Vote NO on Bill C-275 

Bill C-275 is problematic for Canadians for many reasons:

1. This bill claims to address and enhance biosecurity measures on farms, however, the wording of the bill specifically targets individuals who enter farms without “lawful authority or excuse.” This means that only undercover investigators, advocates, journalists, and others can be criminally charged for entering farms. This is justified in the bill as a means to strengthen biosecurity measures and protocols. Unfortunately, the majority of individuals who step onto farms on a daily basis are the ones at the greatest risk of contaminating biosecurity and spreading contagious, zoonotic diseases. Farm workers, transporters, veterinarians, and other industry workers are at much higher risk of violating biosecurity, however, they would not be criminally charged under this bill.

2. Trespassing is currently illegal in all provincial jurisdictions in Canada. With provinces like Manitoba also having enhanced provincial ‘ag-gag’ legislation currently in place (Bill 62), this federal bill is redundant at best, and a scare tactic at worst, with violators facing fines of up to $250,000.

3. The only way to truly stop harmful and dangerous zoonotic diseases from spreading within animal agriculture is to stop housing stressed, compromised animals by the thousands in bleak, barren conditions. This is not sustainable nor is it humane.

Canadians deserve more transparency in regards to how farmed animals are raised, not less. Canadians have the right to have access information about standard practices on farms beyond what the industries provide to them.

Please join us in writing to your Member of Parliament (find your MP here) and asking them to object to the passing of Bill C-275. We encourage you to use the letter template from Animal Justice provided below.

We have also compiled a helpful guide on how to engage and set up a meeting with your MP.

Dear _____,
I am writing to express my concerns with Bill C-275, a private member’s bill in the House of Commons. This Bill claims to be about protecting biosecurity on farms, but in reality, it is an “ag gag” law (agricultural gag laws) that shields farms from prosecution for creating a risk of disease, while targeting undercover whistleblowers, and other animal advocates with steep fines and even jail time. 

Bill C-275 makes it an offence to enter farms and slaughterhouses without lawful excuse in a manner that could expose animals to disease. This is unnecessary and redundant. It is already illegal to trespass on farms, and people who enter farms without permission can be and are already prosecuted. Similarly, it is already illegal under the Criminal Code to poison or harm animals. Bill C-275 may well intrude on provincial jurisdiction over trespass. 

The bill could also lead to the federal prosecution of undercover whistleblowers who work on farms to document cruelty. Undercover work has been outlawed by troubling ag gag laws passed by Conservative governments in Alberta and Ontario, which make it illegal for a whistleblower to get a job on a farm to expose animal cruelty. In those provinces, Bill C-275 would put these individuals at risk of even bigger federal fines and jail. 

Animal advocates have never introduced a disease to a farm. Rather, Canadian Food Inspection Agency investigations into diseases reported at farms show that diseases usually result from poor biosecurity practices at farms, or from exposure to wild animals carrying viruses. The very nature of confining animals in filthy and crowded factory farms poses a huge risk for the creation and spread of zoonotic diseases. These troubling conditions on factory farms could very well be responsible for the next pandemic. The real biosecurity risks are created by farms themselves, yet farmers and farm workers are not covered by Bill C-275. 

In the last Parliament, a nearly identical bill was introduced and was strongly opposed by concerned citizens across the country, the CFIA, and the Liberal government. The Agriculture Committee amended the last bill so that farm owners and operators could also be held accountable for breaching biosecurity protocols and exposing animals to pathogens that could reasonably harm them. The last version of the bill died when the 2021 federal election was called. 

It’s clear that Bill C-275 isn’t about biosecurity, but about harshly punishing people who speak up on behalf of farmed animals. Please vote against Bill C-275, and instead pass laws to protect farmed animals from the widespread suffering they endure on farms. 

Sincerely, 

(your name)