The following letter was sent to all Liberal Members of Parliament.
November 22, 2001
[Liberal Member of
Parliament]
House of Commons
Ottawa, K1A 0A6
Dear ________________________,
Re:
Bill C15b - Suggested Amendments
to the Animal Cruelty Provisions
I would like to outline Environment Voters’ position on the suggested amendments to the animal cruelty provisions in Bill C-15(b) that are now being circulated through the Liberal caucus.
Environment Voters is firmly opposed to any further amendments to the animal cruelty provisions in C-15(b) because deep compromises were made between Bill C-17 and C-15(b) to address industry concerns.
Further amendments suggested by industry and now being considered by some members of the Liberal caucus for C-15(b) would, for all practical purposes, render the new Criminal Code ineffective at protecting any animals from criminal cruelty. Let’s be clear, the underlying purpose of the amendments is to totally exempt industries which use animals lawfully – agriculture, research, fur fashion, hunting and fishing, etc. – from the animal cruelty provisions of the new Criminal Code. The side effect, however, would be that those who engaged in cruel practices outside of lawful industries would use the same amendments to avoid prosecutions or conviction. In Environment Voters’ view, passing legislation which will have no beneficial affect is deceitful. It is a deceit that we will not ask our supporters to accept.
Further amendments to the animal cruelty section of the Bill, as set out by animal industry lobby groups, have no rational foundation. They are a consequence of tactical fear-mongering. These agents are hired to put forward the interests of industry and do not represent the broader public’s legitimate concern about the incidents of extreme animal cruelty.
Environment Voters’ definition of "environment" is broad and inclusive: deliberately so, in order to encourage as many Canadians as possible to become fully engaged in the real day-to-day and electoral politics that shape public policy and decide the quality of their society. Animal welfare is included in our "environment" definition. Over 50% of Canadians share their lives with companion animals; so matters of animal cruelty are close to home. Cruelty to animals touches them and their families deeply. These people are Environment Voters' constituency. Whether they learn it through newsletters, direct mail, newspaper ads, earned media, or two minute television infomercials, failure to pass C-15(b)'s animal cruelty provisions as they are now drafted, will be proof that Liberal Members of Parliament believe there are more votes in cruelty than compassion.
Since assuming government in 1993, Liberal MPs have dismantled or downloaded much of the legislative framework that protected Canada's environment, wildlife, and domestic animals. Despite a number of initiatives and promises made by the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, in Throne Speeches, and on the campaign hustings, none of them have, in fact, yet led to measurable improvements. In the final legislative hours, the animal cruelty provisions in C-15(b) appear to be going down the same familiar, unacceptable path as endangered species legislation, Kyoto, and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. No promises have been kept, no goals have been met, and no measurable environmental and animal welfare improvements have been achieved. Environmental and animal protection is measurable. The measure is in the improvement in the quality of our air, water and soil; the robustness of ecosystems and wildlife populations; and in the reduction of acts of animal cruelty. It is not measured in numbers of meetings and conferences, generation of studies, pilot projects, good intentions or promises of action.
I am aware that some animal welfare organizations are willing to accept further compromises to C-15(b) in order to secure any law no matter how poor. These groups are well intentioned, but misguided. But more importantly for Members of Parliament, they have not been delegated to speak either for the animal welfare and environmental protection communities nor for the millions of Canadians who abhor animal cruelty and want their Liberal MPs to pass effective legislation. And, most emphatically, they do not represent the views of Environment Voters nor influence the decisions we make about our election campaigns.
The animal cruelty provisions in C-15(b) as it is now drafted are reasonable and a result of responsible compromise. They will not impede any lawful use of animals. They will help law enforcement officials and the courts deal with the most blatant acts of cruelty that take place outside of legitimate animal uses. The newest, proposed amendments to the animal cruelty provisions, however, will render C15b useless at protecting animals against cruelty.
On behalf of our supporters, our Board of Directors, and the millions of Canadians who are deeply touched by the animal cruelty atrocities that often directly affect their own lives and are reported in newspapers, on radio, and on television every week, I urge you to vote in favor of the animal cruelty provisions in Bill C-15(b) as they are now drafted – without any amendments.
Sincerely,
Stephen Best
Director