Ontario’s Bill 75 and the proposed amendments to the Animals for Research Act (ARA) represent one of the most significant policy moments for animals used in research in decades. Yet for many members of the public, the legal language and regulatory structure make it difficult to understand what is being proposed — and what it could mean in practice for dogs and cats used in research in Ontario.
Through a moderated discussion, our panelists—Dr. Andrew Fenton, Angela Fernandez, and Vaughan Black—will explain what Bill 75 seeks to do, how it intersects with Ontario’s Animals for Research Act, and whether the proposed amendments to the ARA meaningfully strengthen protections for dogs and cats used in research, or whether important gaps remain.
Date: Friday, January 30th
Time: 10 AM EST
This webinar will explore:
- What Bill 75 proposes and how it relates to the Animals for Research Act
- What the proposed amendments to the Animals for Research Act mean for dogs and cats
- Whether the changes close existing loopholes or leave key issues unresolved
- How oversight, accountability, and enforcement currently work
- What comes next in the legislative and regulatory process
- How the public and professionals can remain engaged
Who should attend:
- Members of the public interested in animal protection and public policy
- Legal, academic, veterinary, and research professionals
- Animal welfare and advocacy organizations
- Students and educators
- Anyone seeking a clear, evidence-based explanation beyond the headlines lines
The session will conclude with a live Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions directly to the panelists. This event will be recorded.
Meet the Panelists
Angela Fernandez
Professor of Law and History at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, where she directs the Animal Law Program and oversees the Brooks Animal Law Digest: Canada Edition. She has spoken widely in the media on the use of dogs and cats in medical research in Ontario and is currently a Visiting Fellow with the Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights Law.
Dr. Andrew Fenton, PhD
Professor of Philosophy at Dalhousie University, Dr. Fenton specializes in animal ethics and the philosophy of animal cognition. His research examines what nonhuman animals can know, feel, and experience — and how those capacities should inform ethical standards and policy decisions in science and research.
Vaughan Black
A retired law professor who taught at Dalhousie University for 35 years, Vaughan Black has extensive experience in animal-related law, legal aid, and research oversight. He served for many years on Dalhousie’s University Committee on Laboratory Animals, which oversees compliance with the Canadian Council on Animal Care framework, giving him rare insight into how animal research regulation functions in practice.
