Guest post from journalist Jessica Scott-Reid The third annual Canadian Animal Law Conference, presented by Animal Justice, was once again held online this year, and was attended by hundreds of legal professionals, animal advocates, students, educators, journalists and more, from around…
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Canadians went to the polls on September 20, and for the first time in history, animal protection played a major role in the recent federal election. As usual, Animal Justice issued endorsements, surveyed parties about their animal policies, and saw…
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Animal Justice is urging Canadian officials to investigate after a young beluga whale died less than three months after being exported from Marineland in Ontario, Canada. In 2019, we learned that Connecticut-based Mystic Aquarium intended to import five belugas from…
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Canadians will go to the polls and vote in a federal election on September 20, 2021. Once again, Animal Justice will be putting animal protection issues on the election agenda, and will help ensure animal champions are elected to office…
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The City of Winnipeg is proposing a host of exciting new rules aimed at protecting companion animals and wildlife. The proposals are part of the City’s review of its Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, and could establish Winnipeg as a national…
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Animal Justice is calling on the Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (“AB SPCA”) to investigate multiple instances of animal abuse at Alberta rodeos in July. Chuckwagon racing is an inherently dangerous activity for the horses involved,…
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Animal Justice has been granted leave to intervene in a Supreme Court of Canada case could affect how animals and animal advocates access the justice system. In order for a case to be heard in court, an individual or organization…
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Animal Justice is calling for an animal cruelty investigation after a transport truck full of baby pigs skidded off of the road into a ditch on Concession 4 Walpole, just outside of Haldimand County, Ontario on the morning of July…
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McDonald’s has stopped running a greenwashing ad campaign about its Quarter Pounder burger after an Animal Justice legal complaint prompted investigations by federal regulators. McDonald’s unveiled an ad campaign last fall that attempted to re-brand the Quarter Pounder burger as…
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Animal Justice is seeking leave to intervene in a Supreme Court of Canada case that could have important implications for access to justice in cases involving animals and animal advocates. To launch a lawsuit, a person or an organization must…
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Animal Justice has filed a formal animal cruelty complaint with provincial authorities, requesting an investigation into the apparent suffering of Kiska, the last surviving orca at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Two heartbreaking videos of Kiska were recently released by…
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Meat is not green. That’s why a Member of Parliament recently introduced a groundbreaking motion in House of Commons, calling on the federal government to tackle the major role that industrial animal agriculture plays in the climate crisis. Paul Manly,…
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Animal Justice is asking authorities to investigate an exotic pet store in British Columbia for violations of federal and provincial animal protection laws, after hundreds of reptiles and rodents died in the recent heat wave that hit that province. The…
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In a stunning victory for animals, luxury outerwear company Canada Goose just announced that it plans to go entirely fur-free by the end of 2022. This is a huge blow to the dwindling fur industry, and more proof that there…
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A legislative committee studying the proposed federal agricultural gag, or “ag gag”, law has amended the bill in response to concerns raised by Animal Justice and other animal protection groups, legal scholars, and even the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (“CFIA”). …
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Parliament is considering a troubling federal ag gag law, yet animal protection organizations like Animal Justice have been blocked from testifying about how the proposed law would harm animals and unfairly punish people who speak out against routine abuse on…
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Animal Justice is calling on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (“CFIA”) and provincial authorities to investigate the suspicious deaths and disposal of two calves who were discovered by concerned citizens just a few steps off of a rural road in…
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Animal Justice is pleased to be hosting the Student Research Paper Contest again this year! The contest is designed to encourage student scholarship on the growing field of animal law, and support students who have done outstanding research into the…
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Animal Justice is releasing a new report examining disease outbreaks on Canadian farms, called Animal Advocates or Animal Agriculture? Disease Outbreaks & Biosecurity Failures on Farms. Based on data compiled by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) which monitors and…
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A kangaroo named Willow has died after escaping from Papanack Park Zoo and being injured in a road incident. Papanack Zoo is a roadside zoo located just east of Ottawa, and is notorious for longstanding allegations of animal cruelty and…
