OFA welcomes the opportunity to present its perspectives on Bill 136, the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019.
Animal welfare issues are front-of-mind for OFA and its farm family members; issues OFA has repeatedly spoken on. In 2008, we provided extensive comments to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy on amendments to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) Act.
OFA firmly believes in and advocates for the humane treatment of all animals, including farmed livestock and poultry. Ontario’s farm families who raise livestock and poultry as part of their agricultural activities genuinely love their animals. They treat them with the utmost care and consideration. To do otherwise goes against their very nature.
The Ontario government introduced the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act (Bill 136) on October 29th. Bill 136 repeals the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and sets out Ontario’s new enforcement model.