The Order of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food introduces a minor but impactful amendment to the Regulation respecting the information that must be provided by local municipalities under section 8 of the Act to promote the protection of persons by establishing a framework with regard to dogs.

The amendment is made pursuant to section 8 of the Act to promote the protection of persons by establishing a framework with regard to dogs (chapter P-38.002). That section stipulates that every local municipality must make available, in a format and according to terms specified by the Minister, information related to the application of the Act. The purpose of these reporting requirements is to ensure that the Ministry maintains an accurate and up-to-date understanding of how municipalities are enforcing the province’s dog control and safety regulations, particularly in matters involving potentially dangerous dogs and incidents that threaten public safety.

The content of the amendment itself is concise: it modifies section 1 of the existing regulation by changing the required reporting date from “15 May” to “30 June.” This seemingly modest adjustment carries practical implications. Extending the deadline by six weeks provides municipalities additional time to compile, verify, and submit the required data concerning dog-related incidents, enforcement actions, and licensing statistics. The change likely responds to feedback from local governments that the previous mid-May deadline did not allow sufficient time after the close of the first quarter of the year to gather and analyze information, particularly for smaller municipalities with limited administrative capacity.

By establishing June 30 as the new reporting deadline, the Ministry aligns the reporting schedule more closely with municipal administrative cycles, ensuring that data submitted to the province is more accurate and comprehensive. This in turn strengthens the provincial oversight framework designed to protect the public from dangerous dog incidents while promoting responsible pet ownership and humane treatment of animals. Reliable reporting is a key component of the broader policy framework, as it enables evidence-based decision-making, risk assessment, and the continual improvement of municipal dog control programs across Quebec.

In essence, while the amendment involves a small procedural change, it represents an important refinement of administrative processes aimed at improving Quebec’s approach to public safety and animal management.

Quebec (Draft) November 4, 2025
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