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Mother’s Day is an international day of celebrating mothers, and the beautiful bond between mother and child. All mothers deserve the opportunity to experience motherhood at its fullest by caring for and nurturing their young. Tragically, animals used by industries…
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The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) recently announced it was temporarily halting plans for a factory goat farm operation slated to open in spring 2021 at the Joyceville and Collins Bay federal prisons in Kingston, Ontario. This pilot project faced…
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One of Canada’s most important environmental laws, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (“CEPA”) is more than 20 years old and past due for a revamp. Nearly four years after the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable…
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Animal advocate Malcolm Klimowicz has been acquitted of the criminal offence of break and enter for entering a fur farm without permission, and filming suffering minks trapped inside tiny wire cages. The acquittal comes after a multi-day trial held online,…
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Animal Justice is seeking leave to intervene before the Alberta Court of Appeal in a case about sentences for the criminal offence of animal cruelty. In the case, R v Chen, the individual pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering after…
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Millbank Fur Farm, a mink factory fur farm near Guelph, Ontario, has been convicted and fined for violating Ontario’s animal protection laws. The fur farm pleaded guilty in March, 2021 to failing to comply with standards of animal care, and…
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On March 10, 2021, the Manitoba government finally pulled back the curtain and revealed the contents of its ag gag (aka “agricultural gag”) bill. Bill 62, the Animal Diseases Amendment Act, would restrict peaceful protests outside of slaughterhouses and conceal…
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Animal Justice has filed a lawsuit challenging the Ontario government over a troubling “ag gag” (agricultural gag) law that was passed last year to cover up animal cruelty at farms, slaughterhouses, and transport. This is the first lawsuit to challenge…
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The field of animal law has made tremendous strides in the past decade. What was previously seen as just an idea has now been transformed into a respected area of the law that is taught in schools and taken seriously…
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CTV’s investigative affairs show W5 aired a program on February 27 exposing the horrors of Canada’s shameful and secretive live horse export trade. The horse meat industry ships thousands of gentle draft horses to Japan each year from airports in…
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Each year in Canada, hundreds of animals—including companion dogs and endangered species—suffer agonizing deaths after being poisoned by pesticides intended to kill wolves, coyotes, and black bears. Strychnine, Compound 1080, and sodium cyanide are indiscriminate poisons that cause unimaginable pain and…
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Calling all Prince Edward Islanders—and other compassionate Canadians, too! Here’s your chance to encourage stronger animal protection laws in PEI. PEI is currently seeking public input on the state of animal welfare and protection laws in the province. The Animal…
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Most people already know that fur farming is unnecessary, cruel to animals, and contaminates the environment. But a new, looming health threat posed by mink farms is making it even more urgent for Canada to outlaw this outdated industry and…
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On August 28, 2020, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (“NMFS”) issued a permit to Mystic Aquarium, allowing it to import five beluga whales from Marineland in Ontario. Although Animal Justice and other animal protection groups continue to have concerns…
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Thoughts of the Canadian wilderness in wintertime bring to mind scenes of beauty and tranquility. Holiday cards are adorned with images of snow-covered trees and majestic animals like reindeer, snowy owls, wolves, and bright red cardinals. Yet it is in…
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Companion animals are family members, too. But all too often, people are surprised to find restrictive pet rules in condo buildings and rental housing. Although it’s generally illegal to include a “no pet” clauses in a lease, condo buildings are…
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Canada’s first-ever animal law clinic opened this fall, created by students at the University of British Columbia’s Allard School of Law. The exciting new initiative will help low-income people who need assistance with animal law matters, including “dangerous” dog cases,…
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On September 4, 2020, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (“CFIA”) suspended the licence of Brome Lake Ducks Ltd., a duck slaughterhouse in Asbestos, Quebec. The CFIA stated that Brome Lake Ducks had illegally abused ducks by failing to comply with…
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On December 5, 2020 Ontario brought its ag gag laws in effect—just days after Animal Justice released undercover footage of violent animal abuse and filthy conditions at a pig factory farm in Putnam, Ontario. In June of this year, Ontario…
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On July 22, 2020, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (“CFIA”) charged Hylife Foods with animal cruelty for an incident at its pig slaughterhouse in Neepawa, Manitoba nearly two years earlier. According to the CFIA, on September 18, 2018 slaughterhouse workers…
