By Randy Hillier
Friday, June 9, 2006Media: Imagine cutting the legs off your horse to provide your proof of innocence? Imagine watching your rare breed boar shot 17 times because it limps. Imagine having to go to court to have your seized pet returned to you? Should a non-government charity have investigative and peace officer powers? Why did 29 OSPCa Directors recently resign? Did the CEO quit or was she fired? Is the June 10th OSPCa annual General Meeting legal?
Provincial Farm and animal Use associations: Your members are affected daily by OSPCa interpretation and enforcement of animal Cruelty legislation. Very strong concerns about the competency, enforcement actions and advocacy role of the OSPCa continue to be voiced by associations and members of the public. Please join us.
Elected Officials: Your constituents are subsidizing the OSPCa through our tax dollars with no public accountability or government oversight.
Mass Exodus at the OSPCa?1989 Ontario Federation of agriculture president Brigid Pyke formally asked the agriculture Minister and the OPP to take over jurisdiction for farm animal welfare from the OSPCa.
2003 Now Federal Justice Minister and attorney General of Canada, Vic Toews comments on the OSPCa: "Indeed, we had one of the senior justice department officials testify before the committee and refuse to disclose how he disposed of rodents and other pests on his farm property outside of Ottawa. The suggestion being he did not want to land up in some kind of criminal charge."
2006 Leslie Ballentine, former Ontario Farm animal Council executive director writes "Your (www.betterfarming.com april 2006) series on the Ontario SPCa brings to light some of the many ongoing difficulties the farming community has faced with this agency over the years. There is nothing new about the problems with the OSPCa and the system under which it operates. They just aren't widely known by the public. For nearly 20 years, groups such as the Ontario Federation of agriculture and Ontario Farm animal Council (OFaC) have pushed for change. "
2005 In an acquittal verdict, Justice anton Zuraw referred to the Hamilton-Burlington SPCa as "a private police force empowered in cases involving animals to lay charges and seize property, using these charges or seizures to campaign for funds for their private coffers."
as per Dec. 2005 OSPCa job posting for Greater Toronto Full Time animal Cruelty Investigator applicants must be high school graduates with driver's license and, as per 2001 OSPCa annual Report, "Inspectors now undergo a comprehensive two week training program….agent training has been expanded to one week".
2006 high-profile lawyer, adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School and television legal commentator Lorne Honickman opined "the OSPCa seized animals being boarded…and destroyed them before contacting the owners …{this} shows weaknesses in both training and procedure."
"We prefer public law enforcement because the process is fairer and more transparent." (Better Farming april 2006)
Join the EFFORT TO REFORM aNIMaL PROTECTION ENFORCEMENT
Randy Hillier, President, Ontario Landowners association
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