Animal protection expert available to comment on new Ontario legislation

MEDIA RELEASE: 29 Oct. 2019 – R00170

The Ontario government today tabled The Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act which, if passed, would establish an enforcement team made up of a chief inspector, locally deployed provincial inspectors and specialized inspectors for agriculture, zoos, aquariums and equines.

https://news.ontario.ca/mcscs/en/2019/10/ontarios-new-animal-welfare-model.html

Kendra Coulter, Chair of the Department of Labour Studies at Brock University, is a leading Canadian researcher on issues of animal welfare. She has been widely published in journals and quoted in news media across North America and around the world.

Coulter has studied animal cruelty investigations in Ontario and other jurisdictions since 2015. Earlier this year she released a report calling for a dedicated, public provincial anti-cruelty unit — an aspect which is the core plank of the new legislation.

This is an important issue for animals and for public safety, since animal abuse often occurs alongside violence against women and children, and as a gateway to other crimes.

Coulter says the introduction of this legislation is promising, but she needs to see more details, including the funding commitment.

Kendra Coulter is available for media interviews, and can be reached at kcoulter@brocku.ca

 

For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

Kevin Cavanagh, Brock University Communications, kcavanagh@brocku.ca or 905-688-5550 x5888 or 905 321-4310
Michelle Presse, Brock University Communications, mpresse@brocku.ca or 905-688-5550 ext 4420 or 905-246-1963

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