Vote for Animals in the Federal Election! 🇨🇦

The NDP responded to our survey with a detailed written response identifying the areas of animal protection that they support, rather than answering the questions directly.

In their response, they emphasized a commitment to safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity, expressed openness to legislation that would protect elephants, great apes, and big cats from captivity, and voiced strong support for banning live horse exports for slaughter.

View the full response here.

The protection of animal welfare, including that of farm animals, is primarily the responsibility of Quebec and the provinces. Quebec has its own animal welfare laws, including the Animal Welfare and Safety Act. Quebec’s law is more general in scope; it addresses a wide range of animal protection interests.

This law contains a whole chapter on care obligations, and takes into consideration the fact that:

• the condition of animals has become a societal concern;
• animals contribute to the quality of life of Quebec society;
• the human species has an individual and collective responsibility to ensure to the welfare and safety of animals;
• the animal is a being endowed with sensitivity having biological imperatives;
• the State considers it essential to intervene in order to establish a regime effective legal and administrative measures to ensure the welfare and safety of the animal.

The Bloc Québécois believes that the scope of Quebec law is quite broad and, although there is always room for improvement, it still has the objective of “establishing rules to ensure the protection of animals with a view to guaranteeing their well-being and safety throughout their lives.”

Regulating the humane transportation of animals is one of the elements of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) mandate. We believe it would be wise to act on export conditions more comprehensively (compared to Bill C-355), in order to make them safe for animals, in particular:

• by reducing the number of hours an animal can travel without water, food or rest;
• by defining the size and material of the cages/enclosures used for transport, or even setting up specially designed areas;
• by regulating the temperature and ambient noise, knowing that horses are animals with much more acute senses than humans;
• by studying the impacts of a general ban on the export of live animals overseas for slaughter (as several countries have already done).

The Bloc Québécois has always tried to maintain a balanced position on this type of issue. Bill C-355, prohibiting the export of horses for slaughter, is a very delicate issue and is based on noble intentions.

Thus, the Bloc Québécois’ decision to vote AGAINST the principle of the bill should not be interpreted as a desire to reduce or deny the facts that led to the presentation of this bill. On the contrary, Canada does export live horses by air for slaughter under conditions that, even if they comply with Canadian regulations and laws, are criticized by many. We believe that we should review these regulations before proceeding with the study of a bill prohibiting this transport. This is what we wish to work on by improving current laws and regulations so that these rules apply to all animals and not just horses (equines).

We believe that action should first be taken on export conditions, in order to make them safe for animals, for example: by re-evaluating the number of hours an animal can travel without water, food or rest; by defining the size and material of the cages/enclosures used for transport, or even by setting up specially designed areas; by regulating the temperature and ambient noise, knowing that horses are animals with much more acute senses than humans.

All animals are important, and many of them, like horses, have contributed and continue to contribute to building and developing Canada and Quebec (cattle, poultry, sheep, goats). Furthermore, without healthy animals, our agricultural and agri-food industries would collapse.

The reality is that Canada and Quebec also export other types of live animals (by various means of transport). It would therefore be interesting and wise to consider other types of transport, particularly road transport, which is much more common.

However, given the procedure and practices of the House, we were unable to amend the bill, since our amendments to strengthen animal transport standards would broaden the scope of the bill, and therefore change its principle. Hence our dissenting position.

The Bloc Québécois supports the global fight against environmental crime. The joint global operation by INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO) resulted in the seizure of specimens or products derived from protected species.

Furthermore, the Quebec government is already taking action to analyze and prevent the risks of climate-related infectious diseases. The Quebec National Institute of Public Health monitors zoonoses, such as Lyme disease. The Quebec Multi-Party Observatory on Zoonoses and Adaptation to Climate Change tracks the evolution of zoonoses and proposes concrete actions for prevention and adaptation.

In Quebec, the Regulation respecting animals in captivity “determines the conditions for capturing and importing an animal, the standards and conditions for keeping an animal in captivity, selling and disposing of an animal, as well as the species permitted for keeping without a permit.”

