PIJAC CANADA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Association Executive Summary 2014
This report provides
you with an outline of the work carried out since our last Annual General
Meeting of the membership. I wish to recognize the work carried out by our
staff, Board and Committee members. Their involvement and dedication helped support
the association’s position as a strong advocate for the Canadian pet industry.
Going forward
Our association is
well on its way to meeting the objectives as outlined in our present Strategic
Plan. Efforts will continue in the next Strategic Plan scheduled to start in
January of 2015. New activities are being planned to support the association’s key
strategic objectives. PIJAC Canada will continue to develop its social media
presence, implement strategies that will bring more value to its members and
play a leading role in helping create a more collaborative pet industry.
During the past
twelve months, PIJAC Canada focused its efforts in the following areas:
Promoting the positive pet experience, advocacy and governance.
Promoting a Positive
Pet Experience
PIJAC Canada has been
co-chairing a working group to discuss ways we can work together at promoting
the incredible experience linked to pet ownership. Everyone in our industry can
benefit from this conversation. PIJAC Canada is leading the charge at identifying
what constitutes a positive pet experience and equally what are the barriers to
this experience. The matter will receive continued attention at the
International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies this October.
Advocacy
At the international level – PIJAC Canada attended the 3rd annual Top 2 Top Conference in
April. Hosted by PIJAC USA, it offered an opportunity for us to compare notes
on issues we share with our American neighbors. Presentations of interest
included a profile on the next generation of pet owners, effective lobbying
actions, a new science-based best management practices for breeding kennel
operations, effective media relations and a portrait of the US pet industry
market.
In May, PIJAC took
part in an international meeting of pet industry associations while attending
InterZoo in Germany, followed in June by our participation to a SBSTTA meeting,
a working group reporting to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
PIJAC Canada, along
with PIJAC USA and OATA (Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association), participated in
this SBSTTA meeting in Montreal, to showcase what the pet industry is doing
internationally to address the issue of alien invasive species. Continuing our
efforts, we went ahead with the official launch of our updated website (www.habitattitude.ca) during our August
and September trade shows.
At the national level - PIJAC Canada maintained strong working ties with the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in an attempt to keep our members aware
of upcoming regulatory changes or government initiatives that could affect
their business. Dossiers presently under scrutiny include possible changes to
the government’s pet food import policy, funding opportunities for Canadian
exporting companies and possible salmonella contamination from pet reptiles and
feeder rodents.
PIJAC
Canada works with the Public Health Agency of Canada at developing proper messaging
to address the issue of recent cases of salmonellosis linked to pet reptiles
and feeder rodents. Focus remains on promoting awareness to safe handling
(hygiene) practices and making sure this information reaches target markets.
PIJAC
Canada applied the necessary changes to comply with the country’s new federal anti-spam
legislation before it came into force in July 2014. We invested a significant
amount of time and resources to ensure our association is in compliance with
the new Act. PIJAC Canada has also taken on the task of informing our members,
encouraging them to consult the legislation and determine if it affects their
business.
At
the provincial level – in Quebec - The regulation amending the safety and welfare of dogs
and cats regulation came into effect in late 2013. This amendment allows for
the implementation of a permit system for certain types of pet establishments.
This regulation outlines the specific criteria for the delivery of these
permits. PIJAC Canada provided direction to its membership in route to the
March 7th 2014 implementation date.
PIJAC Canada
maintains its involvement with the provincial animal welfare group and sits on
the provisional Board of the newly created Animal Welfare Foundation (Fondation
BEA).
In Ontario - PIJAC Canada continues
its efforts to contribute the Ontario’s exotic animal regulation review
exercise. Our recent meeting with Minister Naqvi leads us to believe that
movement on this issue is coming soon.
In Atlantic Canada – Government officials from all four Atlantic Provinces have called for a
review of their exotic animal regulations. Work is soon to start on a
provincial exercise in New Brunswick. PIJAC Continues to monitor the situation.
We have requested to be included in the consultation process.
At the Municipal level – Since our last AGM report, we have seen a few municipalities adopt a bylaw
aimed at severely restricting the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores.
Municipalities that went ahead with such bylaws were mostly the ones that had
none of these establishments operating within their city limits.
Once made aware of a municipality’s intentions,
PIJAC Canada contacts them and provides relevant information that supports our
position on the issue at hand. PIJAC Canada offers help and support to its
members through additional letter writing, consultation, coaching and
communication. We rely heavily on our members to alert us to such actions in
their city and offer our newly created Tool Kit as resource material for them
to organize their actions locally. Work at the grass root level is essential in
making decision makers aware of all the facts on this very important issue.
Several other municipalities are in the
process of reviewing their own situations and deciding if such an orientation
is warranted. PIJAC Canada and the OSPCA are collaborating on this issue, promoting
a joint letter directed at municipalities and explaining to them why a sales
ban approach fails to address the issue.
Governance
During the past
year we have been particularly busy on the development of Best Management
Practices for pet retail operations. The document is under peer review and our
objective remains a launch sometime in 2015.
PIJAC Canada is
also making sure our operations, procedures, policies and position statements
are compliant with our new General Administrative Bylaws. The first two bodies of work will consist in updating our electoral
process for Board elections and reviewing rules of procedures for Divisions.
Special attention will also be given to the association’s staffing
structure in an effort to meet the rapidly changing needs of our membership and
improve efficiency .
Louis McCann,
President and CEO
September 2014
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