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| V. Victoria Shroff KC |
One health: Well-being of people, animals and the planet are all interrelated
Like humans, animals are part of the wider biosphere. We need to consider the needs and actions of humans and their impacts on animals and the environment. We live in a bio-diverse world where everything and everyone is connected. The climate crisis is threatening animals, humans, and the planet. Wildlife and habitats are staring down the barrel of catastrophic ecosystem collapse and extinction due to temperature changes and human interference. It is not really up for debate, as we have overwhelming proof in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic brought this human-animal-earth interdependence home very sharply. It has been repeatedly shown that human health is interdependent on animal and climate health. For a deeper dive into health principles of interconnection, human-animal co-existence, please see: Why Animals Need Law.
Take this one step further: We actually have a right to a healthy environment. Canada’s optimistic environmentalist, David R. Boyd, while a special rapporteur to the UN, was instrumental in bringing about the passage of a landmark resolution recognizing the right to a healthy environment as a universal right. Humans need to step up, adapt and change in order to survive the climate crisis. We need to start making better choices stat, or we will face irreparable biodiversity loss. This means electing political leaders who understand that climate change is a threat to all and are willing to take action.
If you were a B.C. animal, who would you vote for?
Climate must be a cornerstone issue in any political contest including for those concerned about animal welfare. Provinces have the primary responsibility for animal laws and protections. While animal welfare is not front and centre on the conceptual planks of any of the provincial parties, animals still factor in, even by omission. Political parties should outline specifics on what they may plan to do, for example, with species at risk, issues facing farm animals and more. This fits squarely within climate concerns and the right to a healthy environment.
British Columbia is in the throes of an election right now. If you were a B.C. animal, who would you vote for? I believe animals would vote for climate leaders. B.C.’s official bird is the cheeky and outspoken Stellar’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri). (See: British Columbia Symbols Fact Sheet.) My guess is that the smart, spiky-crowned Jay would flock toward a political party that took the threat of climate change seriously, applied principles of one health and planned to take action to protect wild, domestic and farmed animals and their environments.
Sometimes it just takes one bad platform concept to give you an insight into a party
What is the stance of B.C.’s two major contenders, the NDP and the Conservatives, when it comes to animal interests and climate? Naturally, access to healthcare and housing will remain priorities, but how will parties ensure new laws and protective policies that respect animals on farms, animals used in entertainment and, importantly, also include principles of Indigenous rights and initiatives if they are elected?
B.C. Conservatives are apparently running on an old-school “common sense” platform. Yet, in sharp contradiction to this ethos, the B.C. Conservative leader seems to be a climate-change denier. In 2024. This stance does not sound like common sense; rather it is an anti-evidentiary, anti-scientific stance that is troubling for the Earth, humans and animals. The Stellar's Jay would certainly not approve, nor should voters.
Another related and problematic position taken by the B.C. Conservatives is their plan to “axe” the province’s commitment to protecting 30 per cent of our land base by 2030 if elected. “The Conservatives would absolutely axe doing that,” Conservative leader John Rustad stated in an interview with the Narwhal. Short-sighted, bad plan to claw back land base protections. The Stellar’s Jay would certainly not approve, nor should voters.
It should be noted that the Green Party is also very much in the political race, and it has a seemingly robust plan for averting a full-scale climate catastrophe, but it simply does not have the numbers to compete with B.C.’s two major political parties.
In an Aug. 16, 2024, tweet on X, the B.C. NDP shared that they had started a petition to protect iconic grizzly bears and cautioned that the B.C. Conservatives want to bring back grizzly bear trophy hunts. “Grizzly bears are important to BC — for our environment, First Nations, and tourism economy. John Rustad and the BC Conservatives want to repeal the ban that protects bears from trophy hunting. Sign the petition to protect the bears and keep the ban!” Repealing precious protections for animals and bringing back the grizzly bear trophy hunt would be a dreadful move against wildlife and could signal further removals of hard-fought animal protections down the road. No, thank you, B.C. Conservatives. Animals are not trophies. Grizzly bears and hopefully, most B.C. citizens, would balk at this ill-hatched plan to reinstate a trophy hunt.
Companion animal gains in B.C.
The B.C. NDP have been listening when it comes to companion animals or pets. After extensive feedback, in 2024, the NDP enacted one of the most groundbreaking pro-animal pieces of legislation we have ever had in Canadian history. Strong leadership from B.C.’s Attorney General Niki Sharma paved the way for momentous new provisions to B.C.’s family law statute whereby companion animals are now properly considered in marital dissolution cases, commonly known as “pet custody” cases.
Eight new relational factors have been written into the family law when deciding who gets to keep the pet, including considerations of violence within the family. B.C.’s new law has elevated animals from bare property, such as a toaster, to where they belong: as family members.
More good news for two- and four-legged family members came in the form of the B.C. NDP commitment to eliminating “no pet” clauses in purpose-built rental apartment buildings. Providing much needed rental housing and allowing pets is a win for the whole family.
Puppy and kitten mills are rampant in B.C. and around the globe. Animals are churned out as commodities for quick sale with no regard for animal welfare. The B.C. NDP is developing a plan to create a much-needed licensing regime for commercial kitten and puppy breeders. This new legal framework should protect animals from horrendous puppy and kitten mill operators seeking to make a fast buck by selling animals.
Animals cannot vote in elections, so humans need to give a voice to animal issues. Choose political leaders wisely when marking your ballot. Think of climate, one health and the Stellar’s Jay.
(Editor's note: This story has been updated to include new information.)
V. Victoria Shroff, KC, is one of Canada’s first and longest-serving animal law practitioners and the longest-serving in B.C. Shroff practises animal law in Vancouver at Shroff and Associates. She is also an adjunct professor of animal law at UBC’s Allard School of Law and faculty, Capilano University. Shroff is an associate fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. Recognized locally and internationally as an animal law expert, she is frequently interviewed by the media. Her book, Canadian Animal Law, is available at LexisNexis Canada. www.shroffanimallaw.com | LinkedIn.
The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s firm, its clients, Law360 Canada, LexisNexis Canada or any of its or their respective affiliates. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.
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