Parliament Hill is full of pet lovers! This year marks our very first Hill Day advocacy event on Parliament Hill. Pets Canada put together a team of fourteen delegates made up of association members to engage federal decision-makers on two very important topics brought to us by our members: removing the GST on pet food products and including pets in the National Adaptation Strategy, with respect to evacuation planning.
On Monday evening Pets Canada hosted a reception for welcoming MPs, Senators and their staff, giving them an opportunity to get to know the association and our members prior to our Hill Day advocacy event. We are very thankful to Member of Parliament James Maloney, for sponsoring our reception and being a champion for Pets Canada. We also thank the over 50 MPs and staff who came to support the event and learn more about Pets Canada’s work.
From left to right:
1) Christine Carrière – Pets Canada President & CEO, Karima Jivraj – Store Owner Bosley’s by PetValu (New Westminster, BC)
Senator Bev Busson & Cyril Lemyre – Hurraw CEO.
2) Mike Bober President & CEO Pet Advocacy Network, Amy Pawson Director of Operations Petland Canada, Mike Scholtens President & CEO of Manchester Pet Supplies, Susan Dankert – Pets Canada Communications Director & MP Ryan Williams, Critic Pan-Canadian Trade and Competition.
3) MP James Maloney speaking at the Pets Canada reception.
On Tuesday morning, our team broke into groups and attended meetings across Parliament Hill and in the Senate. Members met with many officials including, Senator Yonah Martin, MP Peter Julian, Senator Mohamed Ravalia, Senator Donald Plett, Senator Elizabeth Marshall, MP Joel Godin, MP Ryan Williams, MP Alistair MacGregor, Senator Bev Busson and MP Pam Damoff, all of whom welcomed us with interest and excellent questions about the issues we put forth.
From left to right:
1) Stephanie Kusters – Strategic Planning, Partnerships, & Innovation The Crump Group, Inc., Craig Brummell – President & CEO Essex Topcrop Sales Limited and Pets Canada Board Chair, Senator Mohamed Ravalia & Maxime Burns, Executive Director, Gastronome Animal
2) Mike Scholtens – President & CEO of Manchester Pet Supplies, Craig Docksteader Political Director for Senator Donald Plett, Mike Bober – President & CEO of Pet Advocacy Network & Amy Pawson – Director of Operations for Petland Canada.
3) Craig Brummell – President & CEO Essex Topcrop Sales Limited and Pets Canada Board Chair, MP Alistair MacGregor, Critic Food Price Inflation and Agriculture & Maxime Burns – Executive Director, Gastronome Animal.
“Pets Canada has made amazing headway in the realm of advocacy this year,” said Tonya Martin, VP of Advocacy and Regulatory Affairs for Pets Canada. “Being able to give our members an opportunity to speak about their convictions and offer their expertise on pet issues is one of the most impactful things we can do to advance the well being Canada’s pets. What we have built today will continue in the coming years to grow and solidify Pets Canada as a trusted source for these issues.”
For 35 years Pets Canada has worked to be the voice of Canada’s pet industry. Our first annual Advocacy Day gives our members a new opportunity to have their voices heard. Our overall goal was to bring attention to the financial issues faced by many pet families and the need to consider pets in crisis situations. We can say with complete confidence, that our goal was accomplished. Thank you to our entire Hill Day advocacy team and to all the officials who took the time to meet with us.
From left to right:
1) Margot Crump – The Crump Group Inc. CEO, Sara Côté – La Grande Menagerie and L’Animatout CEO, MP Pam Damoff Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs & Tonya Martin – Pets Canada Vice President, Advocacy & Regulatory Affairs
2) Cyril Lemyre – Hurraw CEO, Christine Carrière – Pets Canada CEO, Sara Côté – La Grande Menagerie and L’Animatout CEO & MP Joël Godin Critic Official Languages.
3) Top: Sara Côté – La Grande Menagerie and L’Animatout CEO, Craig Brummell – President & CEO Essex Topcrop Sales Limited and Pets Canada Board Chair, Maxime Burns – Executive Director, Gastronome Animal, Margot Crump – The Crump Group Inc. CEO, Susan Dankert – Pets Canada Communications Director, Stephanie Kusters – Strategic Planning, Partnerships, & Innovation The Crump Group, Inc., Mike Scholtens President & CEO of Manchester Pet Supplies, Amy Pawson Director of Operations Petland Canada.
Middle: Karima Jivraj – Store Owner Bosley’s by PetValu (New Westminster, BC).
Bottom: Cyril Lemyre – Hurraw CEO, Christine Carrière – Pets Canada President & CEO, Tonya Martin – Pets Canada Vice President, Advocacy & Regulatory Affairs
