Animal Justice Testifies at the Senate to Stop Ag Gag Bill C-275

Yesterday, Animal Justice’s government and legislative affairs counsel, Pierre Sadik, testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee asking lawmakers to reject a proposed ag gag law—Bill C-275. This harmful legislation is designed to cover up animal cruelty on Canadian farms, targeting compassionate citizens with massive fines if they expose cruel conditions for countless cows, pigs, and chickens who are hidden behind closed barn doors.

In Canada, most farmed animals are confined in cruel factory farms. These farms resemble dark, windowless warehouses where animals are tightly packed together in filthy conditions, often in tiny cages.

This ag gag bill is dangerously close to becoming law. It has already passed through the House of Commons and completed its first and second reading in the Senate. Animal Justice’s testimony was part of the Senate committee’s study of the bill , where witnesses provide evidence  and possible amendments are considered. Animal Justice was also present to testify when the bill was being studied in the House of Commons—speaking up forcefully against this dangerous proposed law.

Bill C-275’s ‘Biosecurity’ Premise is Baseless

Bill C-275’s sponsor, MP John Barlow, claims the bill is about biosecurity and preventing disease risks on farms. But this isn’t the case. The main causes of disease on farms are poor practices by farmers,, and exposure to wildlife carrying viruses. Additionally, crowded, filthy factory farms create the perfect conditions for the creation and spread of zoonotic diseases. 

Rather than tackling these issues, the bill actually protects farms from facing legal consequences for biosecurity breaches. But while farmers are given a get-out-of-jail card for poor practices that lead to disease, a whistleblower or other citizens could be hit with steep fines and even jail time if they visit a farm without permission. 

According to the government’s own data, and contrary to supporters of this bill, animal advocates have never introduced a disease to a farm. The bill is a poorly-disguised effort to punish animal advocates while protecting farms from being exposed for cruel conditions.

With no national regulations or government oversight for the treatment of animals on farms, whistleblowers are a crucial tool in exposing animal abuse. 

Ag Gag Laws Have No Place in a Compassionate Society

Canadians, Animal Justice, and numerous advocacy organizations have consistently warned lawmakers that this bill undermines transparency and animal protection, and is likely unconstitutional. We must continue to apply pressure and work together to stop this dangerous legislation from becoming law. Instead, the government should be passing laws to protect farmed animals from the routine cruelty they endure in factory farms.