From the HSLM Executive Director's Desk
An Uncertain Future for Animal Cruelty Investigations in Ontario:
An Update
HSLM reported last month that, with 27 days' notice, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) announced it would no longer enforce animal cruelty legislation in Ontario.

Since then, the government asked the OSPCA for an extension to January, 2020, to allow time for new legislation to pass and a new system to be put into place. The OSPCA refused, but did agree to their original June 28 extension offer.
The Ontario government has remained tight-lipped as to their intentions after this date, but has announced it will be surveying municipalities about the current landscape of animal welfare enforcement.

Meanwhile, HSLM has corresponded with the Solicitor General of Ontario and our local Progressive Conservative MPP, Jeff Yurek, about the necessary requirements for an adequate system in the province to protect animals. We also met with NDP MPP’s Peggy Sattler, Teresa Armstrong and Terrence Kernaghan, with the same message. Furthermore, we held meetings with London Police Services and City of London Licensing and Municipal Law Enforcement – By-Law Enforcement to share our message in our efforts to protect animals in London, once the OSPCA deadline in June hits. 


Steve Ryall
Executive Director
Humane Society London & Middlesex
What Can You Do?
Write your MPP . Let him or her know that you care about the welfare of animals. Let them know that you expect a comprehensive response to crimes against animals in the province.
National Laws Impacting Animals Being Reviewed by Parliament
Parliament is considering amendments to four laws that have a direct impact on animal welfare. Amendments go through a lengthy process before being enacted into law. Scroll down to review these amendments and where they are in the legislative process.
This bill creates offences for people who engage directly or indirectly in the cruel and illegal practice of animal fighting. It also formally creates a definition and offence in the Criminal Code for bestiality – a serious issue the OHS has been pressing the government to take action on for years. Bill C-84 has gone through its first and second reading, committee review and is now before the House of Commons for its third and final reading.
This bill amends the Federal Food and Drugs Act "to prohibit cosmetic animal testing and the sale of cosmetics developed or manufactured using cosmetic animal testing. It also provides that no evidence derived from animal testing may be used to establish the safety of a cosmetic." It has passed through the Senate and will be sent to the House of Commons for its first reading.
This bill amends the Fisheries Act to prohibit the practice of shark finning. It also amends a section of the law to prohibit the importation and exportation of shark fins, or parts of shark fins that are not attached to a shark. Bill S-238 made it through the Senate and is waiting for its second reading in the House of Commons.
Bill S-203 aims to end the captivity of whales and dolphins in Canada. It also aims to regulate the importation or exportation of whales and dolphins and create offences for keeping them in captivity. This amendment made it through the Senate, has passed committee in the House of Commons and is ready for its third and final reading in the House of Commons before being enacted into law.
Humane Society London & Middlesex
624 Clarke Road, London, ON N5V 3K5
519-451-0630 | [email protected] | www.hslm.ca