Camille Labchuk (Animal Justice): The legislation is unconstitutional. It’s couched in language of ‘trespass’ and ‘biosecurity,’ but what it’s actually designed to do is conceal pretty egregious animal cruelty.
ROBERT BENZIE: ‘Protecting food safety and farmers’ property rights? Or targeting animal rights activists, agricultural whistleblowers, and investigative journalists? It depends who you ask about the Progressive Conservative government’s recently introduced Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act… Under the bill, which will likely pass after the legislature resumes in February, trespassers could face fines of up to $15,000 for a first offence and $25,000 for subsequent infractions. “Unauthorized trespassers threaten the delicate balance in the environments that they enter,” noted Hardeman, pointing to biosecurity concerns at livestock and poultry facilities as well as abattoirs…
Lawyer Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, said the Ontario bill, which follows a similar Alberta law, is “ag-gag” legislation, which will almost certainly be challenged as unconstitutional. “It’s extremely draconian. It’s couched in language of ‘trespass’ and ‘biosecurity,’ but what it’s actually designed to do is conceal pretty egregious animal cruelty,” Labchuk said. “The few times that we do peel back the curtain and see what happens on farms it tends to be when someone is a whistleblower and comes forward and shares footage that they’ve gained through their employment,” she said…
For example, the legislation could be used against activists such as Anita Krajnc, who made headlines after being criminally charged for giving water to thirsty pigs on their way to slaughter in Burlington four years ago. She was later acquitted. That’s one reason why Krajnc’s group, Toronto Pig Save, has spoken out against the proposed law and held a protest Dec. 10 at Queen’s Park… Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Keith Currie noted his organization has been appealing for the new measures for years. “We have been very vocal in our call for swift, strong action against trespassers and activists who are jeopardizing the safety of our farms and food supply,” Currie said’. SOURCE…
RELATED VIDEO: