Monday, August 31, 2020

Ban obstructing livestock trucks

The province is implementing legislation to make it illegal “to stop, obstruct, hinder or otherwise interfere with a motor vehicle transporting farm animals.”


It comes after an animal rights protestor was struck and killed by a truck hauling pigs to the Fearman’s slaughter plant in Burlington.


“These proclamations will ensure the safety and security of the public and the provincial food supply while protecting the right for people to participate in lawful protests on public property,” the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said in a news release Monday, the day before the new law goes into effect. 


“Stopping motor vehicles in traffic when they are transporting farm animals is dangerous for everyone, including those who stop the trucks, pedestrians, livestock transporters and other drivers,” said Ontario Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman.


“As actions like this are on the rise and public safety is a top priority for the Ontario government, it is critical to bring these specific parts of the act into force immediately to ensure safety for everyone,” he said.

This all assumes that police did not already have the right to stop the protestors at Fearman's from interfering with trucks. And that's a stretch.

Seems there are two sets of laws, and law-abiding citizens need two sets of laws to curb the scofflaws.