
From the always interesting http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/
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The Premier is to be congratulated for having promised animal welfare reform, and by all rights you and I ought to be able to support all of Bill 50 which was introduced in the Legislature by Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Rick Bartolucci on April 3, 2008.
But there is a serious flaw in Bill 50. Section 6 requires the Legislature to strip away the name of any humane society that doesn’t want to be a Member of the Ontario SPCA or the name of any humane society that the Ontario SPCA itself doesn’t want or has expelled.
If The Toronto Humane Society has its name taken away, it will lose its identity of 121 years. Animals will suffer because those needing our services won’t know where to turn. Our income will plummet, depending as it does on name recognition. Severe cuts in services to animals and staff lay-offs will be inevitable.
And for our beloved Toronto Humane Society, the sting of section 6 of Bill 50 is not academic, but real.
On May 10, 2008, through an official by-law, the Ontario SPCA told The Toronto Humane Society to stop Agent Tre Smith and our other cruelty police, our veterinarians, our adoption and other staff, our rescue officers and our volunteers from serving 3/4 of the City of Toronto or face expulsion as an Ontario SPCA Member.
Since The Toronto Humane Society is an Ontario-wide institution, statistically 1/3 of all Ontarians and animals we serve come from now prohibited areas both in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario. We will be forbidden to serve Etobicoke, Scarborough and North York, and the new Victoria Park Avenue Adoption Centre may wind up padlocked.
It is not as if there are other choices for the animals because there is no humane society in the GTA remotely as busy or serving so many as do our hospital and shelter at 11 River Street. Last year, we gave special care to 12,613 pets, wild animals, and wild birds who because of us – and only because of us – are alive and well today.
It will be heartbreaking to see our work decimated, to see our rescue vehicles garaged, or up for sale, and our staff let go. As supporters, you and I erected the sign in our lobby: “We help all animals”. How can we now say “no” to lost and hurt animals arriving at our door day and night seeking safety and veterinary treatment?
WHEN HE INTRODUCED SECTION 6 OF BILL 50 IN THE LEGISLATURE, MINISTER BARTOLUCCI PROVIDED THE CLOUT TO ENFORCE THESE CUTBACKS. WE MUST STOP SECTION 6 OF BILL 50 FROM EVER BECOMING LAW.
The good news is that section 6 is superfluous to animal protection and won’t be missed. In fact, removing section 6 from Bill 50 will strengthen animal protection.
Cutbacks undermine reform. The strength of Ontario’s animal welfare movement is in providing services locally in a way that reflects the many voices of diverse communities across Ontario. Mr. Bartolucci’s support for curtailed services, and for one voice for animal welfare in Ontario as favoured by the Ontario SPCA, will weaken our movement.
Whether you live across the Province or in Toronto, please join with me and email or write your MPP without delay and ask for the removal of section 6 of Bill 50.
Thank you on behalf of the animals.
Yours truly,
Tim Trow
President
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Most recent newsletter from Joe Pantalone's office:
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Dear Neighbours,
As part of our environmental program, the City of
On June 2nd, Solid Waste Management Services will mail a newsletter explaining the new program and a bin order card to single family homes in the Ward. The order deadline for you to choose your new Garbage Bin is June 19th. You will be offered the choice of four sizes of Garbage Bins and there will be a corresponding fee for each size of Garbage Bin. Delivery of the new Garbage Bins will start in late August 2008 in Ward 19.
In order to help you really understand the Garbage Bin program and ask any questions you may have, I encourage you to visit one of the following information opportunities organized in our community:
As for the new blue bins, the new system will work perfectly well for 80% of
If you need support with either or both of these programs, please do not hesitate to contact me.
And finally, good news for those residents in the City of
I strongly believe that by working together we can and will make
Sincerely,
Joe Pantalone
Deputy Mayor
City of
As part of this year's Festival of Architectural and Design (fAd) event in Toronto, HOK, a local planning, architecture and design studio, is hosting and facilitating a community workshop to envision the urban environment of its King and Bathurst neighborhood, bordered by Strachan, Spadina, Queen and Front Streets.
Residents, business owners and others involved in the community are invited to explore the issues impacting the future of their community, and how they relate to specific physical aspects of their neighborhood.
HOK believes that healthy, sustainable communities are created by small incremental change at a grassroots level. Share your thoughts about what issues you see in this neighbourhood. What needs to change and why?
If you are interested in participating in this event, please complete the pre-registration form at www.hokevents.ca/king. Participants must be a resident, a business owner and/or involved in the King and Bathurst community. Spaces are limited. You will be contacted by HOK to confirm attendance.
If you have any questions, please contact Darlyn Dimayuga at 416-342-7053 or via email at darlyn.dimayuga@hok.com .
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