The primary goal of the Animal Welfare campaign is to work with the UVic administration and with the University of Victoria Student’s Society (UVSS) to gradually transition purchasing towards purchasing meat, dairy, and eggs from farms with either SPCA or Organic certification.
We have been working with representatives at the BCSPCA and at the Certified Organics Association of British Columbia to find alternative sources of meat that are large enough and reliable enough to supply the campus. We have also been working with the SUB and UVic food facilities who have been very helpful in providing information about the current suppliers, and about obstacles that need to be addressed for a shift in suppliers to occur. As a result of this campaign the UVSS passed a motion in 2010 indicating they support, in principle, adopting more ethical purchasing practices.
The University and the UVSS have both shown interest in the campaign. However, they need to juggle the needs of many students. As such, they are hesitant to adopt the purchasing practices described herein without a sign that this is something students would indeed support. To this end we are circulating an informal petition, where students and UVic community members can indicate they would indeed support such a change. A switch to more ethical meats would likely entail a nominal price increase; this is clearly mentioned in the petition. Please add your name to send a message that such a switch is something the UVic community would stand behind!