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Canada's Animal Protection Laws

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Canada's Animal Protection Laws The Health of Animals Act and Regulations: an example of how Canada has failed to protect farmed animals by Rachel Godley A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Laws Faculty of Law University of Alberta ©Rachel Godley, 2014 Abstract Farmed animal welfare is an increasingly pressing issue both in Canada and abroad. This thesis surveys the current laws Canada has in place to protect farmed animal welfare. It looks at the Health of Animals Act and regulations as an example of why laws that should protect farmed animals are failing to do so. Pervasive problems with animal welfare legislation are identified and explained, including issues with the fragmented legal framework, and the strength, scope, and interpretation of laws. ii Acknowledgement Thanks to my supervisor Peter Sankoff for his expert insight and ongoing feedback, to my family and friends who have supported me throughout this endeavor, and to the vegan and vegetarian community, who continually remind me of the importance of all our efforts in the fight for animal justice iii Contents CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 1. OPENING ACT ................................................................................................................................................. 1 2. ROAD MAP ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 3. INTERPRETATION AND ASSUMPTIONS .................................................................................................... 3 3.1. “Meaningful protection” and “welfare” ......................................................................................... 3 3.2. Animal-interest laws ................................................................................................................................. 4 3.3. Focus on farmed animals ........................................................................................................................ 6 4. A RECENT HISTORY OF ANIMAL FARMING TECHNIQUES .................................................................. 6 4.1. Chickens ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 4.2. Pigs ................................................................................................................................................................ 11 4.3. Cows .............................................................................................................................................................. 13 4.4. Transportation ........................................................................................................................................... 15 1. THE RISE OF THE FARMED ANIMAL WELFARE MOVEMENT ........................................................... 15 CHAPTER 2 - LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND STRUCTURE OF LAWS PERTAINING TO FARMED ANIMALS IN CANADA ........................................................................................... 22 THE LEGAL OVERVIEW SETS THE STAGE FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF CANADA’S FARMED ANIMAL WELFARE LAWS IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. ................................................................................................................................................ 23 PART A: A LEGAL OVERVIEW OF FARMED ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS IN CANADA .............. 23 1. CANADA’S ANTI-CRUELTY LAWS ......................................................................................................... 23 1.1. The federal Criminal Code................................................................................................................... 24 1.2. Provincial anti-cruelty statutes .......................................................................................................... 26 2. CANADA’S AGRICULTURE LEGISLATION RELATING TO FARMED ANIMALS ............................. 27 3. INDUSTRY CODES - VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES .................................................................................. 30 PART B: THE HEALTH OF ANIMALS ACT AND REGULATIONS – AN ANATOMY OF AGRICULTURAL WELFARE LAWS ................................................................................................................... 33 1. HEALTH OF ANIMALS ACT AND REGULATIONS ............................................................................... 34 CHAPTER CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................... 40 CHAPTER 3 - AN EVALUATION OF FARMED ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS IN CANADA .................................................................................................................................................. 42 1. STRENGTHS .................................................................................................................................................. 43 1.1. Laws concerning animals exist – the message ............................................................................. 43 1.2. Power to create new welfare provisions......................................................................................... 43 1.3. Enforcement powers................................................................................................................................ 45 1.4. Flexible terminology ............................................................................................................................... 46 2. WEAKNESSES .............................................................................................................................................. 48 2.1. Flexible terminology ............................................................................................................................... 49 2.2. Scope of protection .................................................................................................................................. 56 2.3. Strength of protection ............................................................................................................................. 60 2.4. Fragmented approach ............................................................................................................................ 64 3. CHAPTER CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................ 69 CHAPTER 4 - CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................... 70 iv BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................................. 76 PRIMARY SOURCES ............................................................................................................................................ 76 SECONDARY SOURCES ...................................................................................................................................... 80 APPENDICES ......................................................................................................................................... 90 APPENDIX A ......................................................................................................................................................... 90 Provincial legislation concerning farmed animals ................................................................................. 90 APPENDIX B ......................................................................................................................................................... 93 National Farm Animal Care Council Voluntary Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals ................................................................................................................................ 93 APPENDIX C ......................................................................................................................................................... 95 Flexible terminology ............................................................................................................................................ 95 v CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION 1. Opening act A tractor trailer rumbles down Lakeshore Boulevard in Toronto early on a quiet January morning.1 It is minus 25 degrees and the truck has been on the road for 15 hours. Its occupants, save the driver, have not eaten, drank or rested since the journey began. The cargo is a load of pigs. They have been sent from an industrial farm in northern Ontario to Toronto to be slaughtered at Quality Meat Packers near trendy Liberty Village. After waiting several hours in the cold, the animals are unloaded. Some of the pigs’ flesh has frozen to the sides of the un-insulated transport container. It is cut and torn away from the wildly squealing animals. Workers yell and swear at the pigs and shock them with electric prods as they are not moving fast enough, tired after their journey and distressed by unfamiliar surroundings and noises.2 Two pigs have died in transport. Their bodies are thrown in a dumpster on site. The last pig in the trailer has a deep laceration on its leg and is unable to walk. A Canadian Food Inspection Agency inspector is present and says the pig must be euthanized. She gives a verbal
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