New bill aims to hide animal abuse on farms in Canada

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New bill aims to hide animal abuse on farms in Canada

5 December 2019
News
A new Ontario bill would make it near impossible for whistleblowers to expose incidents of cruelty in the animal industry.

Calling it a measure to protect food safety, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government quietly tabled Bill 156 in the legislature on Monday.

The bill would provide stiff fines — up to a maximum of $25,000 — for anyone convicted of trespassing in a farm or slaughterhouse where animals are kept.

It would also outlaw any activity, including picketing and demonstrations, that interfered or interacted with the transport of animals.

Most importantly, it would criminalize the practice of entering a farm or slaughterhouse “under false pretenses.” This would prevent whistleblowers and journalists from taking jobs in processing facilities or factory farms in order to investigate them.