Quoted from the SPCA Recommendations to the Law Committee, 17 Nov 20008
http://www.spcans.ca/documents/LawAmendmentsSubmission.pdf
9. In regard to Section 39 (f) exempting research activities from the requirements of subsection 22(1) if the research activities are being conducted pursuant to an audit program approved by the Canadian Council on Animal Care or an organization prescribed in the regulations;
The CCAC is well known to not be a regulating body. This section should be removed. (see Annex b)
Having an organization comprised of people who do animal testing to audit testing facilities is a conflict of interest.
In recent months, news stories have been popping up everywhere since the listeria outbreaks followed hot on the heels of the deregulation of food inspection. Under the new rules, the front line responsibility for inspection shifted to the food industry.
We all know how that worked. There are reasons, good reasons, the fox does not get sent to guard the henhouse. The proposal from Dalhousie requesting exemption from SPCA inspections for research animals should be raising a red flag with the Dept of Agriculture. Setting aside the humane issues, there could be devastating economic repercussions for permitting Dalhousie's proposal to move forward.
The use of animals in research is closely scrutinized by international animal welfare organizations. To permit that particular fox to guard the henhouse invites all types of international economic boycott for 'made in Nova Scotia' products and services.
This is a time when our traditional trading partners south of the border are in desperate financial trouble. This is a time when Nova Scotia will need strong markets such as the EU.
The EU is a different kettle of fish from the folks south of the border. Their animal welfare groups have carried on strong campaigns and been responsible for more humane rules in the housing, transporting and slaughtering of farm animals. These groups wield a lot of clout, as we have seen with the anti sealing campaign.
It would be very short sighted of the NS Dept of Agriculture to permit Nova Scotia's reputation to be blemished. Do we want the international community to be able to question why we let the universities oversee the treatment of their own research animals? Are they willing to jeopardize markets for NS goods and services?
What time is it? Its time to remind the Dept of Agriculture how important this issue is to the Nova Scotia economy. You don't have to be an animal lover to see the sense in that.
This is a time sensitive issue as Bill 186 has passed the second reading and is with the Law Amendments Committee as we speak.
To email the Premier, the Hon Rodney J. MacDonald (PC) premier@gov.ns.ca
To email the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon Brooke Taylor, mlataylor@eastlink.ca
To find the contact information to email your own MLA, http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/MEMBERS/directory/constituencies.html
To lend your voice to SPCANS, animals@spcans.ca
The appropriate contact for the Law Amendments Committee is Gordon Hebb Legislative Counsel 902-424-8941
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