Many Canadians may be surprised to learn a disturbing truth: there are no laws regulating the treatment of animals on farms in Canada. Instead, the government relies on the National Farm Animal Care Council(NFACC)—an industry-led group with no lawmaking authority—to create non-binding guidelines for farmed animals through voluntary “Codes of Practice.” These codes have consistently allowed the industry to subject animals to extreme confinement and painful, invasive procedures.
What actually are the NFACC Codes of Practice:
While farm animals are technically included under The PAWS Act – whereas “every person who owns or has custody or care of an animal must comply with the standards of care and administrative requirements”. Certain exemptions apply for agricultural activities carried on in accordance with accepted practices of agricultural animal care, management or husbandry.
In 2020, Ontario joined Alberta and PEI in introducing legislation to make many tactics used by animal welfare advocates and inside whistleblowers illegal. Manitoba followed in 2021. Tactics such as obtaining employment in order to report on and in some cases photograph/videotape the treatment of farm animals.
Ontario’s “ag-gag” law, officially known as the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2020, makes it illegal to trespass on farms and other agricultural facilities, and prohibits certain actions that could interfere with farm animals or food safety. The law was designed to protect farms and the food supply from risks like disease and contamination, but it has been criticized for hindering investigations into animal cruelty. The agriculture industry says this legislation is vitally important to address “biosecurity” concerns. That allowing outsiders onto farms “puts the health of animals, the safety and security of food, and the livelihood of farms at risk” according to the OFA (Ontario Federation of Agriculture). But it is also widely known that “biosecurity” is just an excuse and the main driver of this legislation is to stop prying eyes into their operations and discovering how farm animals on many farms are inhumanely treated.
These laws have started to appear in Canada in recent years. Alberta passed Canada’s first ag gag law in 2019, followed by Ontario and PEI (2020), and Manitoba (2021)
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
What it does:
- Trespassing:
The law prohibits entering farms, animal processing facilities, and other prescribed premises where farm animals are kept without consent, or with consent obtained under a false pretense. - Interference:
It also restricts actions that could interfere with farm animals, including their movement or transport, or that could introduce contaminants into the food supply. - Concealing Cruelty:
The law has been criticized for making it difficult for animal rights activists and journalists to document and expose animal cruelty on farms and in slaughterhouses.
ANIMAL ADVOCATES FIGHT BACK:
From the Law Times News:
A TROVE OF INFORMATION ABOUT “AG GAG” LEGISLATION:
University of Toronto / Bora Laskin Law Library / Animal Law (source):