A 2020 exposé at a Canadian farm revealed mother pigs being beaten and kicked, an illegal c-section on a conscious pig, and piglets being castrated and their tails cut off without pain relief.
A 2020 exposé at a Canadian farm revealed mother pigs being beaten and kicked, an illegal c-section on a conscious pig, and piglets being castrated and their tails cut off without pain relief.
By Camille Labchuk Contributors, Jessica Scott Reid
At a time when public demand for truth and information has never been greater, Canada is facing a concerning push against transparency.
The animal farming industry and some legislators are working hard and fast to pass agricultural gag (“ag-gag”) laws in Canada. Promoted by lobbyists for the meat, dairy, and egg industries, “ag-gag” laws aim to cover up cruelty on farms, including making it illegal for a whistleblower or journalist to work undercover at a farm or slaughterhouse to record and expose concealed animal suffering.
We’ve all seen the videos on the nightly news. Shocking, egregious abuses and cruel standard farming practices have been documented by undercover investigators, journalists and employee whistleblowers. In response to those exposés, charges have been laid, there have been convictions, jail, fines and policy changes.
Before provincial “ag-gag” legislation took effect in Ontario, the national animal law advocacy organization Animal Justice released a 2020 exposé at Paragon Farms that revealed mother pigs being beaten and kicked, an illegal c-section on a conscious pig, and piglets being castrated and their tails cut off without pain relief. Yet, instead of passing laws to address this kind of abuse on Canadian farms, Doug Ford’s Ontario has bent over backwards to help the industry keep cruelty like this out of the news.
“Ag-gag” laws undermine our Charter-protected right to free expression and they have no place in a democratic society. That’s why we, as a lawyer and a journalist, are challenging Ontario’s “ag-gag” law in Superior Court this week. We’ll explain how these dangerous anti-transparency laws are unconstitutional, how they harm millions of vulnerable animals, and conceal cruelties inherent in farming.
In the U.S., similar laws have been challenged and struck down in six states as a violation of the right to free speech. This will be the first time a Canadian court will consider an “ag-gag” law and we are working hard to ensure a similar victory for free expression.
While farm lobby groups have been successful in passing “ag-gag” laws in Alberta, Manitoba, PEI and here in Ontario, we now also face the threat of a federal law. Bill C-275 will soon reach a final vote in the House of Commons. Like its provincial counterparts, the bill aims to punish people who expose hidden suffering on farms. While some NDP and Liberal MPs on the Agriculture Committee have tried hard to fix the bill, they were shut down by other members.
Most people are shocked to learn there are no federal standards for animal welfare on farms and no government inspections to monitor conditions. “Ag-gag” laws make this bad situation even worse. If this concerns you, reach out to your federal MP to voice your opposition to Bill C-275.
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Canadians deserve to know the truth about where their food comes from, and cows, pigs and chickens deserve our compassion and concern. Farmers and politicians owe it to the public and animals to stop promoting “ag-gag” laws and instead pass laws to protect farmed animals.
A rally will be held outside the Superior Court of Justice in downtown Toronto on Monday.
Correction - Oct. 30, 2023: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Ontario’s “ag-gag” law is being challenged in the Superior Court next week. In fact, the challenge will be heard on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1.
Camille Labchuk is a lawyer and the executive director of Animal Justice. Jessica Scott-Reid is a freelance journalist and animal advocate.
