Mark Holland campaigns for effective animal cruelty bill - now called Bill C-229

Mark Holland believes strongly in the need to reform the Criminal Code to better protect animals from intentional cruelty, and he has worked to raise the profile of this issue since first being elected in 2004.

On November 26, 2008, Mark re-introduced his private member's bill on animal cruelty. Now numbered C-229, it is identical to the private member's bill C-373 which he tabled in the 39th Parliament on October 30, 2006, and the former Bill C-50, introduced by the Liberal government in the 38th Parliament. Since first introducing Bill C-373, Mark has worked cooperatively with respected national and international animal welfare groups which are campaigning for effective animal cruelty law reform. Their concerted efforts are focused on convincing the Conservative government to introduce his bill as government legislation.Mark receives a petition in support of his private member’s bill C-373 from Debby Houghton, SPCA Officer, with Xena, a rotti/shepherd mix, taken at the Durham Humane Society, November 6, 2008. (photo Dave Johnson)

Provisions of the Criminal Code dealing with animal cruelty have changed very little since 1892 and they are extremely antiquated. This has often made it difficult to obtain convictions against animal abusers, and when convictions are obtained, the penalties are often too light. These laws were also written at a time when animals were protected by virtue of being property.

Shocking cases of animal abuse are often in the news. Most recently, in Didsbury, Alberta, a Labrador-border collie cross named Daisy Duke was tortured and dragged for a kilometre behind a vehicle, with duct tape around her legs and mouth and leaving a trail of blood. She had to be euthanized she was so badly injured, and her owner and a juvenile have been charged.

Serious violent criminals such as serial killers often begin with animal abuse, which can be an early indicator of crimes against people. Therefore, effective animal cruelty legislation can allow the justice system to intervene early in people who might go on to other serious crimes.

In 1999, the federal government introduced legislation to reform animal cruelty provisions as part of a larger omnibus bill of Criminal Code reforms. Over the years, the bill was broken up and many changes were made to address concerns of hunters, anglers, and others who use animals in their livelihoods. The revised bill was actually passed by the House of Commons several times in the springs of 2002 and 2003, but the House of Commons and Senate could not agree on amendments, and the bill has died a number of times on the order paper. Bill C-50, introduced in May 2005, was similar to previous bills, but addressed a concern raised in the Senate about aboriginal hunting rights. C-373 makes no changes from the former C-50.

The bill has always enjoyed support from major animal welfare groups, but in the fall of 2004, it obtained the support of most organizations representing animal use industries. This support, however, was shattered when an ineffective bill was introduced as a diversionary tactic in the Senate by Senator John G. Bryden. That bill, which was first numbered S-213 in the Senate, was strongly opposed by Mark and by animal welfare organizations such as the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. Unfortunately, due to a difference in the rules for private members' business introduced in the House and the Senate, the ineffective S-203 raced through the Senate and was fast-tracked in the House while the more comprehensive C-373 remained stuck in a long queue of private members' bills introduced by MPs.

With the prorogation of Parliament in the fall of 2007, bill S-213 needed to be passed again in the Senate and was given a new bill number, S-203. (Bill C-373 was not affected by prorogation, and remained stuck in a long queue of MPs' private members' bills.) Debate and final vote in the Senate was swift. As no changes were made from the original bill, S-203 resumed where S-213 left off in the House of Commons.

Following second reading in the House of Commons on November 29, 2007, S-203 was sent to the Commons Justice Committee. After clause by clause study, the Justice Committee returned it to the House of Commons without amendments, where on April 9, 2008, it was voted on for the final time. The Conservative government mustered enough support from opposition MPs to pass the bill. Mark was able to bring on side dozens of other Liberal colleagues to vote against S-203. In the end, 189 (mainly Conservative) MPs voted for S-203, and 70 MPs (a mix of Liberal, NDP and a few Bloc members) voted against it. 

The issue of advancing progressive legislation to reform animal cruelty laws was rekindled with the re-introduction of Mark Holland's bill, now called C-229, in the 40th Parliament.

Please watch this page for further information about this initiative.

What can you do to help?

Many Canadians have asked how they can help to pass effective animal cruelty legislation. There are a number of things you can do, but the most helpful is to write to your Member of Parliament, Senators, and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson. We would like MPs and Senators to do the following:

  • Indicate that they wish to join an all-party team of MPs and Senators in support of the general principles of C-229.

  • Urge the government to introduce a government bill based on C-229.

For more information, including how to contact your MP, Senators and Minister Nicholson, please click here.

Selected Statements by Mark Holland:

Background:

Other Animal Cruelty Links and Information:

(These are links to other organizations and groups concerned about animal cruelty. They have been included because their information may be of interest. Inclusion does not necessarily indicate they are endorsed by MP Mark Holland).

Video:

 
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