Ontario Government Promises Tougher Animal Protection Laws For Zoo Parks Like Marineland

A Submission from the Ontario Government with a Foreword by NAL publisher Doug Draper

By Doug Draper 

In the wake of a series of hard-hitting Toronto Star reports on charges of animal abuse at the iconic Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, the province’s Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Madeleine Meilleur has, this October 10. tabled amendments to relatively week legislation for protecting marine mammals kept in captivity in Ontario.

The amendments call for improved care and treatment of marine mammals kept in concrete tubs in Ontario but there is nothing there that calls for a ban on the import of marine mammals for exploitation at parts like Marineland, and there appears to be nothing in their that would require such facilities to hire veterinarians that have real, credible expertise in marine mammal biology.

Despite the tears Meilleur claimed she wept when reading the first Toronto Star stories this August, there is also no indication that she would look past the OSPCA and Niagara Falls Humane Society that failed to alert her ministry to concerns over animal treatment at Marineland for more than two decades and put together a blue ribbon panel of marine mammal experts to investigate parks like Marineland and offer the government recommendations for change in the laws.

Now here is the media release, dated October 10, from Meilleur’s ministry. Niagara At Large will have more to say about this development later.

Ontario Strengthening Protections for Animals – McGuinty Government Proposing Legislative Amendments to OSPCA Act

Ontario is proposing legislative amendments to improve care for marine mammals at aquariums and zoos and strengthen animal welfare enforcement. 

Recent reports on the care and treatment of marine mammals have raised concerns over the welfare of these species. The McGuinty Government takes these concerns seriously, that’s why it is launching a three-point plan that will: 

• Propose legislative amendments to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) Act to improve provincewide enforcement of animal protection measures in the Act.  They would also strengthen the governance of the OSPCA.
• Create new regulations to further protect marine mammals in captivity.
• Explore options for the licensing of zoos and aquariums.

Ontario will continue to work with the OSPCA and other animal welfare partners to fulfill these commitments. 

The government is also releasing the Animal Welfare Task Force’s report. The task force was established in response to the OSPCA-commissioned Meek-Lesage Review into animal sheltering in Ontario. 

QUOTES

“There is no place in our province for those who abuse animals. That’s why our government is continuing to fight for the protection of animals by working with our stakeholders to further strengthen the legislation to make sure all animals can live free of abuse and neglect.” — Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

FACTS 

• The OSPCA Act was last amended in 2009 to be the strongest animal welfare legislation in Canada.
• There are over 60 zoos in Ontario, which is more than the number of all other provinces combined.
• The Animal Welfare Task Force is made up of government ministries and stakeholders with connections to animal shelters, including the OSPCA.
• The task force concluded animals are well served by Ontario’s animal shelters but has recommended improvements in public health, the operation of shelters, and animal worker health and safety.

LEARN MORE

Read the report of the Animal Welfare Task Force

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