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Home → Legislative Business → Bills → 39-2

Status of bills in this Session.

Second Session, Thirty-Ninth Legislature

This version is based on the printed bill that was distributed in the Legislature after First Reading.

It is not the official version. If accuracy is critical, you can obtain a copy of the printed bill from Statutory Publications or view the online bilingual version (PDF) .

Bill 48

THE ANIMAL CARE AMENDMENT ACT

Explanatory Note

(Assented to )

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:

C.C.S.M. c. A84 amended

The Animal Care Act is amended by this Act.

The following is added before

section 1:

PART 1

INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

Subsection 1(1) is amended

(

a) by adding the following

definitions:

"abandoned animal" means an animal that

(

a) is apparently ownerless and not running at large,

(

b) is found on rented premises after the expiration or termination of the tenancy agreement,

(

c) is found on premises after the owner has sold or vacated the premises, or

(

d) by agreement between the animal's owner and another person, has been left in the care of the other person and has not been retrieved from the other person for more than four days after the agreed-upon retrieval time; (« animal abandonné »)

"appeal board" means the Animal Care Appeal Board established in

section 33.1; (« Commission d'appel »)

"commercial animal assembling station" means any place where commercial animals are assembled for shipment by any form of transportation; (« centre de rassemblement d'animaux commerciaux »)

"commercial animal market" means a stockyard or auction mart that is operated as a public market for the purchase or sale of commercial animals; (« marché à animaux commerciaux »)

"panel" means a panel of the appeal board; (« comité »)

"personal information" means personal information as defined in The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act ; (« renseignements personnels »)

"prescribed" means prescribed by regulation;

"vehicle" means a vehicle as defined in The Highway Traffic Act ; (« véhicule »)

"veterinarian" means a person registered under The Veterinary Medical Act and authorized to practise veterinary medicine in Manitoba. (« vétérinaire »)

(

b) by repealing the

definitions "breeding premises", "cat", "commercial breeding premises", "dog", "hobby breeding premises" and "kennel";

(

c) by replacing the definition "care" with the following:

"care" includes the provision of food, water, shelter and medical attention to an animal; (« soins »)

(

d) in the definition "caregiver", by striking out " a seized animal " and substituting " an animal that has been seized or taken into custody ";

(

e) in the definition "commercial animals", by replacing clauses (

c) and (

d) with the following:

(

c) animals of a type usually raised for meat production or the production of products from the animals, and includes breeding stock of such animals, and

(

d) species or types of animals designated in the regulations as commercial animals;

(

f) in the definition "costs of care", by adding " take custody of, " after " seize, ";

(

g) by replacing the definition "licence" with the following:

"licence" means a licence issued under this Act; (« permis »)

(

h) by replacing the definition "owner" with the following:

"owner" includes

(

a) a person having possession or control of an animal or occupying premises containing an animal, and

(

b) a person who possessed or controlled an animal, or occupied premises containing the animal, immediately before it was seized or taken into custody under this Act; (« propriétaire »)

The following is added after

section 1 and before the centred heading " PROTECTION OF ANIMALS ":

Delegation by director

1.1

The director may delegate to any person on his or her staff, with or without conditions, any power or duty conferred or imposed on the director by this Act.

PART 2

Subclause 2(1)(d)(iii) is amended by adding " or lighting " after " ventilation ".

The following is added after

section 5 and before the centred heading " INTERVENTION ":

Prohibition re transporting unfit animals

5.1(1)

No person shall load or transport an animal, or permit an animal to be loaded or transported, in a vehicle if, by reason of infirmity, illness, injury, fatigue or any other cause, the animal is unable to stand or would suffer unduly during transport.

Exception

5.1(2)

Despite subsection (1), as long as the animal is loaded and transported humanely, a person may transport it

(

a) to or from a veterinary clinic or the nearest suitable place to obtain medical attention; or

(

b) directly to slaughter at the nearest available slaughterhouse.

Prohibition re unloading or accepting unfit commercial animal

5.2(1)

No person shall, for the purpose of resale or further shipment,

(

a) unload a commercial animal, or permit a commercial animal to be unloaded, from a vehicle; or

(

b) accept, or permit a commercial animal to be accepted;

at a commercial animal market or commercial animal assembling station if, by reason of infirmity, illness, injury, fatigue or any other cause, the animal is unable to stand or is suffering unduly.

