TORONTO—Animal Justice will be at the Ontario Court of Appeal on Tuesday and Wednesday (June 24-25) defending its landmark legal victory, which struck down much of Ontario’s agricultural gag (ag gag) law as unconstitutional
Last year, Animal Justice successfully challenged the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, a 2020 law that despite a virtuous-sounding name, was designed to shield the meat, egg, dairy, and fur industries from public scrutiny by making it illegal to use a false pretense to gain access to farms or slaughterhouses—effectively silencing whistleblowers and journalists who work undercover to investigate hidden animal cruelty.
In his 2024 decision, Justice Markus Koehnen of the Ontario Superior Court found that key provisions of the law violated the Charter-protected right to freedom of expression, and were therefore unconstitutional. The court’s ruling restored the right to conduct undercover investigations inside Ontario farms and slaughterhouses.
The Ontario government is appealing the decision, attempting to overturn the win, in the hopes of restoring these troubling restrictions on investigative work. If successful, the appeal would once again make it unlawful for whistleblowers and journalists to expose cruelty on farms and in slaughterhouses.
“Ontario’s ag gag law was passed at the request of the meat industry to keep cruelty in the dark and shield this powerful industry from scrutiny—not to protect the public,” said Camille Labchuk, lawyer and executive director of Animal Justice. “With no regulations of conditions on farms, or inspections by the government, undercover workers are the only way the public can learn the truth about appalling conditions at farms and slaughterhouses.”
“Whistleblower investigations have exposed unlawful animal abuse in Ontario and led to convictions. The court rightly saw the legislation for what it was: a direct attack on free expression. We’ll be fighting hard this week to ensure that victory stands,” Ms. Labchul said.
Supporters of the case are expected to gather outside the courthouse over the noon hour (starting 12:30 pm) on Tuesday to show their support for investigative transparency and animal protection. Animal Justice representatives will be available for interviews. The rally will be held just behind the courthouse, at the pillars of justice sculpture off University Avenue.
Contact:
Josh Lynn
Public Relations Manager
[email protected]
Camille Labchuk
Executive Director
[email protected]