Zoo Owner Faces Criminal Charges, Investments In Pride Festivals, Venezuela's Crisis

Hosted by Ahmad Moujtahed

Stories by Ahmad Moujtahed

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LOCAL

This was Sophie Gaillard, lawyer and spokeswoman for the SPCA referring to Norman Trahand owner of St-Édouard Zoo in Trois Rivières, who was arrested by SPCA officers and the SQ on charges of animal neglect and cruelty.

After evaluating the condition of the animals at the zoo, a senior campaign manager told a news conference that most animals remained in dilapidated enclosures, had limited access to food and water, and appeared to be in need of veterinary care.

The charges stem from a visit in August 2018, when the SPCA said it noted several alleged violations. In a subsequent visit in October, officials seized two alpacas that were in poor health and found four deceased animals, including two tigers.

A resident who lives nearby the zoo told CTV news that he has seen dead or dying animals on the property. He said residents would bring apples for the deer in winter out of fear they weren’t being well fed.

If convicted, the owner of the zoo could face a maximum of five years in jail and a lifetime ban on owning animals

NATIONAL

Canadian Minister of Tourism announced investments in support of Pride festivals across Canada, including major investments in Pride Toronto, Fierté Montréal, and the Vancouver Pride Society.

Regional economic development agencies will work with Fierté Canada Pride to support even more Pride events across the country.

Other projects will include LGBTQ diversity training and market readiness programs in order to provide safe and respectful sites across Canada that everyone can enjoy.

These investments, part of the Canadian Experiences Fund (CEF), foster values of diversity and equity making Canada a welcoming destination for LGBTQ travellers.

INTERNATIONAL

In a statement, the UN Refugee Agency said that “given the worsening political, economic, human rights and humanitarian situation” in Venezuela, the U.N. “now considers that the majority of those fleeing the country are in need of international refugee protection.”

The new guidelines underscore the growing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela that is forcing people to take desperate journeys in search of food, medicine and other basic necessities.

The crisis comes as the country is locked in a political struggle between Juan Guaidó, leader of the National Assembly of Venezuela and Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.