Our Advocacy Work in Action

Our organization in dialogue and advocacy paves the way for transformative changes in legislation and societal norms, having successfully influenced considerable changes to federal animal protection law.

We are working to drive change for animals nationwide.

Humane Canada has submitted budget recommendations in advance of Budget 2025 that reflect some of the challenges our members are facing. It will also serve as a reminder to Parliamentarians that Canadians consider their animals to be part of the family. Their safety and welfare is important, too.

Our recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance:

1. Provide a stable, ongoing funding package for animal shelters to address capacity issues caused by abandonment and overpopulation and explicitly include animal shelters in the definition of community-oriented structures with eligibility for federal infrastructure funding grants.

2. Open applications for the Humanitarian Workforce grant, with eligibility expanded to include professional animal welfare agencies in order to provide an adequate funding structure that supports a cohesive emergency response for animals during natural disasters and other emergencies.

3. Include pet-friendly criteria in federally funded housing programs and grants and encourage housing stakeholders to find collaborative solutions to increase the availability and affordability of pet friendly housing for all Canadians.

4. Create a federal funding model that would expand the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence to include grant support for humane societies, SPCAs and shelters that offer pet shelter services to support persons leaving a violent partner.

5. Funding for mandatory training of justice stakeholders to improve knowledge of the connection between animal abuse and interpersonal violence in the criminal justice system.

6. Establish a new federal grant program to help animal agriculture producers phase out intensive housing systems, such as the elimination of conventional and enrichment cages for laying hens, gestation stalls for pigs and tie stalls for dairy cattle; and increase funding and resources to ensure robust inspection and consistent enforcement of animal health and welfare regulations by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

7. Provide sustainable funding for alternative methods of animal testing in science.

Recent wins for animals and the law:

These achievements and more are only made possible thanks to the generous support of donors just like you. Learn more about how you can support our legal efforts to reduce animal suffering today - donate today!

Setting the Standard: National and Global Leadership in Animal Welfare

While Canada is widely considered to be a progressive, civilized country with plenty of laws on the books to protect its citizens, we have a poor record when it comes to protecting animals from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Humane Canada strives to ensure that we not only lead globally groundbreaking animal welfare legislation, but that we build on the examples from countries that have already updated or enacted effective animal welfare legislation and standards.

Harmony in Action: Advancing One Welfare with Humane Canada

Humane Canada stands at the forefront of the One Health/One Welfare initiative, emphasizing the interconnectedness of animal welfare with broader societal concerns such as health, social care, justice, and environmental sustainability. Our commitment to this holistic approach is integral to our legislative advocacy efforts. By driving reforms, we aim to address critical issues that impact animals, people, and our environment together, ensuring comprehensive solutions for a healthier and more humane country and world.