(OTTAWA, ON) – February 8, 2023 –

On January 20, 2023, Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) was made aware of a complaint lodged by Animal Justice – Canada against an accredited member in good standing.

“CAZA members work very hard to adhere to a stringent set of accreditation standards, which are recognized as best practices worldwide. Our standards provide important science-based safeguards for the animals in our members’ care, the people tasked with caring for them,” says Jim Facette, Executive Director and CEO of CAZA. “As a result, we take complaints alleging failures to comply with those standards very seriously.”

The complaint cites a variety of concerns flowing from the member’s recent request for City funding, and a subsequent Budget Report from the City of Edmonton^[1]. The complaint alleges failures to meet the standards required by CAZA and Alberta Zoo Standards, and breaches of provincial laws, including the Animal Protection Act and the Animal Protection Regulation.

CAZA, a self-governing body, follows a stringent process for complaint resolution. Complaints are reviewed, investigated, and adjudicated in strict confidence by the Ethics and Compliance Committee (ECC) of CAZA’s Board of Directors.

“This complaint has been forwarded to the ECC for investigation,” says Facette. “Pending the resolution of the issue, we will not be commenting further.”

CAZA is the voice of zoos and aquariums in Canada. We are the leading organization in Canadian animal welfare standards development, our accreditation process includes expert standards set by leading researchers, biologists, and academia who ensure we reflect the latest in animal welfare research, organizational management, and public safety protocols.  Through a science-based approach, CAZA’s accreditation bridges the ethical concerns with conservation and the public interest.

^[1] https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/default/files/public-files/Proposed2023-2026CapitalBudget.pdf?cb=1667241622  pp.162 – 166.

Contact information:

Jim Facette
Tel: 613.627.3779
Email: jfacette@caza.ca