Monday, November 10, 2003

[Guest guest]

Monday, November 10, 2003

 

Are Senators trying to kill animal cruelty bill?

 

Hamilton, Ontario: The Hamilton\Burlington SPCA as well as other

Canadian humane and wildlife societies are disgusted that Canadian

Senators last Thursday (November 7, 2003) voted 40 against 23 to

return Bill C-10B back to a Senate committee - a move that risks

killing the legislation because there will be no time for it to pass

before Parliament adjourns or prorogues.

 

Every day this bill is not passed, more animals are being abused,

and the abusers are getting away virtually unpunished.

 

Bill C-10B was first introduced in Parliament as part of Bill C-17

in 1999. The legislation amending the animal cruelty provisions of

the Criminal Code was stalled this past spring when senators

proposed five amendments - including some damaging changes that

would water down the Bill. The House of Commons turned down most of

those amendments - twice. In June, the Bill received the support of

all parties and industry groups representing farmers, hunters,

trappers and researchers.

 

Before the vote took place yesterday, Government Leader Sharon

Carstairs warned Senators: " If we send this bill back to committee,

there is every chance that it will die on the Order Paper. " Senators

chose to ignore the government's warnings, and insisted on returning

the Bill to committee for the third time in less than one year.

These are the same committee members who first proposed the damaging

changes to Bill C-10B, and later recommended that the Senate insist

on those changes.

 

Over the last four years, the Hamilton\Burlington SPCA has worked

with humane societies, SPCAs, WSPA and other animal welfare

organizations to improve this country's animal protection laws. The

Association of Chiefs of Police, the RCMP Staff Association, the

Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, and the provincial

governments of Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick also support

the modernization of Canada's animal cruelty laws.

 

To bring the message that Canadians want to have Bill C-10B passed

to protect the animals that reside within the borders of Canada, all

Canadians are asked to continue showing their support of Bill C-10B

by sending a letter, fax or e-mail supporting Bill C-10B to the

Hamilton\Burlington SPCA.

 

All letters, faxes, and e-mails will be brought up to Ottawa during

the third week of January 2004, and delivered to the Senate.

 

Please address letters to:

Support Bill C-10B

c/o The Hamilton\Burlington SPCA

245 Dartnall Road,

Hamilton, Ontario,

Canada L8W 3V9

 

Please Send Faxes to:

(905) 574-9087

 

Please send E-mail to:

rmcconnell

 

All names will also be added to our Bill C-10B on-line petition at

www.petradionet.com/petition.htm

 

All members of the Canadian media are asked to let their viewers,

readers and listeners know that their participation in this campaign

to protect Canadian animals is very important and that their voices

will not go unheard.

 

Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to

contact me at the at (905) 574-7722.

 

Thank you for your continued support.

 

" He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealing with

men.

We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. "

- Immanuel Kant, 1724-1804, Philosopher.

 

 

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