Struck Down! Ontario's Ag-Gag Law Defeat Unpacked
Animal Justice Academy
Lunchtime Live
with Camille Labchuk
& Jessica Scott-Reid
12pm - 1pm

Across Canada, provincial ag-gag laws have made it illegal for whistleblowers and journalists to go undercover to expose the horrific cruelty that exists on the farms and in the slaughterhouses of our nation’s meat, dairy, egg, and fur farming industries.

In Ontario, this is no longer the case! On April 2nd, Animal Justice lawyers struck down major provisions of Ontario’s ag-gag law, Bill-156, charging that it unconstitutionally violated Canadians’ freedom of expression.

For the first time in Canadian history, lawyers have successfully defeated ag-gag legislation in court. This is a landmark victory for animals & free speech, and a decisive win against the cruel meat, dairy, egg, and fur farming industries.

Animal Justice Executive Director Camille Labchuk, along with prolific animal rights journalist Jessica Scott-Reid, will join us to break down the Ontario court’s groundbreaking ruling and discuss what it means for the future of ag-gag legislation in Canada and for undercover investigations in Ontario going forward.

*We invite folks to have their video on during this event to enhance the sense of community, but it’s not mandatory

About Our Guests: 

Camille Labchuk is one of Canada’s leading animal rights lawyers, and executive director of Animal Justice, Canada’s only animal law advocacy organization, and has worked to protect animals for over 15 years. As a lawyer, Camille seeks out cases that enhance the legal interests of animals, expose hidden animal suffering, and result in meaningful policy changes. As an advocate, Camille’s work includes documenting the commercial seal kill on Canada’s East Coast, exposing cruelty in farming, protecting the free speech rights of animal advocates, and campaigns against ag gag laws, trophy hunting, circuses, zoos, aquariums, shark finning, puppy mills, and more. Camille is a graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and Mount Allison University. She is a frequent lecturer and media commentator on animal law issues. Camille lives in Toronto with her cat, Cecily.

Jessica Scott-Reid is Canada’s most prolific journalist covering animal protection issues. Her work can be found regularly in The Globe and Mail, Toronto star, Winnipeg Free Press, and for Sentient Media and Tenderly Magazine. She was the recipient of the Animal Justice Media Award in 2018, and this year’s Clements Award in Outstanding Media, from The Fur Bearers. She's an animal advocate based out of Winnipeg and was co-host of the previous Canadian animal law podcast "Paw and Order".