Ontario's Bill 156

PUBLISHED: 20/06/20

The Ontario government has quietly passed legislation aimed to protect factory farms, animal processing plants, truck drivers and farm animals - but it appears to target whistleblowers and animal activists.

It’s called Bill 156, Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act. According to the agriculture industry, farmers face uncertainty when it comes to dealing with animal protestors or whistleblowers. Many recall the situation a few years back with activist, Anita Krajnc. She was arrested for giving water to pigs on a truck headed to the slaughterhouse. It garnered a lot of attention and eventually she was acquitted of mischief. Alberta has passed similar legislation and several US states have it as well.

Today on the Unpublished Cafe, we will take a look at Bill 156 and whether it was necessary or heavy handed toward whistleblowers and animal rights supporters.

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GUESTS:

Keith Currie – President at Ontario Federation of Agriculture -https://www.cfa-fca.ca/about-us/board-of-directors/

Liz White – Director at Animal Alliance of Canada - https://www.animalalliance.ca/about/meet-the-team/

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REFERENCES:

https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-156

https://ofa.on.ca/newsroom/bill-156-protects-the-safety-of-ontarios-farm-and-food-supply/

https://www.animaljustice.ca/media-releases/ontario-passes-ag-gag-law-to-cover-up-animal-abuse-on-farms

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/animal-activists-bill-156-ontario-1.5440790

https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/hajek-worrisome-ontario-bill-would-punish-factory-farm-whistleblowers

https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/guest-column-bill-156-would-mean-more-secrecy-for-big-ag

https://www.animalalliance.ca/two-ontario-bills-of-great-significance-to-animals/

https://www.ontariofarmer.com/livestock/activists-and-farmers-press-their-positions-on-bill-156