Proposed amendments to Animal Control Law to move forward

12/09/2022

The Kahnawà:ke Legislative Commission (KLC) wishes to advise the community that the Council of Chiefs have approved the Mandate, Purpose and Scope of proposed amendments to the Kahnawà:ke Animal Control Law (“the Law”), which will follow the ‘Type II’ process. These were passed at the duly-convened Council meeting held on November 7, 2022.

The Mandate is as follows: Animal Control Services: enforces the Kahnawà:ke Animal Control Law and provides public education on services, prevention, and care in relation to domestic and non-domesticated animals in the Territory.

The Purpose of the amendments is to allow greater enforceability of the Law, and to enhance and adapt the Law to reflect the current needs of the community.

The Scope for amendment of the Law is to update the change of the department’s name; relevant definitions; and to give authority to the Public Safety Commission to amend, adopt and create regulations for the Animal Control Officers to issue fines under this Law. This Law will help alleviate the community and animals from the risks related to public safety and health; and provide additional penalties for offences under this Law; and to identify expanded authorities for Animal Control Officers.

A request to amend the law was submitted on October 23, 2017 and entered the Community Decision Making Process – now known as the Community Decision Making & Review Process. Now that the Mandate, Purpose and Scope have been approved, the Public Safety Division will begin preparing a detailed schedule of various community engagement activities to discuss the proposed amendments.

For information on the Law, please contact:
Lloyd Phillips, Commissioner of Public Safety
450-632-0635 or Lloyd.phillips@mck.ca

For information on the Process, please contact:
Leslie Skye, Coordinator, Kahnawàke Legislative Commission
450-632-7500 or Leslie.skye@mck.ca