Endorsements
Voters for Animals endorses the following candidates based on their record of supporting animal protection legislation. You’ll see that most of these individuals are sitting MPs—this is because we do not have the resources to individually survey every candidate running for office.
Voters for Animals is non-partisan, and endorses animal champions from all political parties. We consider a variety of criteria when deciding who to endorse, including whether a candidate has a strong legislative track record, is personally committed to animal protection, and has a realistic chance at being elected.
Rachel Blaney
North Island—Powell River / NDP
Blaney supported Bill S-203, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, and spoke powerfully in support of the Bill in the House of Commons in 2019. Blaney was elected in North Island—Powell River in 2015 and 2019 as a New Democrat.
Sean Casey
Charlottetown / Liberals
Casey has consistently proven himself as an animal supporter in parliament. He was a champion of Bill S-203, which banned keeping cetaceans in captivity in Canada in early 2019, as well as of the many efforts to ban the import of shark fins into Canada, which finally became law in 2019 as part of Bill C-68. Casey has worked behind the scenes to advance animal-friendly legislation and to create connections across party lines to further these efforts. Casey was elected in the riding of Charlottetown in 2011, 2015, and 2019 as a Liberal.
Julie Dabrusin
Toronto—Danforth / Liberals
Dabrusin has regularly spoken up for animals in Parliament. She regularly discusses animal protection issues with constituents, has been a strong supporter of amending the Criminal Code to provide stronger protection for animals, and has spoken in favour of ending the use of animals for cosmetics testing. Dabrusin is an ethical vegetarian, and has been strongly supportive of the new Canada Food Guide, which emphasizes plant-based eating. She was elected in 2015 and 2019 as a Liberal in Toronto—Danforth.
Pam Damoff
Oakville North—Burlington / Liberals
When Damoff served as a city councillor in Oakville, Ontario, she introduced a successful motion to ban the sale of shark fins in the municipality, making Oakville the second municipality to do so. After she was elected to represent Oakville North-Burlington in the House of Commons in 2015 as a Liberal, Damoff was a strong supporter of Bill C-246, the Modernizing Animal Protections Act, and met with her local humane society to affirm her support for the Bill.
Don Davies
Vancouver—Kingsway / NDP
The incumbent NDP candidate in Vancouver—Kingsway, Davies has distinguished himself as an MP who cares about protecting wild animals. He sponsored a Parliamentary petition calling for a ban on cat and dog fur, and has spoken in Parliament to demand that Canada comply with its international commitments and stop the illegal shipment of products of whaling. He has pledged to keep speaking out on behalf of endangered species.
Julie Dzerowicz
Davenport / Liberals
In 2018, Dzerowicz spoke in the House of Commons in support of Bill C-84, the bill that targeted bestiality and animal fighting. She regularly engages with constituents on animal protection issues, and was elected to the riding of Davenport in 2015 and 2019 under the Liberal banner.
Ruth Ellen Brosseau
Berthier—Maskinongé / NDP
Brosseau has long been a supporter of animal protection initiatives and has been an important figure for animals on the Hill, both behind the scenes and as a member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, and NDP Agriculture and Agri-Food Critic. She previously served as the MP for Berthier—Maskinongé from 2011 to 2019, and is a longtime vegetarian.
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith
Beaches—East York / Liberals
Since being elected to serve the riding of Beaches-East York in 2015 and 2019 as a Liberal, Erskine-Smith has been one of the most determined and passionate voices for animals in politics. In 2016, Erskine-Smith introduced Bill C-246, the Modernizing Animal Protections Act, which received widespread support from animal advocates across Canada. Despite Erskine-Smith’s work to garner support for the Bill, it was ultimately defeated. Erskine-Smith has remained one of the most steadfast supporters of animals on the Hill and in his community, and was instrumental in forming and guiding first the Liberal Animal Welfare Caucus, and then the first-ever All-Party Caucus on Animal Welfare. He has received numerous awards from animal protection groups across Canada for his work, and is a vegan.
Hedy Fry
Vancouver Centre / Liberals
Dr. Fry has been a consistent ally for animals on the Hill since she was first elected to Parliament as a Liberal in Vancouver Centre in 1993. Dr. Fry has championed multiple bills to reform the Criminal Code to improve protection for animals. She has supported efforts to ban horse slaughter in Canada and has voiced her support for ending Canada’s notorious commercial seal hunt.
Randall Garrison
Esquimault—Saanich—Sooke / NDP
Randall Garrison has long been a champion for animals, voting and speaking in favour of many bills and motions that aim to increase protections for animals, including Bill S-2013, Bill C-216, and Bill C-83. He has also supported calls to ban the slaughter of horses, and worked to put protections in place for Southern Resident orcas. Garrison has been a vegetarian for over 30 years. He has been the NDP MP for Esquimault—Saanich—Sooke since 2011.
Marilyn Gladu
Sarnia—Lambton / Conservatives
Gladu was the House of Commons sponsor for Bill S-214 in the 43rd Parliament, which would have banned cosmetic testing on animals, and spoke in the House in favour of the Bill. She was elected as Member of Parliament for the riding of Sarnia—Lambton in 2015 and 2019.
Mark Holland
Ajax—Pickering / Liberals
Holland first started fighting to update the animal cruelty sections of the Criminal Code more than a decade ago. Holland served the riding of Ajax-Pickering as a Liberal MP from 2004-2011 and was re-elected in 2015 and 2019.
