Animal advocate wants change

Just called Frank Klees office to remind him that all of the animal advocates have not gone away and that the OSPCA is carrying on as usual with their typical lack of transparency and accountability; I was informed that MPP Randy Hillier was taking up the cause in some form or other which I surmise is after the familiar complaints from individuals and organizations; now if we can only get the NDP and the Tories to work together and force this minority government to “do the right thing” which would be to initiate a widespread review of the OSPCA as should have been done at pre-election time…oh, but I just woke up and realized I was dreaming!

As Ms.Perrier points out: over 9 million dollars in donations with little or no benefit to the animals; and by now we can be certain that most, if not all, OSPCA affiliate shelters are also failing to meet their obligations to protect and save animals in this province; and we haven’t even mentioned all the other sources of income: federal, provincial, municipal animal control contracts and the never-ending fundraising which is always accompanied by the all too familiar pleas for ever more funds and self-promotional propaganda; it should be painfully obvious by now that the OSPCA, as a charity with fiduciary obligations to the public it is supposed to serve, has failed to meet those obligations of trust and ,consequently, needs to be held LEGALLY accountable for such widespread failures; what is needed is a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT initiated by all stakeholders, individuals and organizations alike to reveal the dysfunction and gross incompetence of an agency that has long forgotten the original purpose for its existence and what it’s name really stands for!

Frank Klees’ office informs me that Frank has gotten a commitment from the Ministry to strike a commission on the OSPCA… no other details were provided; in addition, MPP Jack MacLaren will table a Private Members Bill related to the OSPCA but again I have no details; one can only hope that there is some movement for change with this minority government being held accountable for once but I wouldn’t hold my breath; you can reach Jack at jack.maclaren@pc.ola.org

See http://www.FixTheOSPCA.ca

I have just read MPP Jack MacLaren’s proposed Bill 37 and find it seriously flawed in many of the amendments put forth; it is quite clear that Jack’s motivation was to address the wrongs perpetrated by the OSPCA against farmers and landowners and those raising cattle …wrongs such as unwarranted searches and seizures and unjust charges of animal cruelty; but is this a case of “throwing out the baby with the bathwater’? While the changes proposed do offer greater legal protections and rights of appeal and hold the OSPCA to more account, there is almost the wholesale repeal of provisions without reason or argument given…such as the repeal of a host of definitions, even including the meaning of “distress” and what constitutes animal cruelty; even regulations regarding Standards of Care are revoked…WHY?!! Understandably Mr.MacLaren is himself a farmer and landowner and might have a natural bias in representing his own constituents and specific group that has called on him for support; but any changes to the OSPCA Act will affect all Ontarians and all of our animals, not just farmers and cattle owners; hopefully this Bill represents more than self-interest and political posturing and I have asked this MPP for a response before I am prepared to support these proposed changes…we should all do the same, including MPP Frank Klees and all members of the Tory party (oh, and you too, Tim, if you’re at all interested!)

On close inspection Bill 37 reveals itself for the self-serving “sham” that it really is and an insult to all Ontarians, especially animal advocates who wanted to see genuine efforts to reform the OSPCA; the amendments proposed in this bill would seek to abolish any and all protection afforded animals under the Ontario Animal Welfare Act; this Act, although not perfect, did provide definitions and standards of care and prescribed penalties for animal cruelty; Mr. MacLaren, apparently, couldn’t care less about animals in this province , including farm animals; what he does seem obsessed with is protecting farm animal owners and landowners at any cost ; what other reason does he have for seeking to remove all these safeguards and the resultant responsibility for proper and safe animal care? It is one thing to seek to redress legitimate wrongs and initiate needed reforms but it is quite another to ignore the welfare of the majority of Ontario’s animals because of this pandering to special interest groups ;as pointed out by the lawyers for animal welfare(LAW), this bill will open wide the door to animal cruelty and lead to widespread abuse and abandonment of animals because perpetrator will know that they will never be held to account or charged; the thinking behind this bill reflects a severe case of moral bankruptcy and needs to be resisted by all parties,especially the Tories; where does Frank Klees and leader, Tim Hudak stand in the face of this travesty which should not be allowed to happen, let alone be proposed in the first place?!