The first candidate to respond to the Ontario Votes questionnaire is Toby Barrett, PC MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk.
Here is his response:
1. If the amended Dog Owners' Liability Act (2005) came up today for a free rather than a whipped vote as happened in 2005, would you vote in favour of banning breeds as an effective way to protect people from dog bites? Please explain.
NO Toby would not vote in favour of banning breeds. In fact at Pit-Bull ban committee hearings in Brantford, Toby stated, “I’m not going to vote to kill off any type of dog.” Because eliminating a breed does not prevent people being hurt by aggressive dogs; because eliminating a breed does nothing to put the onus of accountability where it belongs – with the owner; and because eliminating a breed does little to educate and train dog owners and breeders.
2. Please tell our readers why you think the 'pit bull' ban enacted by the McGuinty government has or has not been successful in protecting the public from dog bites.
Toby feels the legislation has NOT been effective in protecting the public as while a ‘breed ban’ sounds good on paper, enforcement is difficult when the breed – pit bull – to be banned is not a breed at all.
Toby continues to question, what is the purpose of aggressive dog legislation if it allows bad owners to bring in other aggressive animals into the community?
3. Would you be willing, if elected, to work to rescind Ontario's amended Dog Owners' Liability Act (2005) and replace it with an existing, easily implemented Canadian system that has been effective in the control of negligent pet owners, that is supported by all responsible pet owners and that once established is fully funded by dog and cat owners rather than through general revenue taxation? Please briefly explain your response.
Toby would work to rescind or amend the current legislation to take aim at owners who do not take responsibility for their dogs – no matter what breed. There will always be bad breeders and negligent owners. These are the people government should be going after as they compound the problem by cross-breeding animals, abusing their dogs, or training them to fight.
4. How important to you is the issue of amending Ontario's animal cruelty legislation, the Ontario SPCA Act, using a scale of 1 to 10 (where 1 is 'not at all important' and 10 is 'extremely important')?
5
Toby, thank you very much for responding so quickly to our questionnaire!
Great comments from Toby Barrett! Kudos to Toby for taking a firm stance against BSL! This is what kind of Government Ontario needs is good old fashioned common sense, mixed with backbone.
Good luck on October 10, Toby! Dog owners appreciate your support.