As part of the Healthy Eating Strategy, Health Canada is proposing to restrict the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children. Two approaches are being considered: Option 1: banning advertising food to children if it exceeds 5 percent of…
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It’s Shark Week, an annual Discovery Channel celebration of all things shark. Did you know that sharks have brain-to-body mass ratios similar to mammals and birds, and love to investigate and play? Sadly, 100 million sharks are killed by humans…
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Canada’s smallest province just took a huge legal leap forward for animals by banning the use of exotic animals in circuses! This groundbreaking rule is part of a larger package of new regulations for animal protection in the province. Although…
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The federal government is developing Canada first-ever food policy! A national food policy would address the entire food cycle—from the moment seeds are planted, until the food is prepared and eaten. The policy will set a long-term vision for the health,…
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The University of Windsor is opening a cutting edge new research institution: the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods (CCAAM). The first of its kind in Canada, and the CCAAM aims to expose the ineffectiveness of animal testing models,…
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Plant-based food companies can no longer use terms like ‘milk’ and ‘cheese’ to describe their products, according a ruling by European Court of Justice released this week. The case was sparked by a complaint against German company TofuTown, which sells…
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Summer is in full swing in Canada. But when the temperature rises, so too can the risk to animal safety. Animals can suffer in hot weather just like we do. Although it is becoming socially unacceptable to leave animals alone in cars, far too many animals—especially dogs—still die from…
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Law professor Alain Roy and a group of law students from the Université de Montreal filed a lawsuit today, asking the Superior Court of Quebec to impose an injunction to stop the Nomadfest Urban Rodeo from taking place this summer. Montreal has come under fire…
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Three B.C. men have been sentenced to jail time after pleading guilty to violently abusing cows at Chilliwack Cattle Sales—Canada’s largest dairy farm. As reported in The Vancouver Sun, two workers were sentenced to 60 days in jail, to be…
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Compassion won the day in Oshawa, Ontario this week after police prosecutors finally withdrew a disciplinary charge against an officer who helped a kitten in distress. Shockingly, police officer Beth Richardson was being prosecuted by the police for a simple act of kindness—rescuing a…
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Slaughter report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada show we killed 771,625,940 land animals for food in 2016—up from 750 million farmed animals killed the previous year. The growth is mostly because more chickens than ever are being killed for meat.…
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By Camille Labchuk, Executive Director The commercial seal slaughter has long been a bloody stain on Canada’s reputation. Every spring, the Canadian government lets sealers club, shoot, and skin baby seals in Atlantic Canada—most of them only a few weeks or months…
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The City of Toronto just opened a public consultation to help decide how to regulate exotic animals and traveling zoos. It’s time to have your say! This is a rare opportunity for Toronto residents to help shut down the cruel exotic…
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As part of a food safety modernization initiative, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is overhauling our decades-old slaughter regulations. Though it’s unsurprising that the focus of the new food safety regulations is food safety, it’s concerning that the welfare of…
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Committee hearings got underway this week on Bill S-203, a Senate bill that would ban keeping whales and dolphins in captivity in Canada. This groundbreaking bill would protect sensitive and complex whales and dolphins from a being imprisoned in tiny tanks,…
Read More »Secretly-recorded footage from the Papanack Zoo, a roadside zoo outside Ottawa, reveals shocking conditions for animals, including: a zoo manager describing how he trained a baby lion cub by repeatedly beating the baby animal in the face; a baby cougar and fox…
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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is overhauling food labelling regulations, which include animal welfare claims on meat, dairy, and egg packaging like “free range” and “grass fed.” But instead of cracking down on the epidemic of false animal welfare claims, the…
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See update re animals in condos: Ontario creates new rules for disputes A recent article by CBC News highlights how hard it can be to find pet-friendly accommodations in Toronto’s competitive rental market. Maybe you have experienced finding the ideal house…
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Access to information documents obtained by the Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals and reviewed by Animal Justice reveal that new proposed animal transport regulations were drafted in collusion with the animal agriculture industry itself. In correspondence to the public, Agriculture…
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Hundreds of millions of farmed animals suffer and die every year while being trucked to slaughter. Tragically for animals in Canada, our country has the worst, most outdated animal transport laws in the western world. After decades of public pressure,…
