C-417Assistance Animals Framework for Veterans Act
An Act to establish a framework on animal-assisted services for veterans
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on November 5, 2024
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since November 5, 2024
What it does
Requires Veterans Affairs to create and publish a framework for animal-assisted services for veterans, then review it later.
What it does
- Requires the Minister of Veterans Affairs to work with service providers and departmental advisory groups to develop and carry out a framework for animal-assisted services to veterans.
- Requires the framework to set processes and standards, including what documents Veterans Affairs may ask for when a veteran requests these services.
- Requires the framework to include third-party accreditation requirements, ways to check provider compliance, and clear goals, timelines, and monitoring measures.
- Requires the Minister to table a report on the framework in Parliament within 12 months of the law coming into force and to publish it on the department’s website.
- Requires an independent review of the framework five years after the report is tabled, with the review report also tabled and published.
Who it affects
- Veterans
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Animal-assisted service providers
- Veterans Affairs advisory groups
Background
The bill defines animal-assisted service to include trained assistance animals and animal-assisted interventions, including activities and therapy. It says the Minister must consider a 2022 House of Commons veterans committee report on service dogs.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
NDPRachel Blaney· November 5, 2024
“Moved for leave to introduce Bill C-417, An Act to establish a framework on animal-assisted services for veterans. I want to thank the member for Elmwood—Transcona for seconding this important piece of legislation, called the assistance animals framework for veterans act.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Outside the Order of Precedence. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.