Bill 35, Captive Wildlife Protection Act, 2025
Chamber
ontario
Stage
Introduced
This Ontario bill requires all zoos to obtain a licence and restricts private ownership of wild animals.
Key Changes
- All zoos in Ontario must obtain and maintain a licence from a government Registrar to operate legally
- Private individuals are generally prohibited from acquiring, possessing, breeding, or trading wild animals unless the species and activity are specifically exempted by regulation
- Annual inspections of all licensed zoos by the Chief Animal Welfare Inspector are mandatory
- Fines of up to $50,000 for individuals and $250,000 for corporations are established for operating without a licence
- Wild animals can be seized from unlicensed zoos by the Chief Animal Welfare Inspector
- The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 is amended so zoo licence holders do not need a duplicate licence under that Act
Gotchas
- Existing zoos have a one-year grace period after the Act comes into force to obtain a licence before the requirement is enforced
- People who privately own a wild animal on the day the Act comes into force may keep that animal until it dies, but cannot breed it or use it for entertainment, and must register it with the Registrar and submit to annual inspections
- The definition of 'entertainment' is broad and includes photo sessions, public feeding, animal encounters, and animal rides, which could affect common zoo activities
- Key standards — such as what species are exempt, what fees apply, and what care standards are required — are left to future regulations, meaning important details are not yet determined
- The Minister must consult with appropriate persons or bodies before making regulations, but has discretion over who is consulted and how
- Licences are non-transferable, meaning a zoo that changes ownership would need to apply for a new licence
Who's Affected
- Zoo operators and owners across Ontario
- Private individuals who currently own wild animals
- Zoo staff and animal care professionals
- Animal welfare inspectors and government regulators
- The public visiting zoos or animal facilities
Vibes
0 responses
Gotchas
- Existing zoos have a one-year grace period after the Act comes into force to obtain a licence before the requirement is enforced
- People who privately own a wild animal on the day the Act comes into force may keep that animal until it dies, but cannot breed it or use it for entertainment, and must register it with the Registrar and submit to annual inspections
- The definition of 'entertainment' is broad and includes photo sessions, public feeding, animal encounters, and animal rides, which could affect common zoo activities
- Key standards — such as what species are exempt, what fees apply, and what care standards are required — are left to future regulations, meaning important details are not yet determined
- The Minister must consult with appropriate persons or bodies before making regulations, but has discretion over who is consulted and how
- Licences are non-transferable, meaning a zoo that changes ownership would need to apply for a new licence
Summary
Bill 35, the Captive Wildlife Protection Act, 2025, creates a new licensing system for all zoos operating in Ontario. No person or organization can run a zoo without a licence from a government Registrar. To get a licence, zoo operators must meet standards for animal care, staff training, emergency planning, and financial stability. The bill also generally prohibits individuals from privately owning, breeding, or trading wild animals unless they fall under specific exceptions set by regulation. The bill introduces annual inspections of all licensed zoos by the Chief Animal Welfare Inspector, who has the power to issue orders requiring zoos to fix problems. Animals can be removed from unlicensed zoos. Individuals who break the rules can be fined up to $50,000, and corporations up to $250,000. The bill was introduced to improve oversight of captive wildlife in Ontario, address animal welfare concerns, and ensure public safety at facilities that keep wild animals. It also amends the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 so that zoo licence holders do not need a separate licence under that older law.
Automatically generated from bill text using Claude
Vibes
0 responses