Our Public Statement on Canada’s Ag-Gag Bill C-275

On November 29, Canada’s House of Commons passed Bill C-275, a federal ag-gag bill that will criminalize the work of animal photojournalists exposing animal abuse on farms. The results of this vote are disheartening – for the animals, the state of photojournalism in our country and the Canadian public.

An activist holds a sign in front of a provincial courthouse to protest the Ontario ag-gag (agricultural gag) law. Red tape forms an X-shape over her mouth to represent the silencing of whistleblowers. Superior Court of Justice, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2023. Ira Moon / Animal Justice / We Animals Media

As an organization of 100+ photojournalists worldwide, we have documented animal stories across the globe from bullfighting in Spain to foie gras production in France; from anti-poaching units in Uganda to fur farms in Canada.

Positive change has come of this work. Our investigations have helped expose criminal animal cruelty and shut down those facilities, educate the public, and amplify the critical work of animal advocates. Our work is of value to society. It removes our social blindfolds on how we treat other beings and is a necessary ingredient in the recipe we all seek to create a kinder world.

Every year, more than 800 million land animals are slaughtered for food in Canada. The Canadian public has the right to know how these animals live and die. With some of the weakest animal protection laws in the Western world, undercover video footage has been instrumental in exposing the mistreatment and abuse of animals on farms across Canada.

Just last week, our colleagues at Animal Justice exposed horrifying and illegal conditions at Excelsior Pig Farm in British Columbia. This was the third time this farm had been exposed for such brutal conditions: dead and rotting pigs, animals kicked in the stomach and face, water troughs that appear to be filled with feces and blood, and pigs with hernias, bloody scratches, open wounds, and leg injuries. And yet, Excelsior has never faced legal consequences.

Ag-gag laws protect powerful corporations, and criminalize whistleblowers. The work of whistleblowers is critical in a democratic and just society to expose unethical practices that the public may not be aware of. There should be no exception to this principle for agriculture industries.

“Ag-gag turns the attention towards journalists and activists who hope to expose animal cruelty, and away from the cruelty itself. This reinforces Canadian misconceptions that cruel farm practices occur elsewhere and not here. They occur everywhere.” – Jo-Anne McArthur, We Animals Media Founder & Animal Photojournalist

An activist documents conditions for hens in an egg-laying barn. Spain, 2017. Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality / We Animals Media

In Canada, we have a frightfully long way to go in giving animals even the most basic of protections. The censoring of photojournalists and whistleblowers only further sweeps Canada’s systemic abuse issues under the rug.

Thank you to the thousands of supporters and animal rights advocates in Canada and around the world who have been taking action to stop this dangerous law. Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media to stay updated with the latest news on this issue and the actions you can take.