Report required if unfit animal not accepted

5.2(2)

When a commercial animal is not accepted under clause (1)(b), the operator of the commercial animal market or commercial animal assembling station shall promptly

(

a) notify the director that the animal was not accepted; and

(

b) provide any information respecting the matter that the director requests.

Veterinarian to report suspected neglect or abuse

5.3

A veterinarian who believes on reasonable grounds that an animal has been or is subject to neglect or abuse that compromises the animal's health, other than in the course of an accepted activity, shall promptly

(

a) report his or her belief to the director; and

(

b) provide any information respecting the matter that the director requests.

The centred heading before

section 6 is replaced with the following:

PART 3

INTERVENTION

ANIMALS IN DISTRESS

Subclause 6(1)(f)(iii) is amended by adding " or lighting " after " ventilation ".

The following is added before

section 7:

ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICERS AND THEIR POWERS

Section 8 is replaced with the following:

Entry and inspection of places and vehicles

8(1)

An animal protection officer may, at any reasonable time and where reasonably required to administer or determine compliance with this Act,

(

a) enter and inspect any facility, premises or other place, or stop and inspect any vehicle, that is being operated in the course of an activity

(

i) for which a person is or is required to be licensed under this Act,

(ii) that purports to be an accepted activity under subsection 4(1) and in respect of which a standard or code of conduct, criteria, practice or procedure has been specified as acceptable in the regulations,

(iii) that relates to the operation of a commercial animal market or commercial animal assembling station, or

(iv) that involves a commercial animal;

(

b) open any receptacle, package, cage or thing that the animal protection officer believes on reasonable grounds is being kept in the course of that activity;

(

c) view any animal or conduct an examination of any animal in the place or vehicle, whether or not the animal is apparently in distress;

(

d) conduct any test, take any sample or make any other examination of the place or vehicle;

(

e) inspect any licence, record or other information;

(

f) make a copy, or obtain a printout or an electronically readable format, of any licence, record or other information in the place or vehicle; and

(

g) remove any licence, record or information for copying, subject to its being returned as soon as reasonably practicable.

Warrant to enter and inspect

8(2)

A justice who is satisfied by information on oath that

(

a) a reasonable effort to exercise any of the powers referred to in subsection (1) has been made but was unsuccessful; or

(

b) there are reasonable grounds to believe that an attempt to exercise any of the powers referred to in subsection (1) would be denied without a warrant;

may at any time issue a warrant authorizing an animal protection officer and any other person named in the warrant, together with such police officers as are required to assist, to enter the place or vehicle and carry out an inspection in accordance with the powers referred to in subsection (1).

Assistance to animal protection officer

8(3)

The owner or person in charge of a place entered by an animal protection officer under this section, and any person found in that place, shall

(

a) give the animal protection officer all reasonable assistance to enable the animal protection officer to carry out any action authorized under this Act;

(

b) furnish the animal protection officer with any licence, record or information he or she may reasonably require to carry out any action authorized under this Act; and

(

c) produce any animal that the animal protection officer requires for viewing or examination.

Driver of vehicle must stop, etc.

8(4)

Where an animal protection officer signals or requests a person driving a vehicle that is subject to being inspected to stop, the person shall immediately bring the vehicle to a stop and shall not proceed until permitted to do so by the animal protection officer, and shall give the animal protection officer assistance in the same manner as specified in subsection (3).

Companion animal in distress

8(5)

Without restricting the generality of subsection (1) with respect to inspection of facilities, premises or other places, or vehicles containing companion animals, an animal protection officer may, at any reasonable time and where reasonably required to determine compliance with this Act,

(

a) enter and inspect any facility, premises or other place that is not a dwelling place, or stop and inspect any vehicle, in which the animal protection officer believes on reasonable grounds there is a companion animal in distress; and

(

b) view the animal or conduct such examination of the animal as may be required to determine whether or not it is in distress.