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How the Proposed Veal Code of Practice Fails Calves and What You Can Do to Help Calves used by the Canadian veal industry endure tremendous suffering. These babies are stolen away from their mothers shortly after birth, then isolated in tiny crates…
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Animal Justice is national animal law advocacy organization that leads the legal fight for animal protection in Canada. Our lawyers work to pass strong new animal protection legislation at all levels of government, enforce the laws already on the books,…
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The year 2016 was a landmark one for Animal Justice. We celebrated important legal victories on behalf of animals, and we also took the time to recognize some of the outstanding advocates who made that work possible this year with our…
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The federal, provincial, and territorial ministers of agriculture have just released the Calgary Statement, which outlines priorities for the next wave of agriculture policy. The government is now seeking feedback on these priority areas until November 30, 2016. Please fill…
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Prince Edward Island just bowed to the fur industry by giving hunters and trappers permission to kill even more animals this upcoming season. The move comes instead of heeding Animal Justice’s call to restrict fur trapping or even end the cruel practice altogether in the province. Environment…
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Animal Justice won a victory against the cruel circus industry today, with news that the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has removed misleading ads paid for by the Shrine Circus. The ads were removed following complaints made last month by Animal Justice and…
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By Anna Pippus, J.D., director of farmed animal advocacy for Animal Justice Cover photo by Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals. The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) has released its draft code of practice for the care and handling of…
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By Elizabeth Schoales, BA, MA, PhD, LLB (candidate). Last month a slim majority of British citizens voted for the UK to leave the European Union. It’s impossible to predict what’s going to unfold but if this happens it will affect…
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A meat brand is suing a slaughtering facility for supplying it with meat from an animal who had cancer. The lawsuit claims damages of $725,867. The slaughterhouse had previously had its licence suspended for lacking food safety controls. Canada’s meat…
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By Camille Labchuk, Executive Director of Animal Justice. The Supreme Court of Canada sent shock waves around the world last week when it ruled in the case of R. v. D.L.W. that most forms of bestiality are legal in Canada. According to…
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Animals got important political recognition last weekend at the Green Party of Ontario annual convention in Calabogie, Ontario. Party members voted overwhelmingly in favour of four separate policy resolutions related to animal protection, including one that adopts key measures in Animal Justice’s…
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The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is under fire again after reports that a conservation officer unnecessarily executed a healthy black bear cub. Tiana Jackson of Dawson Creek, B.C. reports that she found an apparently orphaned baby black bear cub near…
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This is the tale of two popular Canadian parka companies: Canada Goose and Moose Knuckles. Both use fur trim, both charge a hefty price for their luxury jackets ($600-1000), and both are allegedly deceiving consumers about the true nature of…
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Slaughter reports from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada reveal that we killed at least 750,409,569 land animals for food in 2015. This is an increase from previous years, mostly due to an increase in the number of chickens killed. In recent…
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Animal Justice is thrilled to announce an exclusive contest for tickets to the first Canadian screenings of the film Unlocking the Cage at the Hot Docs festival in early May in Toronto. The film screens on Monday, May 2 at 3:30 pm, Tuesday, May…
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A new OXFAM report takes aim at the human rights violations of the poultry industry. The report reveals many disturbing practices, including: Worker turnover can be as high as 100 percent each year. So few people are willing to do…
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Animal Justice went to court in Chatham, Ontario today to fight to save 21 dogs rescued from an alleged dogfighting ring last October from being killed. Shockingly, the Ontario SPCA is asking a court to order the execution of the rescued…
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Two men have been sentenced to prison for their role in smuggling Guatemalan teens into the U.S., forcing them to work on an egg farm while living in squalid conditions. The teens’ families had been told they’d be attending school.…
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We just got some amazing news — the Ontario government is abandoning its bad plan to let hunters to gun down more wolves and coyotes! We told you earlier this year about Ontario’s attempts to weaken hunting laws so that wolves and coyotes…
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Today, the Montreal SPCA announced that a former veal facility worker has been found guilty of animal cruelty under provincial law. The worker was sentenced to pay $4000 in fines and is prohibited from possessing more than five animals for…