In the federal government, the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act “aims to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) by establishing rules concerning international and interprovincial trade in certain wild species.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), wild animals “are the source of more than 70% of all emerging infectious diseases in humans, many of which are caused by novel viruses.” In April 2021, the WHO recommended suspending the sale of live wild mammals.

The Bloc Québécois supports strengthening regulations aimed at controlling health risks and ensuring animal welfare if the will and legislative powers of Quebec are respected.

The agricultural model is based on a diversity of crops and livestock. Livestock farmers are making considerable efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, and Quebec is a pioneer in this area. The plant-based protein industry is booming, and we are concerned about the consequences this could have on soil quality. Obviously, these producers must benefit from research and development and climate resilience programs that will improve practices, but we are not ready to commit to reducing livestock production.

Grain and oilseed cultivation is very important in Canada, but it is often genetically modified, which, in the long term, can lead to trade barriers for countries with stricter regulations, such as the European Union.

Once again, in December 2015, Quebec unanimously adopted the Animal Welfare and Safety Act, which recognizes animals as sentient beings with biological imperatives. The law specifies obligations regarding care and outlines prohibited acts toward animals. In doing so, Quebec has taken a major leap forward, joining the leading countries in animal rights protection, including France and other European countries.

The Bloc Québécois endorses Quebec’s vision, which lays the foundation for future advances in animal rights. While we support Canada’s role in protecting animals, we do not need Canada to assert our values and advance rights.

In Quebec, the Regulation respecting animals in captivity “determines the conditions for capturing and importing an animal, the standards and conditions for keeping an animal in captivity, selling and disposing of an animal, as well as the species permitted for keeping without a permit.” The Bloc Québécois supports strengthening regulations aimed at controlling health risks and ensuring animal welfare if the will and legislative powers of Quebec are respected.

When federal laws or regulations are compatible or consistent with Quebec laws and the will of the Quebec legislature, the Bloc Québécois supports agreements on policy harmonization. We oppose when the approach favored in Ottawa is to impose pan-Canadian standards, because this practice most often has the effect of thwarting or harming the actions of the Quebec government.

Please elaborate:

We support a national Animal Protection Act. We will recognize animals as sentient beings and
ensure humane treatment. We will update the Criminal Code to move animal cruelty crimes out of the
property section. We back tougher penalties for abuse. We also support bans on ownership in severe
cases and improved enforcement. Protecting animals is a core Green Party value.

Please elaborate:

We support regulating animal welfare conditions on farms. Our policies include:

• Enforceable standards for humane treatment on farms
• A ban on extreme confinement practices
• We will provide funding to help farmers transition to higher-welfare systems
• Prohibiting cruelty and inhumane practices
• Phasing out routine antibiotic use in animal farming

Please elaborate:

We will improve farmed animal transport laws by:

• Setting strict limits on transport times and requiring rest periods
• Banning the transport of unfit or heavily pregnant animals
• Requiring improved vehicle conditions and humane handling
• Increasing inspections and oversight
• Mandating driver training and independent competence assessments
• Requiring veterinarians to be present during long journeys

Please elaborate:

We support banning horse exports for slaughter. Horses should not endure the stress and cruelty of
long-distance transport. Our platform calls for reforms that protect animal rights and reduce suffering.

Please elaborate:

Our platform includes:

• Prohibiting wild animals in circuses, traveling shows, and novelty acts
• Stopping the importation and breeding of wild animals for public display, except in verified conservation efforts
• Ending practices that harm or exploit animals for entertainment

Please elaborate:

We support government funding for the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods (CCAAM).
The Green Party wants to reduce and eventually stop using animals in research, testing, and education.
Our platform includes:

• Creating and validating non-animal test methods
• Automatic acceptance of valid non-animal methods
• Coordinated efforts to replace animal testing

Please elaborate:

The Green Party supports increasing investment in Canada’s plant-based food industry. We want to:

• Encourage Canadians to eat more plant-based foods to improve health and protect the environment
• Shift subsidies to support sustainable plant-based farming
• Invest in plant-based food industries to help them grow and compete

Please elaborate:

The Green Party supports phasing out fur farming in Canada. We believe animals should not be exploited for fashion.
Fur farming causes unnecessary cruelty. We will work to end it and eliminate government subsidies that support it.