Viewing at dwelling place

8(6)

An animal protection officer may, at any reasonable time and where reasonably required to determine whether an animal is in distress,

(

a) enter onto the land on which a dwelling place is located;

(

b) require any person in the dwelling place to produce the animal for viewing or examination; and

(

c) once the animal is produced, view the animal or conduct such examination of the animal as may be required to determine whether or not it is in distress.

No restriction on inspection power

8(7)

The power to require production of an animal under subsection (6) does not restrict or extinguish the power to conduct an inspection under subsection (1) with respect to any activity referred to in clause (1)(

a) that occurs inside a dwelling place.

Requirement to produce

8(8)

A person in a dwelling place who is required to produce an animal for viewing or examination under subsection (6) shall immediately produce the animal.

Warrant to search for animal in distress

8(9)

A justice who is satisfied by information on oath that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there is an animal in distress in a dwelling place may at any time issue a warrant authorizing an animal protection officer and any other person named in the warrant, together with such police officers as are required to assist, to enter and search the dwelling place for the animal and to take any action in relation to the animal as is authorized under this Act with respect to an animal in distress.

Warrant to search and seize re offence

8(10)

A justice who is satisfied by information on oath that there are reasonable grounds to believe that

(

a) an offence under this Act has been committed or is being committed; and

(

b) there is to be found in any place or vehicle an animal or thing that will afford evidence of the offence;

may at any time issue a warrant authorizing an animal protection officer and any other person named in the warrant, together with such police officers as are required to assist, to enter and search the place or vehicle for the animal or thing and to seize it and to bring it before a justice or to report on it to a justice to be dealt with according to law.

Where warrant not necessary

8(11)

An animal protection officer may take any action authorized under subsection (9) or (10) without a warrant if conditions for obtaining a warrant under subsection (9) or (10) exist but, by reason of exigent circumstances, it would not be practicable to obtain a warrant.

Duty to notify absent occupant

8(12)

An animal protection officer who enters an unoccupied place or vehicle under this

section shall leave in the place or vehicle a notice indicating the animal protection officer's name, the time of entry and the reason for entry.

Subsection 9(1) is replaced with the following:

ACTION RE DISTRESSED ANIMALS

Care, seizure or order re distressed animal

9(1)

An animal protection officer who discovers an animal that the officer believes on reasonable grounds is in distress may do one or more of the following:

(

a) provide any care or take any other action the animal protection officer considers necessary to relieve the animal's distress;

(

b) seize the animal;

(

c) notify the director for the purpose of making an order under subsection 10.1(1).

The following is added after

section 10:

DIRECTOR'S ORDER TO TAKE ACTION

Order to animal's owner

10.1(1)

If the director has reasonable grounds to believe that

(

a) an animal is in distress; or

(

b) an animal's owner is not carrying out his or her duties toward the animal as set out in

section 2;

the director may order the owner to take any action that the director believes is necessary, including having the animal examined and treated by a veterinarian at the expense of the owner, in order to

(

c) relieve the animal of its distress; or

(

d) ensure that the owner carries out his or her duties toward the animal.

Contents of order

10.1(2)

The order must state the reasons for making it and advise the owner of the right to appeal the order under subsection (6).

Giving order

10.1(3)

The order must be given to the owner in accordance with the regulations.

Revoking order

10.1(4)

If, in the director's opinion, the circumstances that gave rise to the order no longer exist, he or she shall revoke the order and give written notice of the revocation to the owner.

Duration of order

10.1(5)

An order expires one year after the date it is given, unless it is

(

a) sooner revoked by the director under subsection (4) or varied or rescinded by the appeal board under subsection (8); or

(

b) extended by the director for a further period that must not exceed one year.

Right of appeal

10.1(6)

The owner to whom an order is directed may appeal the order by filing a notice of appeal with the appeal board within seven days after receiving a copy of the order.

Order not stayed

10.1(7)

An appeal of an order does not stay the operation of the order.

Order

10.1(8)

After a hearing, the appeal board may make any of the following orders:

(

a) an order confirming, varying or rescinding the director's order;

(

b) if the director's order is varied or rescinded, an order that all or any part of the costs incurred by the owner in complying with the director's order be paid by the government to the owner;

(

c) any other order that the appeal board considers appropriate in the circumstances.

