MONTRÉAL, Sept. 16, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - After initial review of the Bill 54 – An Act to Improve the Legal Situation of Animals, Rabbi Reuben Poupko, Co-Chair of the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus, and member of the executive committee of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs-Québec (CIJA-Québec) issued the following statement:
"We commend the government's efforts to advance animal welfare in Quebec. Animal welfare is strongly valued by the Jewish community; Judaism strictly prohibits gratuitous cruelty to animals. This is why Jewish ritual slaughter, or shechita, is as quick and painless as humanly possible. Indeed, in its presentation yesterday to the National Assembly Committee studying the Bill, the Animal Legal Defense Fund acknowledged that properly performed ritual slaughter is humane and does not cause undue cruelty to animals.
"CIJA-Québec will submit a brief to the Committee to ensure legislators hear the perspective of the Jewish community. Our submission will demonstrate that shechita conforms entirely to the objectives of Bill 54."
SOURCE Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs
David Ouellette, Associate Director, Public Affairs, Québec, 514-294-4420
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