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This year’s #Voiceless4AnimalJustice campaign has officially wrapped up, and was a huge success for animals, thanks to our incredible community! In November 14, supporters across the country took a 24-hour vow of silence for the animals whose voices are so…
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Senator Murray Sinclair has introduced a groundbreaking Senate bill to protect great apes and elephants and even give animals legal standing and representation in some court proceedings. The bill, known as the Jane Goodall Act, is one of the most…
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In the Canadian pig farming industry, the majority of farms lock up pregnant pigs in barren metal cages called gestation crates. These crates are so small that the pigs cannot even turn around, express natural behaviours, or socialize with other…
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Last year, Canada passed a groundbreaking ban on whale and dolphin captivity, recognizing that keeping these majestic animals in concrete tanks is inherently cruel. Canadians overwhelmingly supported the new legislation. Canada’s new law will prevent future generations of these intelligent,…
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Animal Justice is calling for animal cruelty charges against a transporter after five pigs fell off a moving tractor trailer driving on the busy Highway 401 outside of Kingston, Ontario. Two of the terrified pigs were found on a nearby…
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Millions of wild animals are captured and traded each year for human entertainment, food, and traditional medicine, and for the exotic pet trade. This multi-billion dollar global trade causes unimaginable pain and suffering to animals taken from their natural habitat…
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Please note that the consultation period is now closed. The Manitoba government is consulting the public on potential “ag gag” (agricultural gag) laws in Manitoba, and now is the time to have your say to block these dangerous proposals. The…
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Guest blog by Hannah Sotropa. Fall has just begun, and we are gearing up for our 3rd annual #Voiceless4AnimalJustice campaign. Last year’s campaign was a huge success, due in part to generous sponsors such as Doshi Shop and Pixie Mood…
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Please note that the consultation period is now closed. Earlier this year, Ontario passed a dangerous new law that will cover up animal cruelty by outlawing undercover investigations at farms and slaughterhouses. Bill 156, Security from Trespass and Protecting Food…
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Guest blog post by journalist Jessica Scott-Reid, co-host of the Paw & Order podcast Not surprisingly, the second annual Canadian Animal Law Conference, held this past weekend, looked quite different from the conference held at the Schulich School of Law…
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Please note: job posting is now closed. About Animal Justice: Animal Justice is Canada’s leading charity devoted to using the law to protect animals. Our lawyers work to pass strong new animal protection legislation at all levels of government, ensure laws…
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Updated May 2021 Animal Justice is working to stop the spread of dangerous “agricultural gag” (or “ag gag”) laws in Canada. Ag gag laws seek to silence, or “gag”, whistleblowers, undercover journalists, and animal advocates, punishing them for exposing cruelty…
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Today, sections of the controversial Bill 156 come into force, making it an offence to stop or interfere with trucks carrying farmed animals to slaughterhouses. Bill 156, the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, is a troubling new…
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This article is written by Factory Farm Collective and originally posted on their website. Visit factoryfarmcollective.ca for more great content. Earlier this year, the Guardian examined the global live export trade and found that, based on 2017 FAO data, Canada was the 3rd top…
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A transport truck driver has avoided criminal prosecution in connection with the death of animal advocate Regan Russell. Regan was violently run over and killed last month by a truck taking pigs to slaughter outside Fearmans Pork slaughterhouse in Burlington,…
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As Canada’s only national animal law organization, Animal Justice regularly speaks out about animal suffering at farms and slaughterhouses. Whistleblower exposés have exposed horrific animal abuse at factory farms across the country and many standard practices – from keeping calves…
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“Whistle-blowers have been champions of truth and justice across our province, our country and this world. They have a role which has upheld democracy, which has spoken truth to power, which has brought justice to those who are oppressed, which…
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By Camille Labchuk, Executive Director of Animal Justice Animal cruelty in the farm industry simply can’t stand the spotlight. Numerous undercover exposés have exposed shocking mistreatment of the cows, pigs, and chickens who end up on our dinner plates. Instead…
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The Canadian meat industry is slaughtering more animals for food than ever before, according to government slaughter statistics analyzed by Animal Justice. In 2019, over 833 million land animals were killed at the hands of the meat industry—up drastically from…
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We’re so grateful for your support on #GivingTuesdayNow! #GivingTuesdayNow was a global day of giving on May 5, 2020 to non-profits hit especially hard by the pandemic, including Animal Justice. It’s the support of the community that allows us to…