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The City of Ottawa is the latest municipality to consider banning the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops. Instead, shops would be allowed to adopt out animals from humane societies, shelters, and rescues. Ottawa is in good company: Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, Richmond,…
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In June 2014, Canada’s largest dairy farm was exposed for shocking cruelty to animals. Footage secretly recorded by Mercy For Animals showed workers violently beating animals with their fists, boots, and even a rake. Many animals were shown with gruesome…
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News broke earlier this week that the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) is asking a court to order the execution of 21 dogs who were rescued from an alleged dog fighting operation last October. Meanwhile,…
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Vancouver Aquarium has filed a lawsuit against Gary Charbonneau, the filmmaker behind Vancouver Aquarium Uncovered, which exposed cruelty and corruption at the aquarium. The notice of claim can be viewed here. The lawsuit is for copyright violation. Essentially, Vancouver Aquarium…
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Written by Alex Ciccone* In a recent blog post, Executive Director Camille Labchuk explained how a recent policy issued by the Ontario Human Rights Commission could protect vegans from facing discrimination because of their beliefs about animal use and abuse.…
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Today, the federal government announced that it is giving an additional $1.75 million to the dairy industry, on top of $12 million already provided under the government’s Growing Forward 2 program. The announcement was made by the new Minister of…
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It’s no secret that the meat industry puts animal welfare at the very bottom of its priority list. But a new interview with Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Don McCabe on CBC radio’s As It Happens really takes the cake.…
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Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is preparing to increase the numbers of wolf and coyotes hunted in Ontario. The proposed changes will allow unlimited hunting of coyotes in northern Ontario, remove the game seal requirement for wolves and coyotes in northern Ontario, and…
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Vancouver-based filmmaker Gary Charbonneau has just released Vancouver Aquarium Uncovered, a new documentary that reveals cruelty and corruption at Canada’s most famous marine park. The documentary features interviews with leading experts, examines the suffering endured by whales and dolphins in…
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Canada’s new agriculture minister has announced his chief of staff: Mary Jean McFall, whose family owns one of Canada’s largest egg producers—Burnbrae Farms—and who used to serve as a board member of Egg Farmers of Ontario. In an epic Freudian…
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By Camille Labchuk, Executive Director Does your worldview include a deep respect for animals and their rights? Do you choose to opt out of using and consuming animal products for ethical reasons? Are you vegetarian or vegan for ethical reasons?…
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Last November, Taylor Freeman, a Vancouver fur protester, was told by the Vancouver Police Department that if he ever so much as walked past Snowflake Furs again, he would be arrested for criminal harassment. Snowflake Furs is Western Canada’s largest…
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Court documents reveal dozens of reptiles have been kept in appalling conditions at The Reptile Guy in Mission, B.C. The Reptile Guy bills itself as a rescue and education centre. Between 2010 and 2013, four separate animal cruelty complaints were filed…
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Animal advocates had good reason to be optimistic that the new Parliament would start taking animal issues seriously after the strong results in the 2015 federal election. Humane Voters Canada – Animal Justice’s new political wing – endorsed and campaigned…
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B.C.’s Ministry of Forests, Lands and Nature Resource Operations is gearing up to change its regulations to allow unlimited hunting of wolves and to triple the hunting of grizzlies in the Peace Region of B.C. Animal Justice has submitted formal…
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Earlier this year, Animal Justice filed a false advertising complaint with federal regulators against Maple Lodge Farms. Among other false and misleading claims, the complaint cited Maple Lodge’s use of visual imagery that didn’t resemble its actual operations whatsoever. At…
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The federal government is gearing up to hold hearings to determine whether to establish a Canadian Pork Promotion and Research Agency. The Agency would be funded by levies on Canadian and imported pork. Each pig would be taxed $0.75, generating…
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By Camille Labchuk, Executive Director Animals got their day in court this week, thanks to Animal Justice. On Monday, November 9, law professor Peter Sankoff and I went to the Supreme Court of Canada to intervene in a groundbreaking appeal.…
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As the dust settles on the long and hard-fought Canadian federal election of 2015, it’s a good time to take a closer look at what the results mean for animal protection in Canada. After all, while animal issues often get…
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This month, the Canadian agriculture industry released a draft of its revised code of practice for chickens and turkeys. The public is invited to comment on this draft for consideration before the final is published next year. This code of…
