{"id":759278,"date":"2020-01-08T09:14:31","date_gmt":"2020-01-08T14:14:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/animalrightswatch.us\/?p=759278"},"modified":"2020-01-08T09:20:04","modified_gmt":"2020-01-08T14:20:04","slug":"does-proposed-trespassing-legislation-unfairly-target-ontarios-animal-rights-activists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/animalrightswatch.us\/?p=759278","title":{"rendered":"Proposed ‘trespassing’ legislation unfairly target Ontario\u2019s animal rights activists"},"content":{"rendered":"\t
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Camille Labchuk (Animal Justice): The legislation is unconstitutional. It\u2019s couched in language of \u2018trespass\u2019 and \u2018biosecurity,\u2019 but what it\u2019s actually designed to do is conceal pretty egregious animal cruelty. <\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\n

ROBERT BENZIE:<\/strong> ‘Protecting food safety and farmers\u2019 property rights? Or targeting animal rights activists, agricultural whistleblowers, and investigative journalists? It depends who you ask about the Progressive Conservative government\u2019s 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. \u201cUnauthorized trespassers threaten the delicate balance in the environments that they enter,\u201d noted Hardeman, pointing to biosecurity concerns at livestock and poultry facilities as well as abattoirs…<\/em><\/p>\n

Lawyer Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, said the Ontario bill, which follows a similar Alberta law, is \u201cag-gag\u201d legislation, which will almost certainly be challenged as unconstitutional. \u201cIt\u2019s extremely draconian. It\u2019s couched in language of \u2018trespass\u2019 and \u2018biosecurity,\u2019 but what it\u2019s actually designed to do is conceal pretty egregious animal cruelty,\u201d Labchuk said. \u201cThe 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\u2019ve gained through their employment,\u201d she said…<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u2019s one reason why Krajnc\u2019s group, Toronto Pig Save, has spoken out against the proposed law and held a protest Dec. 10 at Queen\u2019s Park… Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Keith Currie noted his organization has been appealing for the new measures for years. \u201cWe 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,\u201d Currie said’.<\/em>\u00a0 SOURCE…<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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