A local politician wants to put an end to Ontario’s ban on pit bulls.
Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls has introduced a private member’s bill at Queens Park, asking for changes to provisions under the Dog Owners’ Liability Act.
Nicholls says even former Attorney General Michael Bryant, who brought in the 2005 legislation prohibiting importing and breeding pit bulls in Ontario, has admitted the ban didn’t work.
“We are going to eliminate the specific breed and make it more breed-neutral legislation, so it can be any dog,” Nicholls says. “What we’re also looking at is imposing very stiff fines for people who abuse animals, period.”
Ontario’s pit bull ban made it mandatory for any dogs that were grandfathered in to be spayed or neutered as well as muzzled and leashed in public.
Nicholls’ private members bill will be debated in the Legislature today.