OFFICIAL CANADIAN GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO MAKE CANADA AN ANIMAL TESTING FREE COUNTRY BY 2020

HI all :) Thank you for all your continued support TO MAKE CANADA AN ANIMAL TESTING FREE COUNTRY BY 2020. The Canadian Government has now formally and officially responded to e-1018 parliamentary petition (which originated from this change.org petition). You can find the government's response on my public facebook page (as it is in a pdf format so I couldn't include it here). Here is the link to read the Canadian government's OFFICIAL response: (I have cut and pasted it into my PUBLIC fb page) for your reading ease and convenIence exactly as it is shown on the parliamentary site: https://www.facebook.com/rhonda.zabinsky Unfortunately, currently there doesn't seem to be the political will to make Canada an animal testing free country by 2020 at any level (cosmetics, household cleaning products, etc.) first with the e-petition that had over 200,000 Canadians sign it to stop animal testing on cosmetic and now with this petition to make Canada An Animal testing free country by 2020. You can also find the government's response at: https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-1018 and then click response and a pdf will open. PLEASE DO KNOW THAT POSITIVE CHANGE WILL COME. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. Most often change doesn't come with and from a government. Change comes from the people and citizens. So, don't give up hope because you and only you can make a difference today. "'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead I have enormous faith in Canadians and citizens elsewhere reading this too. Each one of us as individuals have all the power to change the current situation. We and I mean each and everyone of us can make a MASSIVE DIFFERENCE to save tens of thousands of puppies, pigs and monkeys that are tested on in Canada (and elsewhere) every year only to be killed within a year. Here is how we can make a difference right now: 1. buy only products that are NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS. If a product isn't tested on animals it will say so on the label. It is easy to phase in by simply phasing out all products tested on animals as you run out. Simply focus on switching over in household items first with cleaning products, laundry products, as you run out of each one. It doesn't cost much more and often there are BIG savings when you do so and it can even cost you MUCH less. In the future, I will share with you tips, techniques, ideas, etc. to make it work for you. It doesn't need to be overwhelming. How we use our dollars has the greatest impact and it can change everything for these little animals that just deserved to be loved. Labs only test because companies hire them because there is a market for it. Simple supply and demand. If consumers stop buying products that are tested on animals, there will be no demand and the companies will change swiftly because there will be no financial incentive for them to continue. We have the power to change this. 2. In this vein, NEXT, ask your grocer, cosmetic supplier, pharmacist, etc. (i.e. Costco, Safeway, etc to sell products not tested on animals) and support the companies that do this by buying products not tested on animals.Your Dollars speak for you and each and every step and every cent makes a massive difference. Slowly and surely change is happening. So much so, large companies are making products that look like they are cruelty free but are still tested on animals so IT IS VITAL THAT THE PRODUCTS SAY NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS) otherwise, you don't know with certainty. Manufacturers are now making products that look like they are animal friendly but are still tested on animals. So, BE VERY CAREFUL AND ONLY BUY PRODUCTS THAT SAY NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS. 3. You can support charities that rescue animals from testing laboratories and help them do their challenging work. Every single donation no matter how large or small ($5- makes a positive difference). I personally love beagle freedom project https://bfp.org/ but there are other small charities that are making a massive difference TO STOP ANIMAL TESTING like Vancouver based: http://adavsociety.org/ I will continue share some of these small charities making a difference with you from time to time in the future to keep you informed and inspired. Most of these are very small charities that are driven by shear heart and determination with vespers of dollars. So, each dollar really makes a huge difference to such charities. And every little charity is making a difference. We are coming to a tipping point...So, take heart. You are making a difference. 4. Share information. I would love to hear from you with alternatives to testing on animals. And in the future, you may not hear from me as often, but I will be gathering this information and sharing it with all of you periodically so that anyone can access it and make a difference for when the time comes for the government to catch up with its citizens who want change and for all to see and access. Until then, there is also an app-crueltry cutter that lets you scan a product and it will show if the products has been tested on animals. This makes it easy for you to make informed decisions. http://cruelty-cutter.org/ 5. You can make a difference with how you vote. I am in the process of contacting each party leader and asking them on their position on making Canada an animal testing free country. I will share with you what I find from time to time so that you can be informed on this subject but until then, you know how our current Canadian government stands on this issue. 