SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Bill

Bill C-275

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 09, 2024
An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act (biosecurity on farms)
  • Bill C-275 is a law that changes the Health of Animals Act to make it illegal for someone to enter a place where animals are kept if there is a risk of exposing those animals to a disease or toxic substance. This applies to individuals and companies, and breaking this law can result in fines or imprisonment. The purpose of this bill is to improve biosecurity measures on farms and protect the health of animals.
  • H1
  • H2
  • H3
  • S1
  • S2
  • S3
  • RA
  • Yea (278)
  • Nay (36)
  • star_border

First Session, Forty-fourth Parliament,

70-71 Elizabeth II – 1-2 Charles III, 2021-2022-2023

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-275
An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act (biosecurity on farms)
Reprinted as amended by the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food as a working copy for the use of the House of Commons at Report Stage and as reported to the House on October 18, 2023

Mr. Barlow
441092


SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Health of Animals Act to make it an offence to enter, without lawful authority or excuse, a place in which animals are kept if doing so could reasonably be expected to result in the exposure of the animals to a disease or toxic substance that is capable of affecting or contaminating them.

Available on the House of Commons website at the following address:
www.ourcommons.ca


1st Session, 44th Parliament,

70-71 Elizabeth II – 1-2 Charles III, 2021-2022-2023

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-275

An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act (biosecurity on farms)

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1990, c. 21

Health of Animals Act

1 The Health of Animals Act is amended by adding the following after section 9:

Exposure of animals to disease or toxic substance

9.‍1 No person shall, without lawful authority or excuse, enter a building or other enclosed place in which animals are kept, or take in any animal or thing, Insertion start if their Insertion end entering such a place or taking in the animal or thing could Insertion start reasonably be expected to Insertion end result in the exposure of the animals to a disease or toxic substance that is capable of affecting or contaminating them.

2 (1) The portion of subsection 65(1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

General offence
65 (1) Every person who contravenes any provision of this Act, other than section 9.‍1 or 15, or the regulations or who refuses or neglects to perform any duty imposed by or under the Act or the regulations is guilty of
(2) Section 65 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (1):
Exposure of animals to disease — individuals
(1.‍1) Every individual who contravenes section 9.‍1 is guilty of

  • (a) an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to a fine not exceeding Insertion start twenty-five Insertion end thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding Insertion start three Insertion end months, or to both; or

  • (b) an indictable offence and liable to a fine not exceeding Insertion start one Insertion end hundred thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding Insertion start one year Insertion end , or to both.

Exposure of animals to disease — other persons
(1.‍2) Every person, other than an individual, that contravenes section 9.‍1 is guilty of

  • (a) an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars; or

  • (b) an indictable offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand dollars.

Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons