Alberta MLA blasts government for killing animal-protection bill
Friday, May 9, 2014 Edmonton Sun
Independent MLA Len Webber used the last day of the legislative session to blast the government for closing down session and not passing legislation to get tougher on animal abuse. In the last members' statement of the session delivered on Thursday before MLAs adjourned for the summer, Webber lamented the fact that Bill 205, the Animal Protection Amendment Act, didn't see second reading and died on the order table this spring.
The Calgary-Foothills MLA openly accused the government of ensuring his bill wouldn't pass because "the government doesn't think I'm one of the cool guys anymore." "I am fully aware that my current status as an independent member is the reason this bill never saw second reading," he said. "I know that my bill will be killed and is going to be killed and another government bill bearing a remarkable similarity will be introduced soon."
Webber introduced the legislation after a cat and a dog were found dead in Calgary with their mouths taped shut in January. Bill 205 legislates increased fines and a minimum six-month jail term for people convicted of abusing and neglecting animals.
Nicolino Ivano Camardi, 19, has been charged with two counts of willfully causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal in connection with the January incident. Webber said that "because of the political ridiculousness of the last year or so, offenders such as this fellow will get a slap on the wrist." Ending the legislative session "kills the voices of thousands of Albertans," he said, adding, "this is what makes me a very sad man."
In March, then
Deputy Premier Dave Hancock called Webber "a very sad man" because he was left
out of cabinet, insinuating that was why Webber left the Tory fold on March 13. Hancock said Friday
that Webber's bill "hasn't been killed." "It's on the order paper and when the
house resumes, the next private members' bill that's up will be discussed," he
said, adding Speaker Gene Zwozdesky will decide the order this July.
Webber's bill was supported by Solicitor General and Justice Minister Jonathan Denis, who said he would introduce an amendment but didn't get the chance before session ended.
Comment: Playing politics again and pushing animal protection to the back burner. Politics is the art of postponing decisions, hoping the issue will go away or it is no longer relevant. If government doesn’t respond, as history has proven time and time again, citizens will mobilize, rise up and become a stronger force. You cannot keep a movement down or stall forever. We aim to liberate the oppressed.