EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill enacts a new Act with respect to companion animals which are defined as only dogs, cats or other animals prescribed by regulation if persons keep the animals for companionship.

Within 90 days after the Act receives Royal Assent, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services is required to establish an advisory committee to inquire into and to report on the quality of care provided to companion animals by persons who keep them for the purpose of breeding, exhibition, entertainment, boarding, hire or sale. The committee must report its recommendations to the Minister within eight months of being established. The Minister must publish a copy of the report on the Ministry website. Within 60 days after receiving the committee’s report, the Minister must inform the Assembly of which recommendations the Minister will arrange to have implemented within the following three years.

Bill 65 2018

An Act to establish the Companion Animal Wellness Review Committee

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Definitions

1 (1)  In this Act,

“committee” means the Companion Animal Wellness Review Committee; (“comité”)

“companion animal” means an animal that a person keeps for companionship if the animal is a dog, cat or other animal prescribed by a regulation of the Minister; (“animal de compagnie”)

“Minister” means the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. (“ministre”)

Minister’s regulations

(2)  The Minister may, by regulation, prescribe animals for the purpose of the definition of “companion animal” in subsection (1).

Companion Animal Wellness Review Committee

2 (1)  Within 90 days after this Act receives Royal Assent, the Minister shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the Companion Animal Wellness Review Committee in English and Comité d’examen du bien-être des animaux de compagnie in French to inquire into and report on the quality of care provided to companion animals by persons who keep them for the purpose of breeding, exhibition, entertainment, boarding, hire or sale.

Composition

(2)  The committee shall be composed of persons that the Minister believes will make useful contributions to the committee’s work including,

  (a)  persons who have custody or care of companion animals;

  (b)  persons who keep companion animals for the purpose of breeding, exhibition, entertainment, boarding, hire or sale;

   (c)  persons, including veterinarians, who provide professional support to companion animals; and

  (d)  representatives of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and animal shelters.

Remuneration and expenses

(3)  The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, prescribe the remuneration and the reimbursement of expenses to be paid to the committee members.

Report by committee

(4)  On or before the day that is eight months after the committee is established, the committee shall report to the Minister on its work and shall include in the report recommendations that, in the committee’s opinion, should be implemented within the following three years respecting,

  (a)  the details of the standard of care that should apply to the treatment of companion animals by persons who keep them for the purpose of breeding, exhibition, entertainment, boarding, hire or sale;

  (b)  proposed changes to legislation and regulations to restrict the operation of breeders of companion animals who contravene the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act;

   (c)  the development of an educational awareness campaign aimed at persons who may keep a companion animal to advise them of the dangers to the animal if it comes from a breeder who has neglected it, put it in distress within the meaning of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act or otherwise harmed it; and

  (d)  the development of an educational campaign aimed at persons who contravene the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, explaining the importance of that Act and how their actions constitute a contravention of that Act.

Publication of report

(5)  On receiving the report, the Minister shall publish a copy of it on the website of the Ministry of the Minister.

Minister to inform Assembly on implementation of committee’s recommendations

(6)  On or before the day that is 60 days after the committee reports to the Minister, the Minister shall inform the Assembly of the recommendations in the report,

  (a)  that the Minister will implement within the following three years, if the Minister alone is able to implement the recommendations;

  (b)  for which, within the following three years, the Minister will propose legislation to implement, if the recommendations require legislation for implementation; and

   (c)  that the Minister will recommend to the Government for implementation within the following three years, if the Minister alone is not able to implement the recommendations and they do not require legislation for implementation.

Commencement

3 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

4 The short title of this Act is the Protecting Our Pets Act, 2018.