Anthony Housefather
Mount Royal / Liberals
Housefather served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights during the passage of Bill C-84 in 2019, the bill that targeted bestiality and animal fighting, and voiced his support for the Bill numerous times. Housefather has been supportive of measures to improve federal protections for animals since being elected as the Liberal MP for Mount Royal in 2015 and 2019.
Gord Johns
Courtenay—Alberni / NDP
In his previous roles as NDP critic for Fisheries and Oceans, and Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, Johns was instrumental in helping pass Bill S-203, which banned keeping cetaceans in captivity in Canada in early 2019. Johns has consistently supported animal protection initiatives, and he has served the riding of Courtenay-Alberni since 2015.
Peter Julian
New Westminster—Burnaby / NDP
Julian has long worked behind the scenes to help advance animal-friendly legislation. He spoke in the House in support of Bill S-214 in the 43rd Parliament, which would have banned cosmetic testing on animals. Julian was first elected as the NDP Member of Parliament for the riding of New Westminster—Burnaby in 2004.
David Lametti
LaSalle—Émard—Verdun / Liberals
In his role as the current Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lametti was instrumental in shepherding through Bill C-84, the bill that targeted bestiality and animal fighting. He also supported Bill C-246, the Modernizing Animal Protections Act. Lametti was elected in 2015 and 2019 as the Liberal MP for LaSalle—Émard—Verdun.
Paul Manly
Nanaimo-Ladysmith / Green
Manly has distinguished himself by introducing the first-ever Motion in the House of Commons to end federal subsidies to the animal agriculture industry, which comprises at least 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and to ensure that animal farming activities are not exempt from Canada’s federal price on carbon. Manly became the second Green MP elected to Parliament when he won a by-election in Nanaimo-Ladysmith in 2019.
Brian Masse
Windsor West / NDP
The incumbent NDP candidate in Windsor West, Masse has consistently supported efforts to strengthen protections for animals. He has previously introduced legislation that would require labeling of cat and dog fur products in Canada, ensuring that consumers are not duped into buying these items. Masse has been an MP since 2002.
Elizabeth May
Saanich—Gulf Islands / Green
May has been an outspoken champion of animal issues on Parliament Hill and notably sponsored Bill S-203, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, which passed through Parliament and became law in 2019. May has consistently introduced and spoken in support of animal-friendly legislation, including the numerous (and eventually successful) efforts to ban shark fin imports, and a proposed legislation to end subsidies to the commercial seal hunt. The Green Party has historically had strong animal protection policies, and has opposed ag gag laws. May is the incumbent candidate in Saanich—Gulf Islands.
Alexandra Mendes
Brossard—Saint-Lambert / Liberals
Mendes has been a consistent voice for animals on the Hill. She currently serves as co-chair of the Liberal Caucus on Animal Welfare and has invited speakers from animal protection groups to address the Caucus. Mendes has spoken in the House about the need to improve regulations regarding animals in transport and drafted legislation to address this. She served as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Brossard—Saint-Lambert from 2008-2011 and was re-elected in 2015.
Monique Pauzé
Repentigny / Bloc Quebecois
Pauzé was a strong supporter of S-203, which banned keeping cetaceans in captivity in Canada in early 2019, and has been a diligent behind the scenes ally on animal protection initiatives. She was elected to serve the riding of Repentigny in 2015 and 2019 as a Bloc Quebecois MP.
Michelle Rempel Garner
Calgary Nose Hill / Conservatives
Rempel Garner has been a vocal supporter of efforts to improve federal animal protection legislation. She voted in favour of Bill C-246, the Modernizing Animal Protections Act, and joined a cross-party group of MPs to call on the Senate to stop blocking the passage of several animal protection bills in 2018. In 2017, Rempel Garner put forward a private member’s bill to close the bestiality loophole in the Criminal Code. She has also called for an end to the wildlife trade. Rempel Garner was elected as an MP for Calgary Centre-North in 2011 as a Conservative and, after the riding boundaries changed, now represents Calgary Nose Hill.
Jagmeet Singh
Burnaby South / NDP
Singh is a strong ally for animals. He presided over the NDP’s vocal support of Bill C-84, the government bill that targeted bestiality and animal fighting. The NDP has long been broadly supportive of animal-friendly legislation. Singh has been leader of the NDP since 2017 and was elected to serve Burnaby South in a by-election in 2019. He is a vegetarian.
Anita Vandenbeld
Ottawa West—Nepean / Liberals
Vandenbeld has supported efforts to update Canada’s notorious animal transport regulations, and sponsored a Parliamentary petition calling for improved animal transport standards. She was elected to serve Ottawa West–Nepean in 2015 under the Liberal banner.
Arif Virani
Parkdale—High Park / Liberals
Virani has served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General and worked to ensure the passage of Bill C-84, the bill that targeted bestiality and animal fighting and passed in 2019. He supported Nathaniel Erskine-Smith’s Bill C-246, the Modernizing Animal Protections Act. Virani regularly engages with constituents on animal protection issues. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Parkdale—High Park in 2015 and 2019.
Jonathan Wilkinson
North Vancouver / Liberals
Wilkinson recently served as the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and previously served as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Coast Guard. He worked tirelessly to pass Bill C-68, which updated Canada’s Fisheries Act and included a ban on the sale of shark fins in Canada. He was also instrumental in ensuring the passage of Bill S-203, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, which passed through Parliament and became law in 2019. Wilkinson was elected as a Liberal MP in North Vancouver in 2015 and 2019.