Point of Privilege No. 4-06M

WHEREAS, in many cases, animals are at large because the owners of the same have failed to provide adequate fencing; and 

WHEREAS, while The Stray Animals Act and Regulations define what constitutes a lawful fence, they do not go on to say that the owner must have a lawful fence; and 

WHEREAS, a rural municipality likely does not have the authority to prohibit the keeping of animals without a lawful fence under the The Municipalities Act;  

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that SARM lobby the Provincial Government to amend The Stray Animals Act to make it an offence to keep animals on land not surrounded by a lawful fence.

Response from Honourable Mark Wartman, Minister of Agriculture and Food: 

The Stray Animals Act and the Stray Animals Regulations, 1999, do provide authority to municipalities for dealing with stray animals.  SAF has met with the SARM Board to gather their views of problems with the current Act and Regulations.  A number of issues have been identified, including fencing requirements.  SAF is currently examining options to address these concerns and will be discussing possible changes with municipal and livestock industry representatives.