{"id":56155,"date":"2025-04-10T11:46:41","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T15:46:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/les-animaux-delevage-un-enjeu-electoral\/"},"modified":"2025-04-11T17:24:54","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T21:24:54","slug":"farmed-animals-an-electoral-issue","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/en\/farmed-animals-an-electoral-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"Farmed Animals: An Electoral Issue"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"56155\" class=\"elementor elementor-56155 elementor-56072\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a09100d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a09100d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-16c68a4\" data-id=\"16c68a4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ddb98b4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"ddb98b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-05c0a5f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"05c0a5f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-213cb5b\" data-id=\"213cb5b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b913b21 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b913b21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">It\u2019s time to do better for farmed animals<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-488aea7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"488aea7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In Canada, the vast majority of animals used for food production are still raised in industrial (or \u201cintensive\u201d) farming conditions where housing systems and practices are designed to maximize production while keeping costs to a minimum.\u00a0<\/p><p><b>To date, farmed animals such as cows, chickens, and pigs and other farmed animals still benefit from almost no legal protections.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p><p>Although laws exist to regulate the transport and slaughter of farmed animals, there are no federal laws on the books that govern how animals are treated on the farm.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-942dd1d\" data-id=\"942dd1d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e99eeb6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e99eeb6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Poules-pondeuses_page-web5.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-56104\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Poules-pondeuses_page-web5.png 600w, https:\/\/www.spca.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Poules-pondeuses_page-web5-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.spca.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Poules-pondeuses_page-web5-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-811b5d1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"811b5d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Fig. 1<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-16abfe3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"16abfe3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1d5f0b3\" data-id=\"1d5f0b3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-90eb653 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"90eb653\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7648d63 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7648d63\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0cb28c9\" data-id=\"0cb28c9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3610709 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"3610709\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9ce647 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c9ce647\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Make animal protection a key electoral issue in Canada!<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9738fb9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9738fb9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h6 style=\"text-align: center;\">The upcoming federal elections provide a unique opportunity to secure commitments, raise awareness and create new political allies to support a range of animal welfare issues.<\/h6><h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #b0222d;\">Take an active part in making the voice of animals heard in Ottawa by writing to your MP today. <\/span><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-374d459 sign-the-letter elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"374d459\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"sign-the-letter\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><newmode-embed action=\"94512b16-b096-4dcc-8cb3-591df4440015\" base=\"https:\/\/base.newmode.net\"><\/newmode-embed>\n<script type=\"module\" src=\"https:\/\/win.newmode.net\/assets\/main.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-04e00cf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"04e00cf\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1837caf\" data-id=\"1837caf\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f498c4 elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"2f498c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;columns&quot;:3,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:3,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;3:2&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Poules-pondeuses_page-web3.png\" data-width=\"600\" data-height=\"600\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Poules-pondeuses_page-web1.png\" data-width=\"600\" data-height=\"600\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Poules-pondeuses_page-web6.png\" data-width=\"600\" data-height=\"600\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0cc8be elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c0cc8be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Fig. 2, 3 and 4<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-80b64ef elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"80b64ef\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9053d33\" data-id=\"9053d33\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0fd3823 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"0fd3823\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-307dd94 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"307dd94\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-extended\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3760dde\" data-id=\"3760dde\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b1adad elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2b1adad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">SELF-REGULATING INDUSTRIES<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de963dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"de963dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>The current situation essentially allows the private sector to govern itself when it comes to animal welfare<\/b>, which we believe is an abdication of public responsibility on the government\u2019s part. It seems counterintuitive to give an industry that handles millions of sentient beings the power to self-regulate.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a9b26a elementor-align-center elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"2a9b26a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"#sign-the-letter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Protect all animals<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-46f017b\" data-id=\"46f017b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb990a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cb990a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">VOLUNTARY STANDARDS<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d1c54e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d1c54e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the agri-food industry, there are Codes of Practice the for animal care and handling of farmed animals, developed and reviewed by the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC). Industry stakeholders, however, play an integral role in the development and review of codes of practice, even have a majority representation on the code development committees.