JUSTICE'S ORDER TO RESTRICT NUMBER OF ANIMALS

Application for order — restricting ownership of animals

10.2(1)

The director may apply to a justice for an order under subsection (2) in respect of an owner, if

(

a) animals have been seized from the owner under subsection 9(1) or the owner has voluntarily surrendered animals to the director; and

(

b) the director believes on reasonable grounds that

(

i) at the time those animals were seized or surrendered, the owner was unable to carry out his or her duties under this Act because the number or type of animals owned, possessed or controlled by the owner exceeded the owner's ability to carry out his or her duties toward them, and

(ii) the owner is not, or may not be, able to carry out his or her duties under this Act toward the animals that the owner presently owns, possesses or controls, or may own, possess or control, because the circumstances mentioned in subclause (

i) continue to exist or may occur again.

Order

10.2(2)

On an application under subsection (1), a justice may make an order

(

a) prohibiting an owner from owning or having possession or control of more than a specified number or type of animals, for a period up to three years; and

(

b) directing that any animals owned, possessed or controlled by the owner at the time the order is made

(

i) beyond the number of animals allowed under the order, or

(ii) other than the type of animal allowed under the order,

become the property of the Crown.

ENFORCING ORDERS

Entry and inspection to enforce orders

10.3(1)

An animal protection officer may, at any reasonable time and where reasonably required to determine compliance with an order made under subsection 10.1(1) or 10.2(2) or clause 35(1)(a),

(

a) enter and inspect any place in which the animal protection officer believes on reasonable grounds there is or should be an animal, structure, supply of food or water, shelter, enclosure, area, document, record or other thing to which the order applies;

(

b) inspect, test or examine the structure, supply of food or water, shelter, enclosure, area, document, record or thing; and

(

c) view or conduct an examination of any animal.

Warrant to enter and inspect

10.3(2)

A justice who is satisfied by information on oath that

(

a) a reasonable effort to exercise any of the powers referred to in subsection (1) has been made but was unsuccessful; or

(

b) there are reasonable grounds to believe that an attempt to exercise any of those powers would be denied without a warrant;

may at any time issue a warrant authorizing an animal protection officer and any other person named in the warrant, with such police officers as are required to assist, to enter and inspect the place and exercise such other powers referred to in subsection (1) as may be specified in the warrant.

Seizing animals for non-compliance with order

10.4(1)

Where as a result of an inspection under

section 10.3 an animal protection officer has reasonable grounds to believe that an owner has not complied with an order referred to in that section, the officer may

(

a) with respect to an order under subsection 10.1(1), seize the animal the order relates to; and

(

b) with respect to an order under subsection 10.2(2) or clause 35(1)(a), seize any or all of the owner's animals so that the number or type of animals owned, possessed or controlled by the owner is in compliance with the order.

Act applies if animal seized

10.4(2)

The provisions of this Act that apply to a seizure under subsection 9(1) also apply, with necessary changes, to a seizure under subsection (1). In the case of an appeal of a seizure, the appeal board may order that an animal be returned to its owner only if it is satisfied that the owner is in compliance with the order in relation to which the seizure was made.

TAKING ABANDONED ANIMALS INTO CUSTODY

Abandoned animals taken into custody

10.5

An animal protection officer who discovers an animal that he or she believes on reasonable grounds is abandoned may take the animal into custody and provide it with any care the officer considers necessary.

Sections 11 and 12 are renumbered as sections 8.1 and 8.2.

The centred heading before

section 13 is replaced with " CAREGIVERS ".

15(1)

Subsection 13(1) is amended by striking out " under subsection 9(1) " and substituting " or takes an abandoned animal into custody under this Act ".

15(2)

Subsection 13(2) is amended by striking out " a seized animal " and substituting " an animal that has been seized or taken into custody under this Act ".

15(3)

Subsection 13(4) is amended by adding the following after clause (a):

(a.1) takes an abandoned animal into custody under

section 10.5;

Sections 14 and 15 are replaced with the following:

PART 4

DISPOSING OF SEIZED

AND ABANDONED ANIMALS

COMMERCIAL ANIMALS

Notice to owner of right to appeal

14(1)

Within seven days after a commercial animal is seized under subsection 9(1) or taken into custody under

section 10.5, the director must give the owner notice that the animal will be sold, given away or destroyed if the owner does not file an appeal within the time required under subsection 15(2).