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Strychnine is one of several poisons legally used in Canada to kill so-called “pests”, including wolves, coyotes, skunks, and Richardson’s ground squirrels. Of course, most people don’t think of these animals as pests. However, under Canada’s Pest Control Products Act,…
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An Ontario court has dismissed a case brought by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) challenging the removal of its anti-Canada Goose ads from Toronto transit shelters. The Divisional Court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to…
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On February 18, 2020, shocking footage of animal cruelty emerged from inside a King Cole Ducks factory farm in Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario. Animal advocates held a protest outside the farm Ontario, and some of those present then entered a dimly lit,…
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Notorious marine park SeaWorld is asking the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) for a permit to import a Pacific white-sided dolphin named Helen from Canada’s Vancouver Aquarium. According to the permit application, Helen would be transferred to SeaWorld’s…
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We’re living in strange times amid the corona crisis, and we could all use a little uplifting right now. We’ve compiled 10 of our favourite videos of animals living their best lives at sanctuaries. We hope these clips bring a…
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Animal Justice is pleased to announce its first-ever annual Student Research Paper Contest! The contest is designed to encourage student scholarship on the growing field of animal law, and support students who have done outstanding research into the pressing legal…
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These days, it’s all about staying home to flatten the curve of COVID-19, and to protect our most vulnerable members of society. Looking for something to watch to pass the time? We’ve compiled a list of 14 documentaries and docuseries…
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In only a few weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world as we know it. There is much uncertainty, but the good news is that so-called “ag gag” laws in Canada won’t be moving ahead—for now. These dangerous laws…
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After careful consideration, Animal Justice has chosen to postpone our Gala 2020: Illumination out of concern over the spread of COVID-19. The gala was scheduled to be held at the Palais Royale in Toronto on April 25, 2020. We take…
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Please note that there have been new developments in our ongoing efforts to protect whales from suffering in captivity. Visit this page for more up-to-date information. This week, The Whale Sanctuary Project announced it has chosen a site in Nova…
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The Government of Ontario is proposing to permanently bring back the spring bear hunt – a reckless move opposed by a range of conservation and animal protection groups across the province. Through its Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) posting, the…
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Canadians are becoming increasingly concerned about the treatment of animals raised and slaughtered for food. More and more people are avoiding or reducing consumption of meat and other animal products, while those who choose to consume eggs, dairy, and meat…
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Things are looking up for pit bulls in Ontario! A new private member’s bill, introduced last November, aims to repeal the long-standing ban on pit bulls and pit bull-type dogs in the province because the ban is ineffective, arbitrarily targets…
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Back in October, we told you about a proposal for a roadside animal attraction in Kearney, Ontario, that would confine bears and cheetahs. Animal Justice submitted comments to Kearney Town Council, as did our friends at Zoocheck and World Animal…
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Please note that there have been new developments in our ongoing efforts to protect whales from suffering in captivity. Visit this page for more up-to-date information. In June, Animal Justice and other animal protection groups celebrated when Canada passed an…
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This year, Animal Justice is hosting a holiday party in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa—and you’re invited! Join us for an incredible evening with delicious vegan food from local restaurants, cocktails, a silent auction with fabulous prizes, and the premiere of…
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Thanks to our incredible supporters, #Voiceless4AnimalJustice 2019 was a huge success for animals! From October 16 to November 9, over 70 participants fundraised to support the lawyers at Animal Justice and to ensure we can continue to help overhaul Canada’s…
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Cats have an innate need to scratch. Our kitty companions find great pleasure in scratching trees, furniture, carpets or other in-home belongings. There are many reasons behind the behaviour, including to stretch their bodies, shorten and condition their claws, and…
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Animal advocates across Canada should be rejoicing after the recent federal election. The reason? More animal-friendly Members of Parliament than ever before will soon take their seats. Twenty-five of 27 candidates endorsed by Humane Voters Canada—an election-time initiative by Animal…
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Journalist Jessica Scott-Reid finds new perspectives and hope at inaugural Canadian Animal Law Conference When considering the world of animal rights and protection, it may be images of animal activists screaming on the streets, of gruesome undercover footage from puppy…
