New Ontario legislation doesn't define 'invasive' medical research on dogs, other animals

The province is proposing legislation intended to better protect animals, though it won't completely bar the practice. The move is partially in response to the public outcry over a London hospital's use of dogs for medical research.

The proposed legislation announced last week is part of an omnibus bill the Ford government is putting forward focused mainly on public safety issues, such as cracking down on impaired driving.

However, also included in the bill are amendments to existing legislation that would prohibit "invasive medical research" on cats and dogs. There are some exemptions however, and the legislation doesn't define what "invasive" medical research is.

The province says that definition will be included in regulations that follow if the legislation is passed.

Among the exemptions in the draft legislation are: some research using animals is allowed if it's for a veterinary purpose. Also, research can happen at a registered research facility if a proposal has been submitted that meets certain criteria. An animal care committee, made up of at least one veterinarian, also has to oversee any research proposals involving animals.

Drew Woodley, director of government relations with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, said if passed the changes will add some important protections for animals — but there is still room for improvement.

"It would ensure that basic medical research is no longer to be performed on dogs and cats," he said. "The researchers would first have to explore other options ... that don't involve the use of animals."

One important change the legislation would bring is prohibiting the breeding or selling of animals for medical research.

Woodley would like to see a ban on using animals from pounds for medical research, something that's not in the current legislation.

"We don't want them to use animals that have already had difficult lives," said Woodley, although he acknowledged that sourcing animals for research isn't easy.

After news emerged last fall that heart studies were being performed on dogs for years at St. Joseph's Health Care London, the hospital said it would stop that research.

The story prompted Ontario Premier Doug Ford to say he would "hunt down" anyone doing research on dogs or cats.

Angela Fernandez is director of the animal law program at the University of Toronto. She feels the legislation leans too much on self-regulation by the care committees at the research facilities.

"This legislation doesn't prevent those facilities from continuing to approve these projects," she said. "It's not really a ban on animal research."