The lawsuit brought by activist organisation Animal Justice against the Province of Ontario over its so-called ‘ag-gag’ law goes to trial on Monday 30 October.
The Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2020 was designed to deter activist disruptions of farms and food processors, and closed the gap in previous laws protecting the agricultural sector from trespass.
Animal Justice, along with journalist Jessica Scott-Reid and animal advocate Louise Jorgensen of Toronto Cow Save, filed the lawsuit against the province in early 2021, alleging that the act violates sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms relating to freedom of expression, freedom of the press and the right to peaceful assembly.
Their application also alleges that the problems with the trespassing provisions are “compounded by deliberately harsh and excessive arrest and sentencing provisions that are themselves unconstitutional”.
Animal Justice said in a media advisory and on its website that it plans to hold a rally outside the Toronto courthouse in support of the legal challenge.