Thank you to the Solicitor General for that response. Unfortunately, there are situations where distress, neglect and abuse to animals continue to occur throughout the province. As a few examples, dogs can become victims of puppy mills, where they are kept in inhumane conditions, and animals that are kept outdoors can be exposed to unsafe conditions such as lack of shelter or water. Another situation that illustrates the urgency of this problem is the detrimental effect on pets that are left in cars in extreme weather conditions.

Speaker, can the Solicitor General please elaborate on how the PAWS Act protects the welfare, health and safety of animals?

Mr. Speaker, once again, I want to thank my colleague for that very important question. The people of Ontario care about the welfare of animals, and so does our government. We are committed to developing a strong system to protect animals, and we have delivered on that promise.

Ontario has the strongest penalties in Canada for people who violate animal welfare laws. Just last year, regulations under the animal welfare act were passed to increase standards of care for dogs kept outdoors. Our government takes animal welfare and safety very seriously.

But everyone has a responsibility to protect animals. If you suspect that neglect or abuse of an animal is taking place, please report it. The number you can call is 1-833-9-ANIMAL, and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.