Stop “ag-gag” laws from hiding what happens on factory farms

USDA

Tell government leaders to oppose cruel ag-gag laws!

Dangerous “agricultural gag” or “ag-gag” laws have gained a foothold in Canada, with Alberta and Ontario quietly passing cruel laws that would make it nearly impossible to document and expose cruelty to farm animals. Now, the federal government and other provincial governments are considering similar bills, which threaten to punish whistleblowers.

These bills would make it easy for Big Ag to hide the horrific — and sometimes criminal — animal abuse that routinely happens on factory farms. They also infringe on our fundamental rights to free speech and free assembly.

Farm animals are already unprotected by laws in Canada, and most of what happens within our food system is hidden from the public. We need more protections for these animals and transparency within our food system, not less.

Please tell federal and provincial governments to oppose ag-gag laws.

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The Honourable

Blaine

Pedersen

Manitoba government

Dear Decision Maker, 
 
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the “agricultural gag” or “ag-gag” laws that your government is currently considering. Ag-gag laws attack free speech and penalize whistleblowers who expose issues within the food system. I am deeply concerned that the proposed legislation will hide what happens on factory farms, in slaughterhouses and on animal transport trucks. Farm animals already lack legal protections across Canada and the proposed regulations could make them even more vulnerable.

There are three primary issues with the proposed legislation. First, legal experts have expressed grave concerns that such bills are unconstitutional and infringe on the fundamental rights to free speech and free assembly, violating the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Second, by restricting access to areas where farm animals are kept, the proposed regulations limit the ability of whistleblowers to document and expose cruelty to farm animals, as well as environmental issues, food safety problems, or unsafe working conditions. Undercover exposés in Canada have previously documented horrific animal abuse, leading to criminal charges on numerous occasions, demonstrating the importance of protecting brave people who blow the whistle.

Finally, the proposed laws intend to hide what happens in places like factory farms, slaughterhouses and trucks used to transport animals. The public has a right to know about what happens within our food system. Now more than ever, we need more transparency and oversight of the industry, not less. Instead of trying to pass legislation that give special protections to Big Ag, our leaders should be better regulating conditions on farms to protect animals, workers, the environment and the public.

I strongly urge you to oppose all ag-gag bills. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,
{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

Minister

Marie-Claude

Bibeau

Canadian government

Dear Decision Maker, 
 
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the “agricultural gag” or “ag-gag” laws that your government is currently considering. Ag-gag laws attack free speech and penalize whistleblowers who expose issues within the food system. I am deeply concerned that the proposed legislation will hide what happens on factory farms, in slaughterhouses and on animal transport trucks. Farm animals already lack legal protections across Canada and the proposed regulations could make them even more vulnerable.