Commercial animal may be sold if no appeal

14(2)

If the time for filing an appeal under subsection 15(2) has elapsed and the owner of a commercial animal that has been seized or taken into custody has not filed an appeal, the director may sell, give away or destroy the animal.

If owner not located

14(3)

If seven days have elapsed after a commercial animal is seized or taken into custody and, despite reasonable inquiries by an animal protection officer, the animal's owner has not been located, the director may sell, give away or destroy the animal.

Appeal by owner of commercial animal

15(1)

The owner of a commercial animal that has been seized under subsection 9(1) or taken into custody under

section 10.5 may request the appeal board to order the animal's return by filing a notice of appeal with the appeal board.

Time for filing appeal

15(2)

A notice of appeal must be filed with the appeal board within seven days after the day notice under subsection 14(1) is given to the owner.

Order by appeal board

15(3)

After a hearing, the appeal board may make any of the following orders:

(

a) an order that the commercial animal be returned to the owner;

(

b) an order that the director may sell, give away or destroy the animal;

(

c) any other order that the appeal board considers appropriate in the circumstances.

Director to deal with animal

15(4)

When the appeal board has made an order under subsection (3), the director must deal with the animal in the manner ordered.

The centred heading " COMPANION ANIMALS " is added before

section

Section 16 is amended

(

a) in the part before clause (a), by striking out " 21 " and substituting " seven "; and

(

b) by replacing clause (

b) with the following:

(

b) the director has given the owner of the animal a notice under clause 17(1)(

a) that the animal will be sold, given away or destroyed after seven days have elapsed since the date the notice was given.

Sections 17 and 18 are replaced with the following:

Companion animal may be sold

17(1)

The director may sell, give away or destroy a companion animal that has been seized under subsection 9(1) or taken into custody under

section 10.5 if

(

a) the director has given notice to the owner that the animal will be sold, given away or destroyed; and

(

b) seven days have elapsed since the notice was given and the owner has not filed a notice of appeal under subsection 18(1).

Notice to owner

17(2)

The notice under clause (1)(

a) must be given to the owner in accordance with the regulations.

Notice of appeal by owner

18(1)

The owner of a companion animal that has been seized under subsection 9(1) or taken into custody under

section 10.5 may request the appeal board to order the animal's return by filing a notice of appeal with the appeal board.

Time for filing appeal

18(2)

A notice of appeal must be filed within seven days after the day notice under clause 17(1)(

a) is given to the owner.

Animal to remain in the care of the caregiver

18(3)

When a notice of appeal has been filed with the appeal board, the companion animal that has been seized or taken into custody is to remain in the care of the caregiver until the appeal board has made an order.

Order by appeal board

18(4)

After a hearing, the appeal board may make any of the following orders:

(

a) an order that the director return the companion animal to the owner;

(

b) an order that the director may sell, give away or destroy the companion animal;

(

c) any other order that the appeal board considers appropriate in the circumstances.

Director to deal with animal

18(5)

When the appeal board has made an order under subsection (4), the director shall deal with the animal in the manner ordered.

20(1)

Subsection 19(1) is replaced with the following:

Companion animal's owner not located

If seven days have elapsed after a companion animal has been seized or taken into custody under this Act and, despite reasonable inquiries by an animal protection officer, the animal's owner has not been located, the director may sell, give away or destroy the animal.

TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP

20(2)

Subsection 19(2) is amended

(

a) by renumbering it as

section 22.1; and

(

b) by replacing everything before clause (

a) with the following:

Disposition for failure to pay costs

22.1

If the owner of an animal that has been seized or taken into custody under this Act

21(1)

Subsections 21(1) and (2) are amended by striking out " a seized animal " and substituting " an animal that has been seized or taken into custody ".

21(2)

The following is added after subsection 21(2):

Waiving payment of costs

21(3)

The director may waive all or any part of the costs of an animal's care if the owner satisfies the director that payment of the waived amount would be an unreasonable hardship for the owner.

