Most Canadians would be shocked to find out that there are effectively no laws to prevent the suffering of the hundreds of millions of animals on farms in this country.
That’s because the government has allowed the industry-dominated National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) to call the shots. Instead of real laws, NFACC sets weak, voluntary guidelines with no meaningful oversight or transparency and little enforcement even when extreme abuse occurs.
The result is a system that’s fallen shockingly behind global welfare norms, normalizing extreme confinement, mutilations without pain relief, and brutal on-farm killing.
A Roadmap for Farmed Animal Protection
Four leading animal protection organizations—Animal Justice, Humane World for Animals, Mercy For Animals, and the Montreal SPCA—have collaborated to develop a national plan that could transform Canada for farmed animals.
The panel is a powerful conversation breaking down the new joint report Towards a National Framework for Farmed Animal Protection—and the roadmap it lays out for enforceable standards, independent oversight, and real accountability.
Speakers:
- Dr. Tayler Zavitz: Advocacy Programs Specialist – Animal Justice
- Riana Topan: Program Director, Farmed Animal Welfare and Protection – Humane World for Animals Canada
- Maha Bazzi: Director of Animal Welfare Initiatives – Mercy For Animals
- Sayara Thurston: Senior Policy Advisor for Farmed Animals – Montreal SPCA
- Alanna Devine: Director of Advocacy – Animal Justice
Hosted by: Animal Justice’s Kimberly Carroll
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to Farmed Animal Protection in Canada
- 04:14 Understanding the Legal Landscape for Farmed Animals
- 08:25 Codes of Practice: Myths vs. Reality
- 15:48 The Influence of Industry on Animal Welfare Standards
- 25:53 The Reality of Animal Suffering in Canada
- 32:23 Canada’s Position in Global Animal Welfare Standards
- 36:36 Towards a National Framework for Farmed Animal Protection
- 43:38 Understanding NFAC and Its Implications
- 46:03 The Need for a Federal Animal Welfare Act
- 51:56 Reforming NFAC for Better Animal Welfare
- 57:04 The Role of an Independent Oversight
- 01:01:18 Corporate Accountability in Animal Welfare
- 01:05:06 Building a Long-Term Vision for Change
- 01:10:25 Mobilizing Community Action for Animal Welfare
New Advocacy Resource: NFACTs Unmasks Canada’s Lack of Farm Oversight
Animal Justice has launched NFACTs.ca, a powerful new resource to expose this cruel and broken system.
This site is for anyone looking to understand the truth about how animal agriculture is (mis)managed in Canada, and the role of NFACC in the absence of laws regulating the welfare of animals on farms. It exposes the failures of the current system and provides the transparency that the industry—and the government—have long avoided.
Please visit the new website, take action, and share with your networks!
