Is the mission of the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ) to “support the development of the bio-food sector” in Québec compatible with its responsibility to protect animal welfare? Where some see a conflict of interest between these two mandates, others perceive rather complementary roles.
The Parti Québécois (PQ) recently revived the debate on this double hat worn by the MAPAQ by proposing the creation of an agency that would be entirely dedicated to the protection of animal welfare. This agency, which would have the power to conduct investigations and deal with complaints relating to animal welfare, would report to the Ministry of Justice rather than MAPAQ, according to the proposal made in April by the PQ.
“We want to remove from MAPAQ the responsibility for ensuring animal welfare to avoid conflicts of interest and hand it over to a new agency, entirely dedicated to this mission, which would act according to objective criteria”, specifies Pascal Bérubé in an interview. , PQ spokesperson for agriculture and food.
Currently, the responsibility for enforcing the Animal Welfare and Safety Act, adopted by the National Assembly in 2015, falls to MAPAQ inspectors and non-profit organizations (SPA and SPCA).
There are currently 28 MAPAQ inspectors assigned to animal welfare compliance in Quebec. In addition, 42 special constables employed by SPAs and SPCAs are mandated by MAPAQ to enforce certain provisions of the law, according to data obtained by The duty.
Last year, inspectors visited 1,354 farms to ensure compliance with animal welfare regulations. A decrease since the peak of 2018 when 2,210 farms were visited. The province has approximately 5,138 farms that raise animals for meat consumption.
Soon, new resources will swell the ranks of MAPAQ. The hiring of 20 new animal welfare inspectors, totaling an investment of $8 million, was announced on April 11 by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, André Lamontagne. These inspectors will be authorized to intervene with pets and farm animals.
Dual role
The creation of an independent agency to ensure animal welfare is not on the CAQ government’s agenda. Minister Lamontagne did not respond to the interview request of the Dutybut mentioned in writing that “the sustainability and development of the biofood sector [sont] intrinsically linked to animal welfare”. “Quebecers are, with good reason, increasingly demanding when it comes to animal welfare,” he added. The sector is in action to meet these expectations. »
In Ontario, enforcement of animal welfare regulations is the responsibility of the Animal Welfare Services Branch, which is part of the Ministry of the Solicitor General (akin to a Ministry of Public Safety ). In Austria, each province has the obligation to appoint an ombudsman responsible for ensuring animal welfare.
The proposal to create an independent agency to enforce animal welfare regulations appeals to Me Alain Roy, professor of animal rights at the University of Montreal.
“MAPAQ’s mission is to help and promote agriculture,” he recalls. Agricultural circles conceive of animals as resources to be exploited to improve their economic profits and at the same time MAPAQ is entrusted with the mission of ensuring the protection of animals as sentient beings. [c’est-à-dire sensibles]. “Animal welfare is expensive, he adds, referring to a “role conflict” in this dual mission of MAPAQ.
But although these two missions are covered by the same ministry, they are not supported by the same departments, nuance Paul Doyon, first vice-president of the Union of agricultural producers (UPA), who does not see the need to change the current model. “People from the animal health department, it’s [en grande partie] veterinarians who know [le bien-être animal] at their fingertips,” he argues.
The Liberal Party of Quebec cautiously opens the door to the PQ proposal. “There is an administrative logic to what the Parti Québécois is proposing. However, the inspectors themselves, the people in the field, are professionals. We have full confidence that they are doing the necessary work to protect animals,” says André Fortin, Official Opposition Critic for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who says he is convinced that many producers work “assiduously” to ensure the well-being of their animals.
Québec solidaire does not yet have a clear position on the subject. But his agriculture spokeswoman, Alejandra Zaga Mendez, wants the government to provide a clearer framework for the livestock industry and more frequent inspections of farms to reassure consumers and put ahead of producers who have best practices. “But it has to come hand in hand with programs that support our producers,” she says. We must not harm our agricultural businesses, which are already under a lot of pressure, and we must listen to the producers who want the best for their farms and their animals. »