Subsection 23(4) is amended by striking out " a seized animal " and substituting " an animal that has been seized or taken into custody ".

23(1)

Subsection 24(1) is amended by striking out " director " and substituting " government ".

23(2)

Subsection 24(2) is amended

(

a) by striking out " director " and substituting " government "; and

(

b) by striking out " a seized animal " and substituting " an animal that has been seized or taken into custody ".

The centred heading before

section 25 is replaced with the following:

PART 5

COMPANION ANIMALS — LICENSING OF

KENNELS, BREEDERS AND RETAIL STORES

Section 25 is amended by renumbering it as subsection 25(1) and adding the following as subsection 25(2):

Definition

25(2)

In subsection (1), "kennel" means

(

a) premises where more than the prescribed number of companion animals are kept, and

(

i) the owner or operator of the premises receives a fee for keeping the companion animals, or

(ii) the companion animals are kept in connection with a commercial enterprise that is not exempt under the regulations; or

(

b) premises operated as a pound, animal shelter or animal rescue facility, or premises operated for a similar purpose that are designated in the regulations.

The following is added after

section 25:

Companion animal breeding premises licences

25.1(1)

No person shall operate companion animal breeding premises except under the authority of a licence issued by the director for that purpose.

Definition

25.1(2)

In subsection (1), "companion animal breeding premises" means premises where more than the prescribed number of female companion animals that are capable of reproduction are kept.

Female companion animal deemed capable of reproduction

25.1(3)

A female companion animal is deemed to be capable of reproduction unless the owner or operator of the premises satisfies the director or an animal protection officer otherwise.

Exception

25.1(4)

A licence under subsection (1) is not required in respect of premises where more than the prescribed number of female companion animals capable of reproduction are kept if the owner or operator of the premises satisfies the director or an animal protection officer that the animals are not kept for the purpose of breeding them and selling their offspring.

Companion animal retail store licences

25.2(1)

No person shall operate a companion animal retail store except under the authority of a licence issued by the director for that purpose.

Definition

25.2(2)

In subsection (1), "companion animal retail store" means commercial premises where companion animals are kept and offered for sale to the public.

Sections 26 and 27 are repealed.

Subsection 28(4) is replaced with the following:

Requirements for security

28(4)

The bond or other security must meet the requirements set out in the regulations.

Subsection 29(3) is replaced with the following:

29(3)

The director may

The following is added after

section 29:

Register of licensed premises

29.1(1)

The director may, in accordance with the regulations,

(

a) establish and maintain a register, which may be in electronic form and may include personal information, of persons who operate premises licensed under this Act; and

(

b) make information from the register available to the public.

Section 30 is amended by adding " in accordance with the regulations, " after " notice of the refusal, ".

Section 32 is amended in the part before clause (

a) by adding " , in accordance with the regulations, " after " giving ".

33(1)

Subsection 33(1) is amended by striking out " minister " and substituting " appeal board ".

33(2)

Subsections 33(2) to (5) are repealed.

33(3)

Subsection 33(6) is amended

(

a) in the part before clause (a), by striking out " a licence appeal board may " and substituting " the appeal board may, by order, "; and

(

b) in clause (b), by striking out " the licence appeal board " and substituting " it ".

33(4)

Subsection 33(7) is repealed.

33(5)

Subsection 33(8) is amended by striking out " a licence appeal board " and substituting " the appeal board ".

The following is added after

section 33:

PART 6

APPEALS

APPEAL BOARD

Appeal board

33.1

The Animal Care Appeal Board is hereby established.

Members

33.2(1)

The appeal board is to consist of up to 10 members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Member continues to hold office

33.2(2)

A member continues to hold office until he or she is reappointed, the appointment is revoked or a successor is appointed.

Chair and vice-chair

33.2(3)

The Lieutenant Governor in Council must designate one of the members of the appeal board as the chair and another member as vice-chair.

Duties of vice-chair

33.2(4)

The vice-chair has the authority of the chair if the chair is absent or unable to act, or when authorized by the chair.

