Addressing wildlife captivity issues in the 2023 Prince Edward Island provincial election
27/03/2023
It’s time for Prince Edward Island’s candidates and elected officials to recognize that wildlife captivity is a significant issue of public concern.
By Michèle Hamers, Wildlife Campaign Manager
In recent years, there has been growing concern among animal welfare advocates and the general public in Prince Edward Island (PEI) about the treatment of wildlife in captivity. In 2021, the PEI Department of Agriculture and Land developed the Animal Welfare Survey and asked Islanders what the government can do to improve the welfare of animals on the Island.
The results were clear: 97% of Islanders who responded indicated that animal welfare is "very" to "extremely" important to them and the majority of Islanders who responded would like to see a prohibition on the sale, trade, and exhibition of exotic animals on the Island.
Wild animals belong in the wild, not in captivity, and there is ample research on the cognitive, emotional, and social capabilities of wild animals to prove that they suffer in unnatural conditions.
Captive wildlife in Prince Edward Island
In 2017, PEI took an important step towards safeguarding wild animals and the public from harm by ending the use of wild animals in circuses. The province, however, remains a place where wild animals are used in settings that can put them and the public at risk, including the use of wild animals in Mobile Live Animal Programs and the keeping of wild animals as pets.
The exploitation of wild animals in these industries is related to a variety of issues ranging from animal welfare to public health concerns, including:
- The exotic pet trade is a key driver of biodiversity loss and is unsustainable.
- The trade of wild animals for exotic pet keeping has also been linked with the introduction of invasive species and novel diseases, affecting local wildlife populations.
- Protecting the health and well-being of wild animals in domestic settings (such as in private residences or Mobile Live Animal Programs) is extremely challenging and in most cases unachievable.
- Wild animals in captivity can pose a significant risk to public health and safety, including the transmission of zoonotic diseases. Because of this, most public health agencies across Canada have policies warning against interacting with animals like reptiles and birds.
Parties' response to animal welfare issues
Despite the strong engagement in the 2021 animal welfare survey, we haven’t seen the desired follow-up from the government.
As we get closer to the 2023 Prince Edward Island provincial election, we wanted to ask the major parties about their position on the issue of captive wildlife. We asked:
- Would your party support regulations to prohibit interactions between people and wild animals that pose a risk to public health and/or safety or cannot be done humanely?
- Would your party support regulations to restrict the trade, keeping, and breeding of exotic wild animals as pets, in cases where these animals either cannot be kept humanely or may pose a threat to public health and/or safety or the environment?
- Would your party commit to implementing the recommendations of the PEI Animal Welfare report developed by the Department of Agriculture and Land?
The responses we got:
- Would your party support regulations to prohibit interactions between people and wild animals that pose a risk to public health and/or safety or cannot be done humanely?
Yes, and this work would be done in consultation with our Chief Public Health Office and animal welfare groups. - Would your party support regulations to restrict the trade, keeping, and breeding of exotic wild animals as pets, in cases where these animals either cannot be kept humanely or may pose a threat to public health and/or safety or the environment?
Yes. - Would your party commit to implementing the recommendations of the PEI Animal Welfare report developed by the Department of Agriculture and Land?
Yes, we would commit to the implementation of the report’s recommendations. Additionally, a Green government would strengthen our provincial animal protection policies and enforcement, which would be led by an office of animal welfare housed within the Department of Justice and Public Safety. The scope of this review would include regulation of animal breeding (e.g. puppy mills) which is not adequately controlled. It would also look at trapping rules to make sure pets can be safe.
View the full response (PDF) from the Green Party of Prince Edward Island
- Would your party support regulations to prohibit interactions between people and wild animals that pose a risk to public health and/or safety or cannot be done humanely?
Yes. The Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island is committed to the protection of all animals. Protecting animals and restricting the captivity of wild animals will minimize the potential spread of zoonotic pathogens to humans and to the Island’s livestock. Protecting Islanders from the spread of such diseases is important. - Would your party support regulations to restrict the trade, keeping, and breeding of exotic wild animals as pets, in cases where these animals either cannot be kept humanely or may pose a threat to public health and/or safety or the environment?
Yes. Exotic wild animals, when unregulated, results in the inhumane treatment of the animals and unnecessarily increases the risks to Islanders, our animals and our industries. Exotic wild animals can introduce invasive species and pathogens into Island waterways and livestock operations. Previous Liberal governments undertook substantial reviews of the Animal Health Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. A-11.1 in 2009 and 2015. Protecting public health and safety by monitoring and swiftly responding to animal health concerns continues to be a matter of concern for the Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island. - Would your party commit to implementing the recommendations of the PEI Animal Welfare report developed by the Department of Agriculture and Land?
Yes. The Liberal Party was the governing party when the Animal Welfare Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. A-11.2 was enacted. The Liberal Party will continue to work towards the protection of wild animals, humans, and livestock. The Liberal Party will always take an evidence-based approach to achieving these goals.
View the full response (PDF) from the Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island
- Would your party support regulations to prohibit interactions between people and wild animals that pose a risk to public health and/or safety or cannot be done humanely?
Yes. A re-elected PC government would support regulations ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of the public and wild animals. - Would your party support regulations to restrict the trade, keeping, and breeding of exotic wild animals as pets, in cases where these animals either cannot be kept humanely or may pose a threat to public health and/or safety or the environment?
Yes. A re-elected PC government will monitor the situation regarding exotic animal trade, keeping and breeding. When deemed necessary and appropriate by experts in this area, we will support regulations that will ensure the humane treatment of animals and the health and safety of the public and the environment. Additionally, we would support increasing educational material available to the public about the risks exotic animals pose and the best practices in caring for them while ensuring public safety. - Would your party commit to implementing the recommendations of the PEI Animal Welfare report developed by the Department of Agriculture and Land?
Yes. A re-elected PC government would work to implement the recommendations made in the 2021 PEI Animal Welfare report with a focus on enhancing educational support available to the public.
View the full response (PDF) from the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party of Prince Edward Island
Frequently Asked Questions
We support policies that help improve animal welfare and will gladly work with all parties and MPs in the mission to give all animals in Canada a life worth living.
Engage your candidates! Candidates want to hear from their constituents, from the people they represent. You can help by educating your candidate.
The best way to engage your candidate is by reaching out to them personally and asking to meet with them or to speak with them on the phone. And since there is an upcoming election, you should also reach out to the other candidates running to be your candidate. You can speak with them when they knock at your door or when you see them at community events or all-candidates debates.
