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BC Court of Appeal Upholds Convictions for Animal Advocates Over Exposing Pig Farm Cruelty

The British Columbia Court of Appeal has upheld the convictions of animal advocates Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer. In 2022, a jury found them guilty of criminal break and enter and mischief related to their participation in a 2019 occupation of Abbotsford's Excelsior Hog Farm, a factory pig farm extensively scrutinized in various undercover investigations exposing purported animal abuse. The pair appealed the convictions, arguing that the judge prevented them from presenting a full defence by barring video evidence of pig suffering at the farm and preventing them from arguing that the farm had engaged in unlawful animal abuse. Soranno and Shafer plan to appeal their 30-day jail sentence­­–– the first known Canadian jail sentence for peaceful, non-violent civil disobedience.

Federal Ag-Gag Style Bill Passes House of Commons

Bill C-275, a federal ag-gag style bill sponsored by Conservative Member of Parliament and Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee Member John Barlow, has passed its final vote in the House of Commons. During third reading debates on November 22nd, Member of Parliament (MP) Caroline Desbiens expressed her concerns about the bill. Specifically, MP Desbiens raised questions about the federal government's jurisdiction concerning the bill's application. She advocated for additional committee scrutiny, emphasizing the need for a thorough examination of the bill's functionality and application. Similar concerns have been raised by animal law organizations like Animal Justice and AEL Advocacy, who note that the bill likely encroaches upon provincial jurisdiction by introducing an additional legal mechanism for prosecuting farm trespassers. Bill C-275 is now headed to the Senate for further study.

British Columbia Animal Advocates Appeal Convictions Over Exposing Pig Farm Cruelty

Animal rights activists, Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer, appeared at the British Columbia Court of Appeal to appeal their October 2022 convictions for break-and-enter and mischief stemming from the 2019 occupation of Excelsior Hog Farm in Abbotsford. Their lawyers argue that Justice Verhoeven erred by barring video evidence depicting alleged animal cruelty. The footage revealed pigs in distress, yet the farm faced no legal consequences. Soranno and Schafer, sentenced to thirty days in jail, also claim crucial evidence was lost or destroyed. Recent hidden-camera footage from the farm shows continued alleged abuse and neglect.

Third Reading Debates Begin on Federal Ag-Gag Bill in House of Commons

The House of Commons has begun third reading debates on Bill C-275, sponsored by Conservative Member of Parliament and Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee Member John Barlow. The bill seeks to punish any person unlawfully on property where animals are kept if they know or are reckless as to whether doing so could result in exposing the animals to a disease or toxic substance. Despite efforts to amend the bill to protect whistleblowers, it was recently passed by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food without significant changes. During the debate, Member of Parliament Alistair MacGregor expressed his opposition, arguing that the bill's focus on individuals “without lawful authority or excuse” turns it into a trespass law which falls within provincial jurisdiction. MacGregor emphasized the need for biosecurity measures to apply universally, referencing a 2021 Animal Justice report detailing numerous biosecurity failures caused by authorized personnel on farms. He urged the reconsideration of the bill's approach, stating, “If members of this House feel that trespass laws are not adequate, then it is the provincial legislatures of Canada that need to take that issue up on behalf of their constituents.”

Animal Justice Challenges Ontario’s Ag-Gag Law in Landmark Court Case

National animal law organization Animal Justice appeared in the Superior Court of Justice from October 30th to November 1st to challenge Ontario's agricultural gag law, the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2020. The Act prevents animal advocates from investigating animal cruelty at farms and slaughterhouses. Animal Justice, alongside journalist Jessica Scott-Reid and animal advocate Louise Jorgensen of Toronto Cow Save, argued that the law infringes upon the right to free expression and peaceful assembly, aims to conceal widespread animal abuse, and hinders consumers' knowledge about the origins of their food. Comparable ag-gag laws in the United States have previously been deemed unconstitutional in many states. This is the first legal challenge to a Canadian ag-gag law. On the first day of the hearing, over 100 animal rights advocates gathered outside the courthouse to voice support for the lawsuit.

Federal Ag-gag Style Bill Passes Agriculture Committee

Bill C-275, a federal ag-gag bill sponsored by Conservative Member of Parliament John Barlow, has been approved by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. The bill seeks to punish any person unlawfully on property where animals are kept if they know or are reckless as to whether doing so could result in exposing the animals to a disease or toxic substance. Animal protection groups, including Animal Justice, testified at the Committee to oppose the bill, arguing that it would conceal animal abuse on farms. Despite attempts by some Members of Parliament to amend the bill to ensure it doesn’t target whistleblowers, it passed virtually unchanged.

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds PETA Victory in Challenge Against North Carolina's Ag-Gag Law

The United States Supreme Court declined to hear North Carolina's appeal concerning a law preventing undercover employees from recording at farms and workplaces. This ruling solidifies People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) legal win against the 2015 law. PETA's challenge, aimed at investigating university testing laboratories, found support from the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals. The court ruled that the law could not be applied to PETA and similar groups engaged in newsgathering activities. Advocates stressed the public's right to uncover illegal practices and highlighted the importance of exposing unsafe conditions.

US Supreme Court Upholds PETA Victory in Challenge Against North Carolina's Ag-Gag Law

The United States Supreme Court declined to hear North Carolina's appeal concerning a law preventing undercover employees from recording at farms and workplaces. This ruling solidifies People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) legal win against the 2015 law. PETA's challenge, aimed at investigating university testing laboratories, found support from the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals. The court ruled that the law could not be applied to PETA and similar groups engaged in newsgathering activities. Advocates stressed the public's right to uncover illegal practices and highlighted the importance of exposing unsafe conditions.

Federal Ag-Gag Style Bill Moves to Committee

On September 28th, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food delved into the study of Bill C-275, a federal ag-gag bill sponsored by Conservative Member of Parliament John Barlow. The bill targets individuals unlawfully entering properties with animals, aiming to protect against disease and toxic exposure risks. Originally introduced as Bill C-205, it faces opposition from organizations like Animal Justice, who argue that animal advocates and protesters have never caused disease outbreaks in Canada. The Committee plans to revisit the bill on October 5th to consider potential amendments before the final vote.

Animal Justice Report Questions Biosecurity as Justification for Ag Gag Laws

Animal Justice has released a new report examining disease outbreaks on Canadian farms. The report, an update to a previous version, uses data from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to show that disease outbreaks are often linked to subpar farm practices and inadequate biosecurity. The report aims to counter the argument made by animal agriculture lobby groups and lawmakers that “agricultural gag” laws (commonly known as “ag gag” laws) are essential to prevent farm-related disease outbreaks and ensure food safety. It disputes the notion that animal advocates are to blame for diseases, emphasizing that documented outbreaks are primarily a result of farm operators' actions.