Responsibilities of the appeal board

33.3

The appeal board has these responsibilities:

(

a) to hear and decide appeals under this Act;

(

b) to perform any other duties assigned to it by the minister.

Procedural rules

33.4

The appeal board may establish its own rules of practice and procedure.

Board to sit in panels

33.5(1)

The appeal board must sit in panels of three members when hearing appeals.

Assigning members to panels

33.5(2)

The chair is to assign members to sit on panels.

Chair of panel

33.5(3)

The chair or the vice-chair is to preside over a panel, or the chair may designate another member of the appeal board to preside.

Quorum

33.5(4)

A quorum for a panel is the three members referred to in subsection (1).

Jurisdiction of panel

33.5(5)

In considering and deciding an appeal,

(

a) a panel has all the jurisdiction of the appeal board and may exercise the board's powers and perform its duties; and

(

b) a decision of a majority of the members of a panel is the decision of the appeal board.

APPEALS

Reasons for appeal

33.6

A notice of appeal must be in writing and must state the reasons for the appeal.

Notice of appeal given to director

33.7

Upon receiving a notice of appeal, the appeal board must promptly give a copy of it to the director.

Parties

33.8

The parties to an appeal are the person who has a right to appeal to the appeal board under this Act and the director.

Powers and duties of the board re hearing

33.9

The appeal board has the powers of a commissioner under

Part V of The Manitoba Evidence Act .

Hearing process: rules of evidence do not apply

33.10

The appeal board is not bound by the rules of evidence that apply to judicial proceedings.

Order of the board

33.11(1)

After a hearing, the appeal board may, by written order, make any order that this Act allows the appeal board to make and must give written reasons for its order.

Order given to the parties

33.11(2)

The appeal board must give each of the parties a copy of the order in accordance with the regulations.

Order final and binding

33.11(3)

An order of the appeal board is final and binding on the person appealing and the director, and is not subject to appeal.

The following is added before the centred heading " GENERAL PROVISIONS " that precedes

section 34:

PART 7

Subsection 34(1) is replaced with the following:

Offences

34(1)

A person who contravenes any provision of this Act or an order made under this Act is guilty of an offence and is liable, on

summary conviction,

(

a) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $10,000, or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or both; and

(

b) for a subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $20,000, or to imprisonment for a term of not more than 12 months, or both.

37(1)

Clause 35(1)(

a) is replaced with the following:

(

a) prohibit the person from owning or having possession or control of animals or of a number or type of animals for any period that the justice considers appropriate, including a lifetime ban on an individual or any corporation controlled by the individual;

37(2)

Subsection 35(2) is repealed.

The following is added after

section 35:

Time limit for prosecution

35.1

A prosecution under this Act may not be commenced later than two years after the day the alleged offence was committed.

Subsection 37(2) is amended by striking out " a seized animal or received from the sale of a seized animal " and substituting " an animal that has been seized or taken into custody, or received from the sale of such an animal ".

The following is added after

section 37:

Duty to provide information

37.1(1)

A requirement to report or provide information under this Act applies even if

(

a) it requires the disclosure of personal information;

(

b) it requires the disclosure of proprietary information or confidential information; or

(

c) disclosure of the information is restricted by legislation or otherwise.

Persons reporting protected from liability

37.1(2)

No action or proceeding may be brought against a person who in good faith complies with a request or requirement to report or provide information under this Act.

Section 38 is amended by striking out " a licence appeal board " and substituting " the appeal board ".

Section 39 is amended

(

a) in clause (d), by adding " or taken into custody " after " seized ";

(

b) by repealing clause (e); and

(

c) by replacing clauses (

f) and (

g) with the following:

(

f) for the purposes of the definition "commercial animals" in subsection 1(1), designating species or types of animals;

(

g) respecting standards and requirements for the operation of commercial animal markets and commercial animal assembling stations, including standards or requirements relating to

(

i) hygiene,

(ii) sanitation,

(iii) recordkeeping, and

(iv) the feeding, watering and handling of animals in those premises, and

requiring operators of those premises to comply with the standards and requirements;

(

h) governing procedures for obtaining warrants under

section 8 and subsection 10.3(2), including by telephone, fax or other methods of telecommunication;