\u00a0<\/p><p>Furthermore, the codes are not legally binding in Quebec, nor in the majority of provinces, and <b>compliance with these codes is strictly voluntary.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c2ca26b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c2ca26b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a7397c1\" data-id=\"a7397c1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e5fba57 elementor-align-center elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"e5fba57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"#sign-the-letter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Protect all animals<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d56bc1 elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"6d56bc1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2620b4d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2620b4d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-da21865\" data-id=\"da21865\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d4196c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7d4196c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-396e18f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"396e18f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>On top of these industries deciding their own standards, even when the decisions are being made, opportunities for the public to have their voices heard are limited. The Code of Practice that covers laying hens\u2015 which was written in 2017 and allows producers to permanently confine hens in cages, despite widespread support from the Canadian public for a ban on cage confinement \u2015 is currently under review. Yet NFACC is only reviewing three sections of the Code of Practice, and the producer-led process is leaving no opening to address the <strong>egg industry\u2019s most controversial practice: permanently confining laying hens in cages<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac07fdb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac07fdb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">While other countries are quickly increasing cage-free egg production year-over-year, the percentage of hens kept in cage-free housing in Canada has barely changed in since 2019.<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-46550c7\" data-id=\"46550c7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3066f05 elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3066f05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Poules-pondeuses_page-web.gif\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-56092\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89f656e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"89f656e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Fig. 5<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9d2b779 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9d2b779\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-65425fd\" data-id=\"65425fd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56965dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"56965dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Left up to self-regulation and voluntary standards, animal-use industries will take decades to catch up to modern science and public opinion. Just like our companion animals, <strong>farmed animals deserve to be protected with meaningful, mandatory standards<\/strong>, as is the case in many jurisdictions around the world. This kind of a regulatory framework will benefit producers already mindful of animal welfare and could encourage others to adopt best practices.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76c262c elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"76c262c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"#sign-the-letter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Write to the federal parties<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3e04bed elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3e04bed\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b48a033\" data-id=\"b48a033\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f03058f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f03058f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e4ff053 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e4ff053\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6d12a3d\" data-id=\"6d12a3d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f31df07 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f31df07\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-873a2d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"873a2d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">ASK FEDERAL POLITICAL PARTIE TO COMMIT TO PROTECTING FARMED ANIMALS<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba8981d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba8981d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>More than 27 million laying hens are used by the Canadian egg industry each year. Almost all of them spend their entire lives in small, wire cages.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p>For more than a decade, the biggest grocers and food retailers in Canada have been asking producers to transition to higher welfare systems, such as cage-free housing for laying hens and crate-free barns for breeding sows. While some producers have made the effort to move away from intensive confinement systems, many have dragged their feet or disregarded corporate demands altogether by installing new cage systems that will last for years. Farmed animals in Canada need strong, legal protections to level the playing field and ensure than all producers keep up with minimum welfare standards that let animals express natural behaviours and prevent the worst types of suffering.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7533f18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"7533f18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7dd6d0b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7dd6d0b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-06c8b39\" data-id=\"06c8b39\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e46f18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1e46f18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Fig. 6<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-876babf elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"876babf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-d385368 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d385368\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ecaf1ac\" data-id=\"ecaf1ac\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9a68bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a9a68bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">FAQ<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6080c7d elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"6080c7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1011\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1011\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Under what conditions are animals raised for food in Quebec?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1011\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1011\"><p>The vast majority of animals intended for food production in Quebec are raised in industrial (or \u201cintensive\u201d) farming conditions where housing systems and practices are designed to maximize meat, egg or milk production while keeping costs to a minimum.