Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has started a series of consultations with Breed Associations regarding the potential repeal of the Animal Pedigree Act (APA).
Standardbred Canada and several other breed registries feel that any attempt to repeal the Animal Pedigree Act is misguided. The APA is an important piece of Federal legislation which promotes breed improvement, and protects people who raise and purchase animals by ensuring consistent national standards for representation of an animal's genetic background.
Importance of the Animal Pedigree Act
Discussion Paper
Purpose:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has started a series of consultations with Breed Associations regarding the potential repeal of the Animal Pedigree Act (APA). Standardbred Canada and several other breed registries feel that any attempt to repeal the Animal Pedigree Act is misguided. The APA is an important piece of Federal legislation which promotes breed improvement, and protects people who raise and purchase animals by ensuring consistent national standards for representation of an animal's genetic background.
History of the Animal Pedigree Act (APA):
Note: The following indented and italicised section contains excerpts taken from the website of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
What is the APA?
The Animal Pedigree Act is a federal statute which establishes the broad legal framework under which breed associations (animal pedigree associations) may be established. Breed associations are corporate entities which derive their legal authority from the Animal Pedigree Act. Breed associations are established with respect to distinct and/or evolving breeds.
History of the APA
The Act respecting the incorporation of Live Stock Record Associations was first passed by Parliament in 1900. It became known as the Livestock Pedigree Act. At that time, Canada was a young and growing country with a rapidly expanding agricultural sector. To bring a degree of order and protection to the livestock industry, some provinces introduced laws in the mid to late 1800's regarding the marking and branding of animals. Other provincial acts were passed to encourage the improvement and importation of new breeds and to control the movement of breeding animals. However, there remained concern about the lack of standardization and control regarding sale of breeding stock and how they were represented.
Why federal legislation?
The basis for having a federal act under which breed associations can operate is largely twofold. First, the keeping of accurate pedigree information on a national basis is considered critical to the improvement of animal breeds and livestock in general. Second, the establishment of consistent national standards for representation of an animal's genetic background increases the integrity of the information for domestic and foreign trade purposes and provides protection to buyers of breeding stock.
The purposes of the revised Act (1988) are stated as follows:
- to promote breed improvement, and
- to protect persons who raise and purchase animals by providing for the establishment of animal pedigree associations that are authorized to register and identify animals that, in the opinion of the Minister, have significant value.
The new Act came into effect May 25, 1988 and represented a major change over previous versions. Revision of the Act commenced in earnest about 1985 and was completed in 1988 after extensive consultation. Under the revised Act, promotion of breed improvement was set out as the first purpose and numerous definitions were clarified. Evolving breeds were given special recognition and rules for their development established. Notably, recognition of breed associations incorporated in respect of a distinct breed was made contingent on the breed being accepted as "a breed in accordance with scientific genetic principles".
Animal pedigree associations (breed associations) are incorporated under the Animal Pedigree Act and given authority to represent a breed(s) wherein animals are intended for breeding purposes. They have sole authority to manage a public registry for the breed, to issue registration certificates, to establish breed standards and rules of eligibility for registration, and define what is a purebred. There are now approximately 80 breed associations incorporated under the Act representing about 350 breeds .
Standardbred Canada's Concerns (and those of other Breed Registries):
Firstly, members of Standardbred Canada should understand that our Association is incorporated under the APA. It is the Act that gives Standardbred Canada the legislated authority to be the breed registry for the Standardbred horse in Canada. The Act also provides Standardbred Canada with the authority to maintain the records of the Standardbred horse.
Secondly, and as importantly, as outlined on the federal government's own website, the government established the APA for very sound reasons:
- the keeping of accurate pedigree information on a national basis is considered critical to the improvement of animal breeds and livestock in general;
- consistent national standards for representation of an animal's genetic background increases the integrity of the information for domestic and foreign trade purposes;
- to promote breed improvement (strong genetics); and
- to protect persons who raise and purchase animals
We agree that the APA is good legislation that provides a framework for pedigreed animal associations to exist. As a result, Standardbred Canada and other breed associations are able to provide the highest standard of registry services, which brings worldwide recognition to Canadian Standardbreds (animals). The Act is extremely low cost for the government to administer and allows our industry to operate efficiently and maintain the highest of standards. In addition, it accomplishes what Agriculture and Agri-Food’s Canada Brand Program sets out to do, that is to “gain a competitive advantage and distinguish yourself internationally and at home.”
Whether it be Standardbreds, other horse breeds, bison, cattle, dogs, donkeys, foxes, goats, llamas, alpacas, sheep or swine, a Canadian pedigree is held in high regard around the world due to the high standards set out in the Animal Pedigree Act. Repealing the act would adversely affect the international recognition of Canadian pedigrees for all species and would dissolve Canada’s reputation for breed integrity. This is a reputation that has taken decades of hard work to establish. Several additional negative impacts could include:
- A decline in Canadian exports.
- Dilution of genetics.
- Fragmentation of existing breed associations, decreasing breed integrity.
- Loss of centralized data records. Centralized databases maintained by the breed registries assist government with everything from: traceability records, communication to members related to disease outbreak situations, and import/export tracking.
Call to Action:
Please join Standardbred Canada and other breed registries in communicating to the Federal government the importance of retaining the APA. Standardbred Canada will be working with our fellow Breed organizations to communicate our concerns to our political representatives, and to inform the members of our Associations on the value of the APA.
The first consultation will be held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation.
Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 2:00 pm (MDT)
Executive Royal Inn
2828 23 St. NE, Calgary, Alberta
Your attendance is welcomed, and you are also encouraged to contact your Federal political representatives on this issue expressing Standardbred Canada’s concerns.
The Honourable Gerry Ritz
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
1341 Baseline Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0C5
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 613-773-1000
Fax: 613-773-1081
Opposition Leaders
Justin Trudeau, MP
Leader of the Liberal Party
529 Jarry Street East
Suite 302
Montréal, Québec
H2P 1V4
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 514-277-6020
Fax: 514-277-3454
The Honourable Thomas Mulcair, MP
Leader of the New Democratic Party
3333 Queen Mary Road
Suite 310
Montréal, Québec
H3V 1A2
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 514-736-2727
Fax: 514-736-2726