Making our funds work to help

On July 4, 1873, citizens concerned for both the welfare of animals and children founded the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Ontario SPCA). Several years later, the Children’s Aid Society was established as a separate organization and the Ontario SPCA’s primary focus became bringing animal cruelty cases to the attention of authorities.

In 1887, the Ontario SPCA’s lobbying efforts resulted in a decision by the Ontario Board of Police Commissioners to appoint a police officer to deal with animal cruelty issues on a full-time basis. In 1919, the first legislation was passed to protect animals. The Ontario SPCA’s Inspectors and Agents were given authority by the government, through the Ontario SPCA Act, to investigate situations involving animal abuse.

In 1955, the Government of Ontario repealed the Act of 1919 and replaced it with new legislation. Inspectors and Agents were granted the power to enter property, to carry out investigations and given broader powers to remove animals that were believed to be in distress or in need of care and attention. In order to obtain enforcement powers, many independent societies affiliated with the Ontario SPCA, enabling the Society to become a larger, more linked group that could affect better humane laws and conditions.

In 2008 the first comprehensive amendment to the Ontario SPCA Act since its inception passed, transforming Ontario’s weak animal protection laws into some of the toughest animal protection laws in the country.

Today the Society is comprised of more than 50 Ontario SPCA Communities providing animal protection, rehabilitation and care; advocacy and humane education in neighbourhoods across the province.

Although the whaling nations – Iceland, Norway and Japan – constantly flout the internationally agreed ban, the deal would realise no significant overall reduction in the number of whales killed. Instead it would legitimise these cruel hunts and risk opening the floodgates for this archaic and unnecessary industry to expand.
The IWC – out of touch

This proposal shows just how far out of touch the IWC is with modern values – it entirely misses the point that blasting whales with exploding harpoons is grossly inhumane. Moves to resuscitate the world’s dying whaling industries are a huge backwards step for animal welfare and conservation globally.

The proposal follows two years of negotiations to agree a future for the IWC and resolve conflict between anti-and pro-whaling nations. It will be voted on at the IWC annual meeting this June.
Why this proposal is a disaster:

Animal welfare and conservation groups including WSPA are united in opposing the proposal. If passed, it would:

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award, for the first time in over 25 years, commercial whaling quotas, wholly undermining the whaling ban;
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mean international endorsement of unnecessary animal suffering;
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set a precedent for other countries wishing to start commercial whaling;
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allow commercial whaling in a designated whale sanctuary;
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fail to properly address existing loopholes in the whaling ban so in 10 years the IWC faces the same deadlock;
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demolish 20 years of IWC criticism of Japan, Norway and Iceland for their flouting of the whaling ban;
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mean tax-payers in anti-whaling countries would be subsidising commercial whaling.

Norwegians make their views known
Norwegian Whalewatch groups, NOAH and Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge hand the petition to Terje Aasland, the leader of Norway’s Business and Industry Committee. The petition calls for an end to Norwegian whaling.
Norwegian Whalewatch groups, NOAH and Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge hand the petition to Terje Aasland, the leader of Norway’s Business and Industry Committee. The petition calls for an end to Norwegian whaling.
© Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge

This week Norwegian animal welfare organizations Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge and NOAH – for dyrs rettigheter captured media and public attention when they handed Norwegian MP and leader of the Business and Industry Committee, Terje Aasland, a petition of over 4,000 signatures from members of the Norwegian public opposed to their government’s whaling policy.

As this protest demonstrates, as well as being condemned by the international community, whaling also has considerable opposition from the public in Norway, and now is certainly not the time for the IWC to be adopting a proposal which would legitimise this outdated and unnecessary industry.
Saving the whaling ban

WSPA will be working hard to lobby governments before June to derail this dangerous deal, and instead encourage a healthy focus on the IWC’s future as a body to manage whale conservation and whale watching.

Please help us show the Norwegian government that whaling is no good for whales or Norway’s international reputation.

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada marks the month of May as MS Awareness Month. Across the country, our collective aim is to increase awareness about multiple sclerosis; inform the public about the MS Society’s services and mission; and to engage new and existing supporters in our efforts to end MS.

The MS Society of Canada is also a Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) member and is pleased to support and promote World MS Day on Wednesday, May 26, 2010. The objectives of the World MS Day are to raise awareness; and to unite, broaden and mobilize the global MS movement.

In addition to public awareness activities, the MS Society is also in the midst of its spring fundraising season in May. The MS Carnation Campaign, held just before Mother’s Day, funds MS research and services through the sale of carnations by community volunteers. In many parts of the country, MS Walks are also underway.