{"id":38901,"date":"2022-09-06T11:33:30","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T15:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/?p=38901"},"modified":"2022-09-07T10:26:44","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T14:26:44","slug":"2022-election-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/en\/2022-election-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"Animal Protection: A Key\u202f2022 Election Issue\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Press release \u2013 for immediate release <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montr\u00e9al, September 6, 2022 \u2013<\/strong> As part of the provincial election campaign, the Montreal SPCA, Quebec\u2019s leading animal advocacy group, is asking the political parties to take a stand on three priority issues and is providing them with a forum to present their views on these matters at the first-ever provincial electoral debate on animal protection. The debate will be held on Wednesday, September 14 at 7:00\u202fp.m. and broadcast live on the Montreal SPCA\u2019s Facebook page<\/a>. A toolkit<\/a> has also been put together for citizens who wish to use the election campaign as an opportunity to raise these issues with candidates in their riding and help promote provincial-level legislation and regulations that protect animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this election period, the Montreal SPCA is asking the parties to commit to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Guaranteeing fair access to housing for people living with animal companions. In June, a petition to this effect was submitted to the National Assembly and received support from over 33,000 citizens.<\/li>
  2. Enacting a ban on fur farms, a dying industry in Quebec, whose practices are inconsistent with animal welfare and whose social acceptability is declining.<\/li>
  3. Making it illegal to keep dogs tethered. It is still legal in Quebec to keep dogs tethered outside, almost permanently and for their entire life. However, over 35,000 Quebecers said they were against the permanent tethering of dogs on the Montreal SPCA website in the event of a 2015 campaign on the subject.\u202f\u202f<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cIn 2022, Quebecers are calling for better animal protection, and this fall\u2019s election provides an opportunity for the parties to make key commitments on these issues,\u201d notes Sophie Gaillard, Director of Animal Advocacy and Legal Affairs and Acting Executive Director of the Montreal SPCA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Animal protection is very much a concern for Quebec voters. According to a L\u00e9ger poll conducted on behalf of the Montreal SPCA during the last provincial election campaign in 2018, 72% of voters felt that the parties should include animal welfare and animal protection among their campaign commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cBy providing a complete citizen\u2019s kit, the SPCA also hopes to empower the public to actively contribute to the campaign and get involved in advancing animal welfare and protection in Quebec,\u201d says Ms Gaillard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The many Quebecers concerned with animal protection are invited to attend the first-ever provincial election debate on animal issues on Wednesday, September 14th at 7\u202fp.m. live on the Montreal SPCA\u2019s Facebook page. The different parties will have the opportunity to address these issues in a discussion moderated by journalist Vanessa Destin\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Participants include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n