(

i) for the purpose of the definition "kennel" in subsection 25(2),

(

i) for clause (

a) of the definition, prescribing the number of companion animals, which may be different for different species or types of animals,

(ii) for subclause (a)(ii) of the definition, designating commercial enterprises that are exempt, and

(iii) for clause (

b) of the definition, designating premises as kennels;

(

j) for the purpose of the definition "companion animal breeding premises" in subsection 25.1(2), prescribing the number of female companion animals capable of reproduction, which may be different for different species or types of animals;

(

k) respecting licensing under this Act, including

(

i) the content of applications for licences,

(ii) the qualifications of, and requirements to be met by, applicants for and holders of licences,

(iii) information and records to be provided to the director by applicants for and holders of licences,

(iv) licence fees and exemptions from fees,

(

v) bonds and other security, including the terms, conditions and amount of bonds or other security,

(vi) the records to be maintained by licence holders, including the length of time for which and the location at which records must be retained, and

(vii) licence suspensions and cancellations;

(

l) respecting standards and requirements to be met by operators of companion animal breeding premises, companion animal retail stores and kennels, including

(

i) the standards of design for the premises,

(ii) the standards of hygiene and sanitation required in the premises,

(iii) the standards or requirements for feeding and watering animals in the premises, and

(iv) health or disease prevention procedures that are required to be performed by the operators of the premises;

(

m) respecting the register of persons who operate licensed premises referred to in

section 29.1;

(

n) respecting the conduct of appeals by the appeal board;

(

o) exempting persons, premises or species or types of animals from this Act or certain provisions of it;

(

p) respecting the manner of giving or providing any notice, order or other document under this Act;

(

q) respecting transitional licensing provisions;

(

r) defining any word or phrase used but not defined in this Act;

(

s) respecting any matter that the minister considers necessary or advisable to carry out the purposes of this Act.

"Former Act" defined

43(1)

In this section, "former Act" means The Animal Care Act , S.M. 1996, c. 69, as it read immediately before the coming into force of this Act.

Transitional — commercial breeding premises licence

43(2)

If, on the coming into force of this Act, a person has a valid licence to operate commercial breeding premises issued under the former Act, that licence

(

a) is deemed to have been issued as a companion animal breeding premises licence under this Act; and

(

b) continues to be valid until it expires, unless it is cancelled or suspended beforehand.

Transitional — hobby breeding premises licence

43(3)

If, on the coming into force of this Act,

(

a) a person has a valid licence to operate hobby breeding premises issued under the former Act; and

(

b) the person must obtain a licence in order to operate companion animal breeding premises under this Act for the same premises;

the hobby breeding premises licence

(

c) is deemed to have been issued as a licence to operate companion animal breeding premises under this Act; and

(

d) continues to be valid until it expires, unless it is cancelled or suspended beforehand.

Coming into force

This Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

Explanatory Note

This Bill amends The Animal Care Act . The key amendments are as follows.

Veterinarians are required to report suspected cases of animal neglect or abuse to the director.

An unfit animal cannot be transported except to take it for medical attention or to slaughter. The operator of an animal market or assembling station must refuse to unload or accept an unfit commercial animal for resale or further shipment, and must report the refusal to the director.

The director can issue orders to owners about caring for their animals. If a person has had animals seized before, or has surrendered them, a justice may make an order restricting the number and type of animals that the person may have, to prevent recurrence.

Animal protection officers are given specific authority to deal with abandoned animals, and stronger inspection and search and seizure powers.

A licence is now required not just for breeders of cats and dogs but also for breeders of hamsters, rabbits and other pets, and the criteria for determining who needs a licence have been changed. Pet stores will be required to be licensed, as will pounds, animal shelters and similar facilities. The director is authorized to keep a register of licensed premises and to make information from the register public.

A new appeal process is established with an independent appeal body to hear appeals about licensing decisions, animal seizures and orders made by the director.

Penalties are increased for offences under the Act. A convicting justice may also order a lifetime ban on owning animals.

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	39-2 b048e.php
Type	bill
Volume / chapter	39 2 b048e.php
Language	en
Format	html
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	c680bc212e3f0f093612a91cb2ce0b48ea4a768f

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