COMMITMENTS FROM THE 2022 ELECTION DEBATE

Will your party commit to ban no-pet clauses in residential leases in Quebec? 

– Conservative Party of Quebec: As a first step, the CPQ would like to raise awareness regarding the importance of respecting the dignity of animals as well as regarding their presence in housing before tackling the legal aspect of the matter. While awaiting a consensus on the issue, the Party would consider the possibility of immediately permitting animals in new housing developments.

– Quebec Liberal Party: The QLP would like to improve the current situation. To do so, it wants to take into account the concerns of landlords and tenants, look at best practices and raise awareness.

– Parti Québécois : Yes, the PQ is committed to amending the law to this effect.

– Québec solidaire : Yes, QS is committed to this issue. This element has been in the party’s platform for 3 years. Manon Massé sponsored a petition at the National Assembly to this effect. In the Party’s official platform, Québec solidaire states “in order to prevent tenants from having to abandon their animals, Québec solidaire will ban clauses in residential leases that prohibit animals” [SPCA translation].

Is your party committed to ban dog tethering in Quebec?

– Conservative Party of Quebec: The CPQ proposes educating the public on the issue and is committed to banning the practice but specifies that dogs should be kept at home or in a pen to ensure their safety.

– Quebec Liberal Party: The QLP wants to study the issue to know the number of dogs in this situation. It is very sensitive to the issue of these animals’ welfare and wants to find solutions that are sustainable.

– Parti Québécois : The PQ is committed to making this practice illegal,
outright.

– Québec solidaire : QS is committed to studying the issue (paying attention to cultural particularities – for example in the Far North) and to banning the tethering of guard dogs, for example. 

Would your party support a complete ban on fur farms?

– Conservative Party of Quebec: The CPQ asserts being a technology supporting party that is all for synthetic materials. It is committed to banning these farms and to supporting producers in their transition toward an alternative industry.

– Québec Liberal Party : The QLP believes that Quebecers are ready for an end to this type of practice and is committed to making fur farms illegal and ensuring a transition for producers to an alternative industry.

– Parti Québécois : The PQ is committed to a complete ban of this practice, especially since there are fewer and fewer fur farms left and recycled fur, for example, can be used instead of real fur.

– Québec solidaire : QS commits to abolishing these farms quickly, to support the producers in the transition and affirms that using fur for clothing is a thing of the past, and does not represent an important source of income in Quebec.

What legislation would your party put in place to ensure an acceptable level of welfare for the millions of animals raised for food in our province? 

– Conservative Party of Quebec : The CPQ commits to requiring video surveillance* in farms and slaughterhouses and to study the possibility of keeping a certain number of animals outdoors to improve their living conditions and reduce the risk of disease transmission. 

– Quebec Liberal Party : The QLP commits to supporting farmers modernize their equipment, to authorize regional specificity in terms of farm management and to support the next generation of farmers to ensure the emergence of new practices that respect animal welfare more closely. 

– Parti Québécois : The PQ is committed to studying the issue. 

– Québec solidaire : In addition to video surveillance, QS proposes the creation of an external committee to conduct on-site inspections. In its official electoral platform’s section on agriculture, Québec solidaire states: “In order to implement minimum standards of animal welfare and safety, Québec solidaire is committed to eliminating the most problematic practices in this regard” [SPCA translation]. 

* After the debate, Konstantinos Merakos requested we add the following clarification: “The CPQ proposes the installation of private cameras on a voluntary basis, similar to those used in restaurants, in livestock farms and slaughterhouses and to initiate studies on the possibility of access to a certain number of animals outside in order to improve their living conditions and reduce the risk of disease transmission.”

Does your party commit to put in place mandatory provincial standards for fire prevention in barns housing animals? What other concrete measures would your party adopt to address this issue? 

– Conservative Party of Quebec : The CPQ is committed to addressing this issue by exploring the possibility of raising awareness among farmers. However, if a Conservative government were to require any action from farmers, it would be necessary to support them financially as well.

– Quebec Liberal Party: The QLP believes that it is necessary to give farmers tools and support for modernization.

– Parti Québécois : The PQ believes that it would be important to commit to mandatory provincial standards while providing financial support to the farms in question.

– Québec solidaire : QS believes that it would be important to have inspectors responsible for inspecting farms for fire hazards and installing sprinklers. The government could also provide a subsidy to the farmers for these expenses.

What is your party’s position on the need for Quebec to develop effective non-lethal wildlife management expertise?  