<\/p><p>This type of farming involves housing animals at high densities in closed buildings. Animals are confined to very small spaces, with very little room to move comfortably, express their natural behaviours or engage in normal interactions with others of their kind. Examples include laying hens kept in cages, sows confined to gestation crates, and dairy cows in tie stalls.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1012\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1012\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Doesn\u2019t Quebec have animal welfare laws?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1012\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1012\"><p>In 2015, through the passing of the Act to Improve the Legal Situation of Animals, a new provision was added to the Civil Code of Quebec recognizing that animals are not property but rather sentient beings. A new law focusing exclusively on animal welfare, the Animal Welfare and Safety Act, was also enacted. However, animals used for agricultural purposes are excluded from this law\u2019s main protections.<\/p><p>At the time of the 2015 legislative changes, the then Minister of Agriculture also promised a regulatory framework for farm animal welfare. But 8 years later, regulations for farm animals have yet to be enacted.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1013\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1013\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why do we say that farm animals are excluded from the main protections of the law?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1013\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1013\"><p>Section 7 of the Animal Welfare and Safety Act excludes all animals used for agricultural purposes from its main protections, namely those included in sections 5 (requirement for an animal\u2019s owner or custodian to provide them with water, food, shelter, care, etc.) and 6 (prohibition on causing distress to an animal), provided they are treated in accordance with the \u201cgenerally recognized rules\u201d of the industry. However, no such rules are defined in the Act. Thus, so long as a significant portion of the industry adopts a particular practice, it is considered consistent with the \u201cgenerally recognized rules\u201d. It is therefore the industry itself that determines which practices are exempt from the Act and therefore legal.<\/p><p>This is why it is perfectly legal, and even common practice, to castrate a piglet without anesthesia, whereas if the same procedure were performed on a dog or a cat, it would be punishable by a conviction and even a prison sentence.<\/p><p>The exemption set out in section 7 of the Animal Welfare and Safety Act excluding all animals raised for food from its main protections essentially allows the private sector to regulate itself and thus represents an abdication of public responsibility on the government\u2019s part.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1014\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1014\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What are the farming Codes of Practice? Aren\u2019t they regulations?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1014\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1014\"><p>In the agri-food industry, most sectors that use animals are already involved, through the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC), in the development and review of codes of practice for animal care and handling. These codes are nationally developed guidelines and reflect recommended animal rearing practices. However, they are not legally binding in Quebec, and compliance with these codes is strictly voluntary.<\/p><p>SPCAFurthermore, the industry plays an integral role in developing the codes and even has a majority representation on the code development committees.<\/p><p>Some sectors claim to require their producers to comply with the Codes of Practice. Even if this is the case, the fact that compliance with certain standards is made mandatory by the industry itself rather than by government raises several issues. First, the system put in place to ensure compliance typically relies on the industry auditing itself rather than independent third-party verification. Second, the penalties for noncompliance are also determined by the industry itself. Lastly, because it is a private monitoring system, it is not subject to the same transparency and accountability requirements as those associated with a public oversight system.<\/p><p>Certain provinces, such as Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island, have made adherence to NFACC Codes of Practice mandatory.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1015\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1015\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Do any regulations at all apply to farm animals?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1015\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1015\"><p>While there are no regulations governing how animals are treated on farms, their transport and slaughter are regulated by certain federal and provincial laws.<br \/><br \/>The transport of animals raised for food is regulated by the federal Health of Animals Regulations and the provincial Animal Welfare and Safety Act. Their slaughter is governed by the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations at the federal level and the Regulation Respecting Food at the provincial level.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1016\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1016\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Where does Quebec stand in terms of international best practices?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1016\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1016\"><p>In many other parts of the world, particularly in Europe, laws or regulations have been adopted to impose mandatory standards of care for all animals, including animals used for agricultural purposes. In Switzerland, for example, detailed regulations for each species and type of use have been developed.<\/p><p>Several practices that seriously compromise farm animal welfare and that have been banned elsewhere in the world\u2014precisely for this reason\u2014are still widespread in Quebec. For example, confining animals in very small spaces, thereby depriving them of the ability to move around comfortably, to engage in their natural behaviours and to interact normally with others of their kind, is common practice in most Quebec agri-food sectors. This is the case for laying hens kept in battery cages, sows confined to gestation and farrowing crates, and dairy cows in tie stalls.<\/p><p>Another kind of practice, also still common in Quebec but prohibited elsewhere, is systematic mutilation without adequate pain control. Calf and lamb castration, lamb tail docking and the partial debeaking of laying hens are all commonly practiced without any analgesia or anesthesia in Quebec. And as for piglets, they are castrated without anesthesia. Yet the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) considers many of these practices to be painful procedures for which both anesthesia and analgesia are required.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1017\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1017\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What about \u201cfree-run\u201d and other animal welfare claims?