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TORONTO, May 29, 2025 — Lucille Collard, MPP for Ottawa–Vanier, and Karen McCrimmon, MPP for Kanata–Carleton, have reintroduced the Captive Wildlife Protection Act, 2025—a landmark bill that would establish comprehensive provincial oversight of wild animals in captivity across Ontario. Originally introduced in December 2024, the bill is back in the legislature with renewed momentum and widespread support from animal protection and environmental groups.
Today, AEL Advocacy, a non-profit animal and environmental law organization, joined MPPs Collard and McCrimmon, World Animal Protection, and the Toronto Zoo to announce this critical legislation.
Ontario is currently home to approximately 30 roadside zoos, which is more than any other province—yet it remains the only Canadian jurisdiction without a provincial licensing system for zoos. Nearly half of Ontario’s municipalities also lack local bylaws regulating the possession and confinement of wild animals, creating significant gaps in animal protection and public safety.
In the absence of clear and consistent provincial rules, unaccredited zoos have flourished—housing animals in inadequate and unsafe conditions that cause immense physical and psychological suffering. The lack of centralized oversight also puts communities at risk, with no official tracking system for exotic animals or safeguards to prevent dangerous incidents and escapes.
The Act would address these longstanding regulatory failures by:
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Requiring all zoos in Ontario to be licensed and regularly inspected;
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Banning the use of wild animals for entertainment purposes; and
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Providing enforcement authorities with the power to shut down non-compliant facilities.
The Captive Wildlife Protection Act, 2025 would bring Ontario in line with other provinces and set a new standard for accountability and treatment of captive wildlife.
AEL Advocacy strongly supports the bill:
“This is a critical step forward for animal protection in Ontario,” said Kira Berkeley, Co-Director and Legal Counsel at AEL Advocacy. “For too long, animals have suffered in unregulated, inhumane conditions. This bill offers a necessary framework to protect animals, communities, and the public.”
MPP Lucille Collard emphasized the dual importance of the bill for both public and animal protection:
"Keeping exotic wild animals in inadequate conditions is not only harmful to the animals but also dangerous for the public. Owning and caring for wild animals should be restricted to qualified individuals and organizations who are subject to proper government oversight. It is long past time for Ontario to implement a regulatory framework for the keeping of wild animals in order to ensure the well-being of the animals and keep the public safe."
MPP Karen McCrimmon echoed this sentiment:
“We owe our communities the safety and peace of mind that comes with properly regulated zoos. That means safety for guests, for employees, and for animals. The humane treatment of these exotic animals is not a burden, but the bare minimum for a safe and ethical industry in Ontario.”
MPP Collard, MPP McCrimmon, and AEL Advocacy are calling on all Members of Provincial Parliament to support the passage of the Captive Wildlife Protection Act, 2025 and finally close Ontario’s dangerous and outdated loopholes around captive wildlife.
ABOUT AEL ADVOCACY: Animal Environmental Legal Advocacy (“AEL Advocacy”) is a public interest law practice and not-for-profit organization based in Ontario. Our lawyers understand the important interconnection between humans, animals, and the environment. We leverage our legal and political expertise to support individuals, communities, and organizations working to protect animals and the environments where they live.
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ABOUT LUCILLE COLLARD: Lucille Collard is the elected Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa–Vanier.
ABOUT KAREN MCCRIMMON: Karen McCrimmon is the elected Member of Provincial Parliament for Kanata–Carleton. ​​​
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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
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Kira Berkeley
​Co-Director and Legal Counsel
kira@aeladvocacy.ca
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Office of Lucille Collard, MPP (Ottawa–Vanier)
lcollard.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Office of Karen McCrimmon MPP (Kanata—Carleton)
kmccrimmon.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
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