– Conservative Party of Quebec: The CPQ notes the importance of paying attention to abandoned or forgotten traps to avoid injury to humans. It also proposes finding pragmatic solutions that are not too costly to taxpayers, such as using a fence system to direct animals (instead of wildlife corridors) under the supervision of Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs officers.  

– Quebec Liberal Party: The QLP is in favour of reflecting on the importance of a harmonious cohabitation with wildlife in partnership with the different regions of Quebec and of providing tools to improve current practices (to not always resort to lethal means, but rather to question old reflexes). 

– Parti Québécois : The PQ commits to thinking about developing a responsible wildlife management policy, and takes a stand against trophy and penned hunting, practices that it finds irresponsible. 

– Québec solidaire : QS commits to creating wildlife corridors over highways and to developing green spaces by protecting 30% of the province’s territory, namely in the south of Quebec near major cities. In its official platform, Québec solidaire states: “To protect biodiversity […] Wildlife corridors will be developed […]. The SÉPAQ network will be expanded, vacant urban land will be subject to a right of expropriation linked to the creation of green spaces, and we will adequately protect existing woodlands as well as wetlands and the animals that inhabit them, taking into account citizens’ initiatives” [SPCA translation]. 

From a public health, environmental and animal welfare perspective, does your party support the idea of promoting a gradual transition to a food system that includes more plant-based foods? If so, how do you plan to proceed?

– Conservative Party of Quebec: The CPQ proposes raising awareness about the importance of a diversified diet and improving marketing for plant-based alternatives.

– Quebec Liberal Party: The QLP affirms the importance of supporting local farmers in their transformation to a greener, pesticide-free, local and diverse transition.

– Parti Québécois: The PQ does not make any commitment regarding this issue in the debate, but in its climate change plan, the PQ does commit to: “Promote a diet with a lower carbon footprint, based on more diversified sources of protein” [SPCA translation].

– Québec solidaire: QS commits to implementing a food purchasing policy of 50% plant-based food in public institutions and to raising awareness on this subject. In its official electoral platform, Québec solidaire states: “We will implement a local food purchasing policy in the public sector, including a target of 70% local food and 50% plant-based meals […] we will also provide support and financial assistance for farmers to help them […] achieve neutrality in their GHG emissions and capture, in particular by encouraging a transition to plant-based agriculture. It also commits to: “[…] support the production and processing of foods with a low ecological footprint, including plant-based proteins” [SPCA translation]. 

What concrete measures will your party put forward to address the puppy mill problem in Quebec? (Question from the audience) 

– Conservative Party of Quebec: The CPQ emphasizes the importance of inspections of breeding sites and calls for stiffer penalties for violations of existing legislation. The CPQ states that puppy mills must be stopped and that pet adoption must be encouraged while providing educational training for adopters. 

– Quebec Liberal Party: The QLP affirms the importance of ensuring that animal agriculture is done with respect for animals. It is open to efforts to improve animal welfare.

– Parti Québécois: The PQ believes that inspectors from the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ) should not give notice to breeders before their inspection visits to kennels. The PQ also raises the importance of tightening up existing rules and making training mandatory for breeders. The PQ indicates that if re-elected, Pascal Bérubé, former MNA for Matane-Matapédia, will continue his work by proposing new bills to improve animal welfare.

– Québec solidaire : Qs proposes, among other things, to require training or a Diploma of Professional Studies for breeders. 

What does your party intend to do to regulate the sale of companion animals in pet stores and online? (Question from the audience)

– Conservative Party of Quebec: The CPQ proposes to consult with pet stores to see if a ban on the sale of animals is feasible. It indicates that the public needs to be educated to encourage adoption and proposes a free course to provide resources for adopters and to guide adoption.

– Quebec Liberal Party: For the QLP, awareness and education are essential to give people the opportunity to make the right choices in terms of purchasing an animal and thus avoid fads and impulse purchases.

– Parti Québécois : The PQ has indicated that it is in favour of considering a ban on the sale of animals in pet stores in order to promote adoption in shelters where employees are trained to advise adopters about the responsibilities involved in adopting an animal.

– Québec solidaire : QS indicates that there must be someone trained to educate the customer about the needs of these animals wherever they are sold. 

*After the debate, Konstantinos Merakos, CPQ candidate for Chomedey requested we add the following clarification: “The Conservative Party of Quebec has an internal constitution that allows candidates to propose bills and vote on legislation based on the positions of their constituents in their ridings.”