Ontario's NDP wants the provincial government to step in & oversee how sea mammals are treated while in captivity.

The call comes after allegations from ex-trainers at Marineland of dirty water, understaffing & suffering animals at the Niagara Falls attraction were splashed across the front page of Wednesday's Toronto Star.

New Democrat MPP Cheri DiNovo tells 610 CKTB's Kevin Jack the story is "shocking, but in a sad way it's not".

In Canada, there are no firm regulations around the care of sea mammals at the provincial or federal level.

DiNovo says the mistreatment of animals at roadside zoos & animal entertainment operations has been going on for some time now within notice of the government & it's time they stepped up.

Marineland passed an inspection last summer for accreditation through the Canadian Association of Zoos & Aquariums.  National Director Bill Peters says there are no formal complaints about Marineland on file either.

For DiNovo, the clean bill of health from CAZA isn't worth much.  "When you have industries that are self-regulating, no matter what the industry, you have a problem", she says.

DiNovo says there should be some government body, maybe the SPCA armed with legislation, inspecting the way sea mammals are housed & treated.  She thinks Ontarians would be shocked to learn that isn't the case now.

RELATED:

Industry watchdog: No complaints against Marineland

Ex-trainers allege abuse at Marineland