PETITION – Animal Protection in Ontario
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TO The Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
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WHEREAS all animals in Ontario deserve our protection but are largely going unprotected at this time;
WHEREAS the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) is the only agency in Ontario authorized to enforce animal protection laws;
WHEREAS the OSPCA has continually cut back services including the recent decision to stop investigating incidents involving farm animals including horses, as well as failing to fully investigate poorly run zoos, dogfighting operations, puppy and kitten mills and even documented cases of dogs being tortured in the City of Toronto;
WHEREAS the OSPCA has made itself completely unaccountable to the public by eliminating Annual General Members meetings and board elections as well as eliminating a government representative from their board meetings;
WHEREAS the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services provides an annual grant to the OSPCA of $5.75 million of the public’s dollars for which the OSPCA is to provide province-wide coverage and other services which the OSPCA has failed to deliver.
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WE THE UNDERSIGNED hereby petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to exercise its authority through the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services under the current Funding Transfer Payment Agreement and the OSPCA Act requiring that:
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Through the OSPCA Act the government annul the bylaws of the OSPCA;
A new bylaw be required that re-establishes Annual General Members meetings, open board elections and a government representative attending board meetings;
The Government immediately suspends funding to the OSPCA and conduct a forensic audit of that organization’s use of public funds;
The Government conduct a service delivery audit of the OSPCA relating to the enforcement of the OSPCA Act;
Recognize that the important job of animal protection by creating a more accountable system that ensures the immediate and long-term protection of the millions of animals who live among us.
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