Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums applauds New Brunswick's leadership in modernizing exotic animal and zoo regulations

OTTAWA, Nov. 22, 2013 /CNW/ - Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), the national organization representing accredited zoological institutions, today applauded the introduction in the New Brunswick legislature of a motion calling for a review of the legislative and regulatory framework governing exotic animals and the licensing of zoos and aquariums.

"On behalf of Canada's accredited zoo and aquarium community, I want to thank the Member for Dalhousie-Restigouche East for introducing this motion," said Massimo Bergamini, Executive Director of Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums. "We're hopeful that his motion will be debated in a spirit of bi-partisanship and will result in the undertaking of a speedy and full review."

This motion follows the adoption last month of a resolution by the Atlantic Mayors' Congress calling on the governments of the Atlantic provinces to look at the issue, develop a consistent regional approach and bring it to the national stage through the Council of the Federation. A similar resolution was also adopted by the Cities of New Brunswick Association earlier this month.

"The leadership shown in New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada by municipal governments in dealing with this important public safety and animal welfare issue, must also be noted".

"We're confident that this strong provincial and municipal support in New Brunswick will be noted elsewhere in the country and will help break down the policy and political silos that have created the current patchwork of hard-to-understand-and- enforce rules and regulations across the country."

SOURCE: Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA)

Massimo Bergamini 613 290 5317, e-mail 
[email protected] or on Twitter @CAZA_ED