care Ontario, says by email the terms around funding and more authority for the OSPCA are vague. “Until we see something in writing from the government, it’s all speculation.”
Mark Wales, Ontario Federation of Agriculture president, says they don’t support giving the society greater province-wide authority and more government funding. But Wales says they don’t have a firm sense yet of exactly what changes the government will introduce.
Wales is on an industry working group studying the proposals. Giving the OSPCA more government funding “is not something we asked for,” he notes. “They (OSPCA) raise all kinds of money now, why would we give them more money?”
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food should really be doing farm investigations and not the OSPCA, he explains. But the society can go with them “if that’s the compromise position. It needs to be OMAF (representatives) who have the responsibility because they have the expertise and the farm community will see them as fair.”
Agent Brad Dewar, OSPCA investigations and communications officer, referred questions to the community safety and correctional services minister’s office. “They’re probably best to speak to about what they may be looking at.” Currently “I’m not aware of what changes they’re looking at.” BF
Comments
Just another example of the widening gap between rural and urban and the Government playing for the most votes, the same way they do Wind Turbines.The city people that don't work with animals every day will end up having the most say in caring for them.You will have people whose only experience with animals is working at a dog rescue centre trying to tell people how to care for their Marine and Zoo mammals not to mention farm livestock!
The licensing of zoo's and aquariums is nothing but a money grab and will probably force some out of business..which is likely the main goal of some of these "animal welfare" agents.
wow they need more money?? Maybe they need to train the so called agents better including how to deal with people. They claim they work with the families when in actual fact they dont! They cant even tell the difference between a rotti/golden retriever and a lab! They walk around laughing at people as they are ripping their families apart. How the hell can someone trained in dogs and cats be able to tell if a horse is malnurished ??? Who can you complain to when an agent is harassing you?? NO ONE! They need more education on life than anything, come on they refuse to investigate the oones they should doing something about, oh wait they can't make money off of those. All this so called charity is worried about is how much money the can scam out of people!
Does the province and the minister not see the problem with giving an organized charity the same powers as the police ?
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SPCA's favorite method of raising funds is to charge someone with an offence and then agree to drop the charge for a hefty donation to SPCA. There is such an udder disconnect between deputized SPCA staff and livestock experience and common sense. (eg turtles to be put down in SPCA care at Newmarket were declared to have ringworm) This is no way for a premier ag minister to instill trust and good will toward rural Ont.
There is a major difference between educating and reprogramming. Most urban dwellers might have say 10 dogs (family pets) in a lifetime. They become members of the family living in the same space for years.
These people just can't understand the mindset of making a living with livestock, that don't live in the same space and with hundreds if not thousands there is not the same individual attachment. The measure of urban care for a pet is vastly different to a barn yard setting of best management practices.
The widening chasm of disconnect between rural and this ag minister is an ever widening void only cushioned by hollow promises and failed partisan initiatives.
This happened in huron county almost 20 years ago
Yes they need money to keep them fed and have a big bank account , I,m not talking about the animals either. OH maybe they think they should be classified as government workers big cheques and big pensions what a joke. Their training must allow them to act like they are above and beyond the rest of the people in Ontario. There are animals out there that are treated badly and the people should not have them , but why do they take them then give a big bill to look after them to the ones they just got them from. The people likely couldn't afford to look after them in the first place yet have the money to pay them to. There are some people that may have a mental lapse and don't realise what they're doing to their pets. The farmers shouldn't have to put up with them there should be the vets out there to help them understand if they have cattle or such that aren't in the greatest condition and help them get them better , and not the SPCA or the OMAF . Some people get a badge and it goes straight to their head and there,s no common sense left.
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The OSPCA actually have MORE rights than the police do. They are allowed to carry weapons but do not fall under the Police Act, which regulates how and when a weapon can be used etc. It is interesting that the province are considering changing their powers as a legal challenge has been launched into those very, ultra vires rights now allowed OSPCA, and backed up by the OPP. Funny how on one hand the Liberal government cries that they have no authority over OSPCA but are NOW saying they can change how the OSPCA do things?
Its wild how the government say they can and can,t do but then who makes the law? OSPCA is ran by a so call do-gooders and con people , who in fact find a dog that looks really sad looking and plaster its picture all over the world then blames every animal owner as being abusive and they then say they need millions to save them all and sell them to who.
Agree, some owners of livestock do neglect their animals, I'd say probably through ignorance or cost. Most farmers recognize these animals as their livelihood devastated at the loss of a calf or other livestock. The price of farming has increased to the extent that I'm sure there are some who wonder why they still farm and without farmers, there is no food, a concept many city folks don't grasp, I've heard it said "you just go to the store for food", sad. I'm not a farmer but live in rural area and see the hours these people work, they don't need the added stress of having an OSPCA officer on a power trip, make accusations without knowing the situation, like not acknowledging that a 30 year old retired horse not having the weight of a 2 year old, show me someone in their 90's in the same shape as in their 20's. I shudder when I hear these stories, how stupid can they be, obviously, pretty darn dumb. OSPCA should never have more force than our police force, who can they call to protect them from these intruders and what happened to innocent until proven guilty. Things need to change drastically and recommendations of farmers should be considered above all. The majority won't tolerate animal abuse.
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Im in court awaiting trial because Inspector in Muskoka says Lifetime ban for dog ownership for me. I agreed to have them inspect my home and dogs who are like my children. She said "no" after we had worked out with Crown that is would be ok. Reason: She said there are only two inspectors for Muskoka and they cant be inspecting my home due to lack of resources. So because they wont inspect my home it is easier to take my dogs to eliminate the problem.
After watching the OSPCA remove 56 animals from a neighbouring house (14 dogs and the rest were cats) I can see the need for OSPCA inspectors to make judgement calls on if an individual has the mental capacity and proper facilities to care for a pet.
I respect their decision. JMHO.
The OSPCA does not understand the real word. Some inspectors are good other one will take livestock with out a good reason.
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