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2012 Canadian Animal
Protection Laws Rankings
Based on a detailed comparative analysis of the animal protection laws of each
jurisdiction, the 2012 Canadian Animal Protection Laws Rankings recognizes the
provinces and territories where laws protecting animals have real teeth, and
calls out those like Quebec and Nunavut—the worst in Canada this year for animal
protection laws—where animal abusers get off easy.
ALDF’s fifth annual report, the only one of its kind in the nation, ranks every
province and territory on the relative strength and general comprehensiveness of
its animal protection laws. Manitoba, British Columbia, and Ontario take top
honors in 2012 for providing strong protections for animals.
Top Tier: 1. Manitoba 2.
British Columbia 3. Ontario 4. Nova Scotia
Middle Tier:
5. Newfoundland & Labrador 6. New
Brunswick 7. Yukon 8. Alberta 9. Saskatchewan
Bottom Tier: 10.
Prince Edward Island 11. Northwest Territories 12. Quebec 13.
Nunavut
Ontario and Manitoba
continue to occupy the top tier, but are now joined by British Columbia, which
made considerable improvements to its animal protection legislation since last
year’s report. Most notably, the province enacted stiffer penalties, with animal
abusers now facing up to two years imprisonment and a $75,000 fine. It also
extended the scope of prohibitions to include abuse perpetrated by anyone—not
just an animal’s owner. Additionally, British Columbia now specifically targets
animal fighting, and requires veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse or
neglect. Nova Scotia, the fourth province in the top tier, also made changes to
its animal protection legislation, but these were minor and did not affect the
province’s relative ranking.
Newfoundland and Labrador showed significant improvement this year, moving a
number of spots up to the very top of the middle tier. The province broadened
its range of protections, made veterinarian reporting of suspected abuse
mandatory, enacted new animal fighting provisions, and drastically increased
maximum penalties (the maximum fine went up from $500 to $50,000). A remarkably
progressive change in Newfoundland and Labrador’s animal protection law relates
to use-based exemptions, i.e. exemptions based on the purpose for which an
animal is kept (e.g. food production, scientific research). It is currently the
only province or territory to circumscribe use-based exemptions to practices
consistent with specific standards set out in regulations.
Despite some improvements to its animal protection law since last year’s report,
including a broadening of species coverage and the promulgation of new standards
of care for dogs and cats, Quebec held its position as the province with the
weakest animal protection legislation. It was joined in the bottom tier by
Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, which remains the
worst jurisdiction in Canada when it comes to animal protection.
Since ALDF began publishing these rankings in 2008, there has been a marked
improvement in the laws of many provinces and territories, and more advances are
on the way. However, there continues to be a wide range of disparity across the
country, with some jurisdictions making substantial steps forward, and others
lagging behind. Irrespective of where each province or territory currently
ranks, every province and territory has ample room for improvement. It is ALDF’s
hope that these ongoing reviews continue to shed light on this important issue
and garner support for both the strengthening and enforcement of animal
protection laws throughout the country.
ALDF
encourages those who care about the welfare and protection of animals to
contact their elected officials about the importance of having strong,
comprehensive laws in this field, and to alert law enforcement should they ever
witness animal abuse or neglect.
For additional information see:
2015 Canadian Animal Protection Law Rankings (by ALDF)
Annual Animal Protection Law Rankings for the United States
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