CIJA welcomes Quebec animal welfare bill

kosher meat at Costco
Kosher meat at a Costco.

Nothing in Quebec’s draft bill on animal protection would affect Jewish ritual slaughter, says the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), which issued a statement on Sept. 15 welcoming the proposed legislation.

Rabbi Reuben Poupko, co-chair of CIJA’s Canadian Rabbinic Caucus, said CIJA is not concerned at this time by media reports quoting Agriculture Minister Pierre Paradis, who introduced the bill in June, concerning the effect of the legislation on kosher or halal slaughtering techniques.

“There is nothing in the bill that explicitly or implicitly refers to kosher ritual slaughter,” Rabbi Poupko told The CJN.

Canadian Press reported Paradis as saying he expects to hear concerns about kosher and halal slaughtering techniques during the three weeks of public hearings by a National Assembly committee on the bill, which began on Sept. 14.

To his knowledge, Paradis said, kosher slaughter would not break the planned law, but some Muslim practices in killing animals may.

“Slow death is not acceptable under the new legislation,” he said. “That will have an impact on those who don’t find the equilibrium between religious beliefs and respect for animals.”

Rabbi Poupko termed those remarks “speculation,” prompted by media questions.

In his formal statement on the bill, An Act to Improve the Legal Situation of Animals, Rabbi Poupko said: “We commend the government’s efforts to advance animal welfare in Quebec. Animal welfare is strongly valued by the Jewish community; Judaism strictly prohibits gratuitous cruelty to animals.

“This is why Jewish ritual slaughter, or shchitah, is as quick and painless as humanly possible.”

He also notes that the Animal Legal Defense Fund, in its presentation at the hearing’s opening day, said that properly performed ritual slaughter is humane and does not cause undue cruelty to animals.

CIJA will submit a brief to the National Assembly committee that will explain how shchitah “conforms entirely to the objectives of Bill 54,” Rabbi Poupko said.

Paradis, who hopes to get the bill passed this fall, said Quebec is “about 20 years behind the rest of the civilized world in animal protection.” 

Significantly, the bill recognizes animals as “sentient beings” with biological needs, rather than “movable property.”

The bill would impose fines and possibly jail time on those who abuse animals. First-time violators could be fined up to $250,000, which could increase to $750,000 and 18 months in prison for repeat offences.

D’Arcy McGee Liberal David Birnbaum, the sole Jewish MNA, said: “By tabling this bill, our government is showing that it is willing to act strongly against negligence of and cruelty toward animals. I know that residents of our riding believe that humane treatment of animals is important; in fact, the city of Cote St. Luc has been a pioneer in championing such measures.”

In the unlikely event that kosher slaughter was put in jeopardy, Rabbi Poupko said CIJA would “uncompromisingly” defend the practice.