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We are excited to share some big news with you today. For the first time ever, Animal Justice has filed for leave intervene in a Supreme Court of Canada appeal so we can fight to ensure animals continue to be protected from sexual abuse. Why…
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This year at the Calgary Stampede rodeo, four horses were killed during the infamously dangerous chuckwagon racing event. One competitor was disqualified for animal cruelty. Countless animals were subjected to fear, pain, and risk of injury and death. Rodeo is…
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By Peter Sankoff, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta Camille Labchuk, Director of Legal Advocacy, Animal Justice Canada Earlier this month, Quebec tabled new animal protection legislation that makes it the first jurisdiction in Canada to recognize that animals…
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The recent case of Nicolino Camardi is one of those poignant instances of shocking animal cruelty that truly capture the public’s attention. It is also one of the most recent judicial decisions that portrays the continuing willingness on the part…
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Written by Anna Pippus, JD, Director of Farmed Animal Advocacy Animals’ status as property is a central topic of discussion and criticism in animal rights, and correctly so. The authority we have granted our own species to own animals of…
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It is not uncommon for Canadian pet owners to go through a difficult time when looking for a place to rent. Between pet deposits and numerous “no pet” clauses it can take a long time to find landlords that will…
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Moose hunting in Ontario, by both Ontario residents and non-residents – those who come to Ontario specifically to kill animals, is responsible for a tragic and worrying decline in moose populations in recent years.[1] Animal Justice recently submitted comments to…
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Animals are used in biomedical research for everything from basic understanding and exploratory research to drug and vaccine development. The use of animals as models in medical research has existed since the beginnings of medicine and has led to…
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Food labels are intended to enable consumers to make informed food choices. Unfortunately, food labels in Canada are largely unregulated and can be misleading. Thus, the use of food labels such as “cage free”, “organic”, “free range”, “grass fed”, “natural”,…
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There are approximately 35 zoos in Canada, not including aquariums. Within these zoos, there are several different species of wild animals, not native to Canadian climate, living in captivity. There are several arguments commonly used to support the continued existence…
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On the heels of an undercover investigation at a pig assembly yard in Alberta that exposed profound animal suffering and complicit government inspectors, many Canadians are calling for the federal government to update its archaic animal transportation regulations.
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Increasingly, the Canadian public is concerned with not only where our food is coming from, but also how animals of all kinds are being treated. Once at best an afterthought, animals farmed for food in Canada—most of whom are raised…
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After the summer snowstorms that hit Southern Alberta in early September this year, there have been increased sightings of large wildlife in urban centres.[1] On September 18th, a cougar was spotted outside of a hospital in southwest Calgary. Local police…
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It is human nature to anthropomorphize animals. Movies, television, and books give animals human personalities and voices, so we are raised believing or assuming that animals think and feel like humans do. The issues with this way of thinking arise…
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This blog post explores Ontario’s proposed “Invasive Species Act”, introduced early this year. This would be the first of its kind in Canada. However, as it stands, the Act is completely silent on animal welfare issues. The Act will fail…
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The use of animal testing in the cosmetics industry is neither mandatory by law, nor the only approach to the development of safe products. Although testing cosmetic products and their ingredients on animals has been common practice, and remains so…
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This week on the blog, we follow the rescue story of a 4-week-old, orphaned skunk. We learn about rules surrounding keeping wildlife in captivity and the Ministry of Natural Resources licensed wildlife rehabilitation facilities.
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For many, when we reflect on Canada’s history and the economic value provided by the fur trade, we think of French Canadian voyageurs, The Hudson’s Bay Company and inevitably, Canada’s national symbol, Castor Canadensis, the beaver.[i] Largely unconsidered and perhaps seemingly unrelated, is…
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In the past few months, two private member’s bills have been introduced to the House of Commons in an effort to amend Canada’s animal cruelty laws in the Criminal Code of Canada. In April 2014, MP Isabelle Morin introduced bill…
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It’s been three and a half years since the 2010 conviction of puppy mill operator Bud Wheatley exposed serious flaws in how Prince Edward Island protects animals. The case revealed what many people already knew, that animals had been suffering…
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Our trip to meet Sunshine, dubbed the happiest goat ever, started with a question: how can we help Sunshine who since February, has become the target of a Canadian Food Inspection Agency eradication program?
