One issue that is continually ignored during elections is animal welfare. Considering that our national animal cruelty law dates from 1892, I feel that more needs to be done to address and improve Canada’s animal welfare laws. Last year, a few small amendments were passed increasing the penalties for animal abuse but leaving in place all the loopholes that allow animal abusers to escape punishment.

I want to hear candidates’ views on how to improve animal welfare. Will they commit to updating our anti-cruelty laws? Do they agree that Canada should support the international effort to achieve a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) at the United Nations?