Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to direct some questions to Ms. Candito.
Josie, welcome to the committee.
Josie, I've known you for a long time, obviously, as a business owner in the western part of Toronto, in Parkdale—High Park. I've known you as an animal rights advocate and, to be frank, as someone who helps educate me and others in the community about animal rights and the importance of, as you've just said, speaking up for those who are voiceless, the creatures that are voiceless in Canada. I've also heard you speak about—it came out in testimony earlier today—those who start with animal abuse and the link leading to child abuse, abuse of women and even in some instances committing acts such as murder.
Thank you for that advocacy.
You've also developed a strong and robust network of other animal rights advocates in the Toronto area and beyond. We've seen your brief, and you've walked us through it.
First of all, tell me about some of the reception that you've had and heard of among the animal rights community about this bill, and the need to strengthen the laws that relate to bestiality and to bans on animal fighting. How is that piece of this legislation being received?