Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government has pushed through
Ag-Gag law, Bill 156, now the
“Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety” Act
You can read our Factum, submitted to the Court
on September 1, 2023 by clicking here.
“Agricultural-Gag” laws typically aim to limit free speech by criminalizing whistleblowing and undercover investigations — critical tools for exposing abuses in the agricultural sector.
Update:
In Ontario a court case challenging the province’s ag-gag law was heard in the fall of 2023 in Toronto. The judge struck down many parts of it as unconstitutional. In 2024 the Ontario government decided to appeal the judgment, and we will be there to ensure the animals have a voice. Arguments will be heard in the summer of 2025.
Let’s hold our leaders accountable. We need laws that enhance transparency in our food systems. We need laws that actually protect animals and ensure workers are safe. To truly safeguard our food systems, we need to put people ahead of profits.
How You Can Help:
- Donate now, to help us continue to challenge this unconstitutional legislation in court.
- If you live in Ontario, we urge you to contact your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP). Express your disappointment about the passing of “The Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Act, 2020“.
- Find your Ontario MPP here: https://voterinformationservice.elections.on.ca/en/election/search?mode=postalCode
- If you do not live in Ontario, you can contact the Premier and Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (see contact information below).
Here are suggested comments. Please use your own words to express more powerfully what is important to you:
Farmed animals are often confined in barns and hidden from public view. This makes it very unlikely that cases of abuse or neglect will be discovered and exposed. That is why ‘whistle-blowers’ are so important. Yet, the Ontario Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act would criminalize the honourable practice of under-cover investigation, a practice that is pivotal to open discussion in free societies.
Human workers, too, need the protection. Farm workers are often marginalized and/or migrant workers who are particularly vulnerable. The Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act would also criminalize persons seeking to investigate conditions for human workers.
Biosecurity is given as a reason for the ag-gag law. But shutting out public oversight does not make the food supply safer. If farm owners are ensured of being able to conduct their business free of public view and transparency, it’s possible that biosecurity regulations might be violated.
Ontario already has laws against trespassing; no further legislation is required. The Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act is clearly intended to criminalize the actions of those who seek to shine the light of public transparency on those who treat farmed animals badly, causing them distress and pain. This is contrary to the shared values of Ontarians, regardless of whether they support the use of animals for food, or not.
The Issue
During the Covid-19 pandemic, while citizens are distracted with other matters, the Doug Ford government pushed through their ag-gag legislation with as little discussion as possible. The law is now known as the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act. The public was given little time to submit complaints about the Bill, or register to provide delegations. Those of us who care about farmed animals, as well as the human workers, had a narrow window to submit comments to the Standing Committee on General Government.
Ag-Gag laws are contrary to free speech as they criminalize the respected practice of undercover investigation. Undercover investigations are necessary to expose abuses. These investigations have been carried out by advocates and journalists alike. Ag-Gag laws focus on the agricultural sector and only protect the owners of farm businesses. They do not protect the general public, farm workers or farmed animals. In fact, human workers and farmed animals are at greater risk when whistleblowers are subject to harsh laws and penalties.
It’s important to contact elected representatives. We must express our opposition so that our voices become part of the public record.
Contact Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford and Minister Rob Flack:
Premier Doug Ford
Email/ doug.fordco@pc.ola.org
Phone/ 416-325-7635
Minister Rob Flack
Email/ minister.omafra@ontario.ca
Phone/ 416-326-3074
Read the legislation here:
https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-156