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1017\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1017\"><p>The Montreal SPCA believes that the agricultural industry should be required to disclose the farming methods used to produce meat, dairy and eggs through mandatory labelling. We in fact submitted comments to this effect to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in 2019 during a consultation held as part of the agency\u2019s Food Labelling Modernization initiative.<\/p><p>Not only is there no mandatory labelling required for animal products, but animal welfare claims on food products are unregulated and therefore unverifiable for consumers. The term \u201cfree-run eggs,\u201d for example, which is frequently used on egg packaging, is not regulated, so its use does not reflect specific standards and is not verified. In addition, the term is misleading because \u201cfree-run\u201d hens are typically permanently housed indoors and packed in densities nearly as high as in caged production.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1018\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1018\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Don\u2019t Quebec producers care about animal welfare?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1018\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1018\"><p>The issue clearly doesn\u2019t stem from the producers as individuals but rather from the system in which they operate. A regulatory framework with prescribed and mandatory standards will only benefit productions that are already concerned about animal welfare and will ensure that all others adopt best practices in a consistent and regulated way.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1019\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1019\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Do cows, chickens and pigs feel pain in the same way our companion animals do?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1019\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1019\"><p>There is broad scientific consensus that these animals are just as capable of feeling pain and suffering as our dogs, cats and other companion animals. The further research progresses, the more science tells us that many animals have significantly more complex cognitive and emotional abilities than we initially suspected\u2014and this applies as much to dogs and cats as it does to cows, pigs, chickens and other mammals and birds raised for food production. It is therefore necessary for the interests and needs of all animals to inform the way we treat them.<\/p><p>Yet animals raised for food are systematically excluded from the law\u2019s main protections despite being sentient beings, with complex cognitive and emotional abilities. As a result, subjecting them to several painful practices which cause suffering remains permitted, when these same practices would be considered criminal if performed on dogs or cats, for example.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9a0f274 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9a0f274\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-81d0573\" data-id=\"81d0573\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a88db0e elementor-align-center elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"a88db0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"#sign-the-letter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Add your name<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53710e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"53710e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Photo credit:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Fig. 1 Photography: \u00a9 Jo-Anne McArthur \/ We Animals, Quebec, Canada, 2022.<\/li><li>Fig. 2 Photography: \u00a9 Jo-Anne McArthur \/ We Animals, Quebec, Canada, 2022.<\/li><li>Fig. 3 Photography: \u00a9 Jo-Anne McArthur \/ We Animals, Quebec, Canada, 2022.<\/li><li>Fig. 4 Photography: \u00a9 Abigail Messier \/ We Animals, British Colombia, Canada, 2024.<\/li><li>Fig. 5 Video: \u00a9 Abigail Messier \/ We Animals, British Colombia, Canada, 2024.<\/li><li>Fig. 6 Photography: \u00a9 Abigail Messier \/ We Animals, British Colombia, Canada, 2024.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aaad5d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"aaad5d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Canada, the vast majority of animals used for food production are still raised in industrial (or \u201cintensive\u201d) farming conditions where housing systems and practices are designed to maximize production while keeping costs to a minimum.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":56074,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-56155","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Farmed Animals: An Electoral Issue - SPCA de Montr\u00e9al<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In Canada, the vast majority of animals used for food production are still raised in industrial (or \u201cintensive\u201d) farming conditions where housing systems and practices are designed to maximize production while keeping costs to a minimum.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/en\/farmed-animals-an-electoral-issue\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Farmed Animals: An Electoral Issue - SPCA de Montr\u00e9al\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In Canada, the vast majority of animals used for food production are still raised in industrial (or \u201cintensive\u201d) farming conditions where housing systems and practices are designed to maximize production while keeping costs to a minimum.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/en\/farmed-animals-an-electoral-issue\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SPCA de Montr\u00e9al\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-11T21:24:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Canada-2024.-Abigail-Messier_We-Animals-WAM36848.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.spca.com\\\/en\\\/farmed-animals-an-electoral-issue\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.spca.com\\\/en\\\/farmed-animals-an-electoral-issue\\\/\",\"name\":\"Farmed Animals: An Electoral Issue - SPCA de Montr\u00e9al\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.spca.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.spca.com\\\/en\\\/farmed-animals-an-electoral-issue\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.spca.com\\\/en\\\/farmed-animals-an-electoral-issue\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.spca.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Canada-2024.-Abigail-Messier_We-Animals-WAM36848.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-10T15:46:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-11T21:24:54+00:00\",\"description\":\"In Canada, the vast majority of animals used for food production are still raised in industrial (or \u201cintensive\u201d) farming conditions where housing systems and practices are designed to maximize production while keeping costs to a minimum.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.spca.com\\\/en\\\/farmed-animals-an-electoral-issue\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.spca.com\\\/en\\\/farmed-animals-an-electoral-issue\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.spca.com\\\/en\\\/farmed-animals-an-electoral-issue\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.spca.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Canada-2024.-Abigail-Messier_We-Animals-WAM36848.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.spca.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Canada-2024.-Abigail-Messier_We-Animals-WAM36848.jpg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1280,\"caption\":\"In 2016, Canada's National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) committed to phasing out conventional battery cages by 2036, which the industry applauded as a welfare success for egg-laying hens. 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