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In August 2005, the Ontario government enacted the Dog Owner’s Liability Act [1] outlawing the possession, breeding, importing and transferring of pit bulls in Ontario. [2] The legislation replaced regulations that permitted pit bulls so long as they were muzzled and leashed in…
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Black bear populations are increasing in most parts of North America and of course, humans are also continuing to expand in both population and territorial reign.1 When areas of sizeable human use overlap bear habitat, conflict can arise. The question…
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Animal Justice Canada has released ‘OSPCA Act: A Better Way Forward’. This comprehensive review provides commentary on and best practice recommendations for Ontario’s primary piece of animal welfare legislation – the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals…
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The WTO has upheld the European Union’s ban on seal products under the trade agreements’ “public morality” clause, agreeing that the EU’s citizens find the killing and skinning methods used by Canadian seal hunters morally reprehensible.
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The hard fought battle to have Iringa, Toka and Thika, the African elephants based at the Toronto Zoo, delivered to the Performing Animal Welfare Society (“PAWS”) sanctuary in California had a happy ending on October 20, 2013 when they arrived…
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Gestation crates, otherwise known as sow stalls, are heavily used in intensive pig farming to confine female breeding pigs (sows) during pregnancy. The confinement is so tight that mother pigs cannot turn around to scratch themselves or even take a…
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If you are from Manitoba you will likely be well aware that the expression “dog days” does not merely refer to those lazy days of summer, but also to the annual dog culls that take place within the province. Dog…
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Context Last year, 82, 175 horses were slaughtered in Canada. That number is not an anomaly; the past five years have seen a similar number of horses killed for profit in Canada.[1] There are currently four federally-registered Canadian slaughterhouses in…
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On 13 June, Provincial Court Judge Nancy Orr sentenced three teenagers for having bludgeoned to death 65 nursing seal pups and their mothers on a remote beach in eastern Prince Edward Island. Under s. 445.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code [1] and s.…
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Gone are the days of Chicken Little and Foghorn Leghorn. Today the only association the Canadian public has with chickens is in the form that comes on a plate. As of the date of this article, nearly 200 million chickens…
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It has been almost a dozen years since Jesse Power, Anthony Wennekers, and Matt Kaczorowski engaged in a now infamous example of animal cruelty for the sake of “art.” In 2001, the three men filmed their brutal torture and killing…
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It is no secret to the public that over the past few years the OSPCA has been a frequent feature in the news. What may be surprising however, is that despite the events that have taken place and reports and…
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Even with advances in medical teaching techniques, the Canadian military still trains medical personnel by using live animals. The techniques employed by the military are the epitome of cruelty. In live agent training techniques, pigs are exposed to sarin, mustard…
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What happens when humans come into contact with other non-human animals? Sometimes we call them food, sometimes pets, and other times we call them pests. Regardless of what we choose to label them as, animals are sentient beings and have…
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This is part III of III on the use of animals for entertainment and the freedom of expression. Part I – Part II Consider the following…. Consider a by-law, let’s call it the Circus By-law, which restricts exotic animal performances…
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This is part II of III on the use of animals for entertainment and the freedom of expression Part I What the Courts Have Said…. Ontario municipal by-laws attempting to regulate the keeping of exotic animals within municipal boundaries have…
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Backgrounder…. Exotic animals, including elephants, tigers, zebras, and bears, are commonly used in traveling circuses across North America. For the entertainment of humans, these animals face many instances of cruelty and live lives of diminished quality. Examples of the cruelty…
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The Ministry of Natural Resources (“MNR”) recently proposed a number of changes to various regulations under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, SO 1997, c 41 (“FWCA”). The changes reflect the MNR’s policy decision to increase efficiencies as well as…
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After a long legal battle, the Canadian Transportation Agency (“CTA”) on December 20, 2012, upheld Air Canada’s decision to stop transporting non-human primates destined for research and experimentation. Background In 2011, it came to the public’s attention that Air Canada…
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