6. Also, know that you can make a difference by supporting others who are coming forward and protesting outside of lab testing facilities (even by a kind word or bringing them coffee makes a huge difference). I know that weekly there is an amazing group that protests outside of ITR Labs Inc. In Baie-D'urf (a suburb of Montreal), P.Q. weekly and they would love a kind word and support because rain or shine even in -30 degrees they are there weekly outside ITR LABS. These kind Canadian citizens respectfully protest across the street because they know that ITR Labs is testing on these beagle puppies, pigs and monkeys daily and hurting them and killing them every year in the thousands. Here is ITR's address: 19601 Clark-Graham Ave. Baie-D'urf, QC H9X 3T1 CAnada Just in case you want to support those outside protesting animal testing at this facility. It is this testing facility ITR Labs that was featured in the W5 investigative report. 7. Another option is to contact W5 and let them know what you think about the government's latest response and they may even do a follow up investigative report which will in turn put the heat on the government like nothing else can. Here is the W5 email address: w5@ctv.ca After all, that is what got this started. Remember, we have the power to change this current situation. Let's change it politely with respect and love. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THINGS CHANGE FOR THE POSITIVE. EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE WITH AWARENESS AND BY TAKING THE TIME TO SIGN AND SUPPORT THIS CAUSE. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. :) YOU ARE ALL SOOOO INCREDIBLE :) I AM PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL TO YOU. AND EVEN THOUGH THIS ISN'T THE RESULT THAT I HAD HOPED FOR RIGHT NOW, I KNOW THAT EACH AND EVERYONE OF US CAN SILENTLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY USING OUR DOLLARS AS OUR VOICE AND OUR CONSCIENCE WHICH WILL HAVE AN ASTRONOMICALLY POSITIVE IMPACT . SO, DON'T GIVE UP. THIS IS NOW THE TIME WHERE YOU CAN MAKE MASSIVE CHANGE QUIETLY EVERY DAY IN HOW YOU MAKE YOUR CHOICES AND SPEND YOUR DOLLARS. ULTIMATELY, THIS WILL MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE AND WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING for the smallest and most helpless puppies, pigs and monkeys THAT ARE BEING HURT DAILY. Periodically, I will check the messages here, and will post important updates that can assist in changing this outcome. So, please stay tuned and be engaged. EVERYONE PLEASE TAKE HEART. SOMETIMES CHANGE REQUIRES INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE CHANGE FIRST. AND THIS IS UP TO EACH ONE OF US. FEEL EMPOWERED AND KNOW EACH ONE OF US MAKES A DIFFERENCE AND IT IS ONLY EACH ONE OF US MAKING CONSCIENCE CHOICES DAILY THAT CAN CHANGE THIS. WHEN WE DO THIS, IT CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING QUITE RAPIDLY AND DRAMATICALLY BECAUSE CORPORATIONS RESPOND QUICKLY WHEN THEIR PROFITS ARE AFFECTED. Here is the app to help you: http://cruelty-cutter.org/ 8. REMEMBER, YOU HAVE THE POWER. When petitions come up to change animal testing, sign them. For example, Elizabeth May has a parliamentary e-petition that asks for investigators for testing facilities. It is free and open to all Canadians to sign. It is open until January 19th. You can make a difference by signing this today: https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-1135 Another option is to ask your democratically elected representatives their position and vote your conscience in elections. Keep demanding change and make changes daily with your dollars. THIS IS HUGE. It is TRULY only a matter of time before animal testing in Canada becomes something of the past. Clearly, it's not up to the government to make this change, it is up to us the citizens of Canada to change this. So, instead of depending on the government, let's empower ourselves to change this. AS CLICHE AS THIS SOUNDS, POWER TO THE PEOPLE -IT'S IN OUR HANDS NOW. LET'S USE OUR DOLLARS AND OUR CONSCIENCE AND MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE DAILY. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and everyone of you that has supported me on this journey to make Canada an animal testing free country by 2020. Don't give up! It's only a matter of time BEFORE THERE IS NO DEMAND FOR ANIMAL TESTING IN CANADA AND AROUND THE WORLD FOR COSMETICS, HOUSE HOLD PRODUCTS, CLEANING PRODUCTS, and pharmaceutical products, etc. AND BEFORE SOMETHING AND SOMEONE COMES ALONG THAT CHANGES THINGS FOR THE POSITIVE. LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER. Please remember, each and everyone one of us has the power to make a massive difference every day. So, take heart and take this opportunity TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE. Here is something inspiring to leave you with- http://bfp.org/category/survivors/ with profound gratitude and love and the Happiest of Holidays to you all, BEASLEY THE RESCUED BEAGLE AND RHONDA ZABINSKY