Ontario Proposes Legislation to Regulate Medical Research on Animals

The province of Ontario is moving forward with proposed legislation aimed at enhancing the protection of animals involved in medical research. Announced last week, this initiative responds to public concern regarding the use of dogs in studies at St. Joseph’s Health Care London. While the legislation is a step towards safeguarding animal welfare, it does not completely eliminate the practice of invasive research.

Included in an omnibus bill primarily focused on public safety issues, such as impaired driving, the proposed amendments will prohibit “invasive medical research” on cats and dogs. However, the term “invasive” remains undefined within the legislation, with the Ontario government indicating that a clearer definition will be established in subsequent regulations if the bill passes.

Exemptions and Oversight Measures

The draft legislation does allow certain exceptions. Research may still be conducted if it serves a veterinary purpose or occurs at registered research facilities, provided that a proposal meets specified criteria. Additionally, an animal care committee, which must include at least one veterinarian, is required to oversee any research involving animals.

Drew Woodley, director of government relations for the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, expressed cautious optimism about the proposed changes. He stated that if enacted, the legislation would ensure that basic medical research on dogs and cats is significantly restricted. “Researchers would first have to explore other options that don’t involve the use of animals,” he noted.

One significant aspect of the legislation is the prohibition on breeding or selling animals specifically for medical research. Woodley advocates for an outright ban on using animals from pounds in research, emphasizing that animals with difficult pasts should not be subjected to further testing.

Concerns Over Self-Regulation

The public outcry surrounding the heart studies conducted on dogs at St. Joseph’s Health Care London last fall prompted Premier Doug Ford to take a strong stance against such research. He stated he would “hunt down” those involved in testing on cats and dogs. Despite this, some experts believe the proposed legislation relies too heavily on self-regulation by the animal care committees at research facilities.

Angela Fernandez, director of the animal law program at the University of Toronto, raised concerns that the current legislative framework may not effectively prevent facilities from approving contentious research projects. “This legislation doesn’t prevent those facilities from continuing to approve these projects,” she explained, arguing that it does not constitute a true ban on animal research. Fernandez also advocates for a prohibition on importing research animals from outside the province.

In addition to the proposed regulations on invasive research, the Ontario government plans to consult on the potential ban of medically unnecessary procedures, such as ear and tail cropping in dogs and declawing in cats. These practices, often performed for aesthetic reasons, have been criticized by various animal welfare advocates, including the Ontario SPCA, which has long argued for their prohibition.

Woodley highlighted that many of these procedures are unnecessary and are often performed for convenience. “A procedure like feline declawing is often done when cats are scratching, but that’s a behaviour issue; it doesn’t have to be addressed by essentially severing parts of the cats’ fingers,” he remarked.

As Ontario navigates the complexities of animal welfare legislation, the proposed changes mark a significant yet cautious step toward redefining the ethics of medical research involving animals. The ongoing discussions and consultations will be crucial in shaping the future of animal rights within the province.