Petroglyph Comics—a social justice comic studio—recently released an important new comic strip featuring Canadian ag gag laws, in an effort to explain what these dangerous laws do in a way that is accessible to the public. Ag gag laws are part of a chilling legislative agenda aiming to keep farmed animal suffering hidden from the public, while punishing animal advocates and whistleblowers who expose animal cruelty.
The finished comic was inspired by the work of Professor Jodi Lazare of the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, a leading legal researcher who writes about how ag gag laws restrict the constitutional right to freedom of expression. Professor Jodi Lazare’s academic articles have been published in the Alberta Law Journal and the Osgoode Hall Law Journal. The images in the comic are inspired by the work of animal photojournalist and founder of We Animals Media, Jo-Anne McArthur.
Ag gag laws make it illegal to blow the whistle on animal suffering and poor conditions in farms, slaughterhouses, and in transport. Since 2019, ag gag laws have been passed in Alberta, Ontario, PEI, and Manitoba, and have been defeated at the federal level. Animal Justice is currently suing Ontario over its unconstitutional ag gag law, and is preparing legal action in other provinces.
A big thanks to Professor Lazare for her academic contributions on the topic of ag gag laws, and to Petroglyph Comics for helping people understand the danger of ag gag laws.
The comic can be viewed below.
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