Featuring Phil Demers, Marineland whistleblower and former trainer.
Please join the University of Toronto Student Animal Legal Defense Fund club for a panel discussion on the state of laws to protect captive animals in Ontario.
The issue of animal welfare in zoos, marine parks, and aquariums was thrust into the spotlight this summer when a Toronto Start investigation revealed evidence of serious neglect and mistreatment of the animals held captive at Marineland in Niagara Falls. An OSPCA investigation in to Marineland is ongoing, and the public outcry has prompted the Ontario government to announce it will bring in new legislation to protect animals in captivity.
At present, there is no licensing, no regulation, and no comprehensive, objective standards that apply to exotic animals in captivity in zoos and marine parks in Ontario.
Panelists will discuss the state of affairs at Marineland, deficiencies in existing laws that apply to animals in captivity, and how new legislation could help address these problems.
Speakers:
Phil Demers, former Marineland trainer. Phil blew the whistle on Marineland over the summer. The information he revealed has been at the heart of the Toronto Star investigation into animal cruelty at Marineland.
Rob Laidlaw, Director of Zoocheck. Rob and Zoocheck have been at the forefront of the decades-long battle to protect animals in zoos and aquariums.
Lesli Bisgould, lawyer and expert on animal law. For ten years, Lesli had a law practice focused on representing individuals and organizations in a variety of animal-related cases. She recently authored the first Canadian textbook on animal law.
For more information, contact: saldf.toronto@gmail.com
