Bill C-16 Is Almost Law - Here's How We Got Here
Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act, is closer to becoming law than ever before. Here is how we got here - and what you can do to help finish the job.
When abusers use pets to control or frighten survivors, the impact is devastating - for people and animals alike. For too long, Canada's laws have not clearly recognized this type of abuse. That is finally beginning to change.
What Bill C-16 Does
Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act, is a piece of federal legislation that would make two important changes to Canadian law. It would criminalize the distribution of animal sexual abuse material - content that has been used to groom and exploit vulnerable people, including children. And it would recognize threats against pets as a form of coercive control, a tactic widely used by abusers to manipulate and frighten survivors of intimate partner violence.
These are long overdue protections for both people and animals. The link between violence against animals and violence against people is well established - and Bill C-16 begins to close gaps in Canadian law that have left survivors and their pets without adequate protection.
What We Did
At the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, protecting vulnerable lives is at the heart of everything we do - and that includes speaking up when Canada's laws fall short. Earlier this year, we launched a campaign asking our supporters to email their MP in support of Bill C-16. Thousands of Canadians across the country did the same. It worked.
The Update
Bill C-16 has passed the House of Commons - a major milestone for survivors and the animals they love. Every email, every signature, and every shared campaign helped make that happen. This is what advocacy looks like. This is what happens when people speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. But the bill is not law yet.
What Comes Next
In Canada, a bill must pass two stages before it becomes law - the House of Commons and the Senate. Bill C-16 has cleared the first hurdle. Now it moves to the Senate, where appointed members will review and vote on it. Until the Senate votes yes, these protections cannot take effect.
That is why we are asking Canadians to take one more step. Email your Senator today and help bring Bill C-16 across the finish line. The more voices Senators hear from, the harder it is to ignore.
Survivors and their pets have waited long enough.
Vulnerable people and animals are counting on us. Let's not stop now.
Email Your Senator Now
