Earl Grey has pretty simple election platform: Improve Canada’s national animal cruelty laws, which haven’t really changed since 1892.
As leader of the Tuxedo Party of Canada Cat Welfare Society, the long-haired grey and white cat gunning to be Canada’s next prime minister has already attracted some high-profile support at the half-way mark through the country’s federal election campaign.
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies announced Earl Grey as its first-ever endorsement of a political candidate.
“Canadians care deeply about wildlife, the welfare of farm animals, and the animals that they share their lives and their homes with,” Barbara Cartwright, the group’s CEO, said in a statement. “This campaign is a wonderful way to increase the visibility of animals in this election and get people talking about where we’re falling short on animal welfare in Canada.”
Hugh Chisholm, Earl Grey’s campaign manager and human companion, said the politically-minded feline is also keen to establish accessible spay and neuter initiatives nationwide. Sure, it’s a tongue-in-cheek campaign, but the endorsement is huge and has the potential to influence the eventual winner on Oct. 19.
“We’re thrilled to receive this kind of support from a national animal welfare organization like CFHS,” Chisholm said in a statement. “Together, we will be able to get animals on the agenda this election.”
While the three main political leaders – Stephen Harper of the Conservatives, Tom Mulcair of the New Democrats and Justin Trudeau of the Liberals – haven’t really picked up the animal rights agenda, the media has.
Earl Grey has had some face time on CTV, CBC, CNN and BuzzFeed Canada, among a whole cast of others.
He’s a veteran campaigner and comes from political stock. Earl Grey ran for premier of his home province, Nova Scotia in 2013. And his brother, the now-deceased, Tuxedo Stan, ran for the mayor’s chair in Halifax in 2012.
Neither won, but their very public mews made a difference.
Halifax city council gave the local SPCA $40,000 for surgical room upgrades for a low-cost spay and neuter program. And, the Nova Scotia government voted to strengthen provincial penalties for animal cruelty
Now, Earl Grey – and the legion of animal lovers lined up behind him – hopes the boost from CFHS, which represents 52 Humane Societies and SPCAs across the country, will land with whomever occupies the prime minister’s official residence at 24 Sussex Drive next month.
Photos Tuxedo Party of Canada Cat Welfare Society/Facebook
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