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Animal Justice is urging the town of Kearney, Ontario to disallow a proposed new roadside animal attraction confining bears and cheetahs. Keeping wild animals in captivity is wrong—for spectators, it’s a moment of pleasure, but for the animals, it’s a…
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Wolves, coyotes and moose in Ontario urgently need your help! Ontario is planning to weaken hunting laws so that coyotes and wolves can be shot and killed more easily in Northern Ontario. Officials are trying to justify expanding this brutal…
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Our hearts are full! The Summer Compassion Challenge has come to an end and was a smashing success thanks to our compassionate supporters. Together, we raised $50,114—and with the first $15,000 in new monthly gifts being matched by a generous donor,…
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False animal welfare claims are rampant in Canada This week, Animal Justice submitted comments to the Government of Canada regarding its proposed changes to labelling requirements in the Food and Drug Regulations and the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. Animal…
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Animal Justice has been granted intervener status in a case challenging the removal of anti-Canada Goose ads from Toronto transit shelters. The case could have broad implications for animals, and will decide whether animal advocates have the right to advertise…
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For the first time in Canadian history, a law journal is dedicating an entire issue to the growing field of animal law. The 2019 issue of the Canadian Journal of Comparative and Contemporary Law is entitled Beyond Humanity: New Frontiers…
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Thanks to the support of Animal Justice, prosecutors in Leduc, Alberta have withdrawn charges against two animal advocates. Karin Nelson and Tove Reece were charged with the offence of “stunting” after hanging a banner on a highway overpass near the Edmonton…
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The federal government announced a new subsidy this week to help promote the cruel foie gras industry in Quebec. According to a government news release, the Department of Agriculture and Agri-foods is giving $123,000 to Deschambault Animal Science Research Centre to…
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On Monday, June 10, Canada passed Bill S-203, groundbreaking legislation to outlaw whale and dolphin captivity. Once the bill comes into effect, it will be a criminal offence to capture wild whales and dolphins from the ocean, confine them in…
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Everything is about to change for animal protection in Ontario. In March 2019, the Ontario SPCA announced it will no longer enforce animal cruelty laws in the province and is putting this public responsibility back in the hands of the government,…
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The Canadian government is taking firm steps to protect captive whales from cruelty and ban the shark fin trade before the next election. Senator Peter Harder, government representative in the Senate, introduced amendments at the Senate Fisheries Committee this week…
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The House of Commons voted unanimously on Wednesday to pass Bill C-84, government legislation that would outlaw all forms of bestiality, and close loopholes related to animal fighting. Bill C-84 was introduced last year in response to the 2016 Supreme…
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Prosecutors in London, Ontario withdrew all charges today against animal rights advocate Jenny McQueen. McQueen was facing charges of break and enter and mischief after entering a pig breeding facility in Lucan, Ontario that impregnates mother pigs so their piglets…
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Government slaughter reports analyzed by Animal Justice show that the Canadian meat industry is slaughtering more animals for food than ever before. A record-breaking 819 million land animals were killed in Canadian slaughterhouses in 2018—up from 800 million in 2017, 771…
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The Ontario SPCA has announced that it will withdraw from enforcing animal protection laws in the province of Ontario as of March 31, when its current funding agreement with the province expires. While many animal lovers may be concerned by…
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Ad Standards has confirmed that a misleading transit ad campaign paid for by the Dairy Farmers of Canada has been taken down! The advertisement claimed “there are zero growth hormones in milk produced in Canada”, but this is false. IGF-1…
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The House of Commons Justice Committee approved changes proposed by Animal Justice to Bill C-84, an animal cruelty bill that would improve laws related to bestiality and animal fighting. Bill C-84 would make all sexual abuse of animals illegal. Currently,…
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The much-awaited changes to the Canada Food Guide have been released! The newest edition encourages Canadians to move away from excess dairy and meat consumption, and consume more plant-based foods. The last time the Canada Food Guide was updated was…
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Animal Justice is a national animal law advocacy organization, leading the legal fight for animals in Canada. Our lawyers work to pass strong new animal protection legislation at all levels of government, ensure laws already on the books are vigorously…
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After hearing arguments from Animal Justice lawyers, an Ontario court has ruled that animal law enforcement by the OSPCA—a private charity—is unconstitutional because the agency is not sufficiently accountable or transparent. Animal Justice intervened in the case of Bogaerts v Attorney…
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