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House Bill

Bill C-247

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 08, 2022
Prohibition of Fur Farming
  • Bill C-247, also known as the Prohibition of Fur Farming Act, aims to establish prohibitions and offences related to fur farming. It prohibits owning, operating, breeding, inseminating, slaughtering, giving, renting, selling, or transporting fur-bearing animals for commercial purposes. Anyone who violates these prohibitions can be fined up to $250,000 or imprisoned for up to two years. The court may also make additional orders, such as prohibiting the accused from owning or residing with an animal and requiring them to pay for the costs incurred by an organization taking care of a fur-bearing animal. Fur-bearing animals may be forfeited to the government and must be disposed of as directed by the Minister. The Act will come into force one year after it receives royal assent.
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First Session, Forty-fourth Parliament,
70-71 Elizabeth II, 2021-2022
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
BILL C-247
An Act to prohibit fur farming
FIRST READING, February 8, 2022
Mr. Erskine-Smith
441124


SUMMARY

This enactment establishes prohibitions and offences for certain activities involving fur farming.
Available on the House of Commons website at the following address:
www.ourcommons.ca


1st Session, 44th Parliament,
70-71 Elizabeth II, 2021-2022
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
BILL C-247
An Act to prohibit fur farming
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Short Title

Short title
1 This Act may be cited as the Prohibition of Fur Farming Act.

Interpretation

Definitions
2 The following definitions apply in this Act.
fur farm means a place where fur-bearing animals are kept in captivity in order for their pelt to be used for commercial purposes. (ferme d’élevage d’animaux à fourrure)
Minister means the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. (ministre)

Prohibitions

Prohibitions — fur farm
3 It is prohibited to
(a) own or operate a fur farm or cause a fur farm to be operated;
(b) breed or inseminate a fur-bearing animal for the purpose of sending it or its offspring to a fur farm;
(c) slaughter a fur-bearing animal to use its pelt for commercial purposes; or
(d) give, rent, sell or transport a fur-bearing animal to a fur farm.

Enforcement

Offence
4 Every person who contravenes section 3 is guilty of an offence and liable
(a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine of not more than $250,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years, or to both; or
(b) on summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both.
Order of prohibition or restitution
5 The court may, in addition to any other punishment that may be imposed under section 4, make an order
(a) prohibiting the accused from owning, having custody or control of, or residing in the same premises as an animal during any period that the court considers appropriate; and
(b) on application of the Attorney General or on its own motion, directing the accused to pay to a person or an organization that has taken care of a fur-bearing animal as a result of the commission of the offence the reasonable costs that the person or organization incurred in respect of the fur-bearing animal.
Forfeiture
6 On ex parte application by the Attorney General, a provincial court judge as defined in section 2 of the Criminal Code or a judge as defined in subsection 462.‍3(1) of that Act may order that a fur-bearing animal be forfeited to Her Majesty in right of Canada.
Forfeiture — if person found guilty
7 If a person is found guilty of an offence under section 4, the court may, in addition to any other punishment imposed under that section, order that anything by means of which or in respect of which the offence was committed be forfeited to Her Majesty in right of Canada.
Disposal
8 (1) Anything that is forfeited under section 6 or 7 must be disposed of as the Minister directs.
Priority to transfer
(2) The Minister must give priority to transferring any fur-bearing animal forfeited to an animal sanctuary, shelter or rescue service.
Regulations
9 The Governor in Council may make regulations in respect of a regime that provides compensation for losses incurred as a result of complying with this Act.

Coming into Force

One year after royal assent
10 This Act comes into force one year after the day on which it receives royal assent.
Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons