Animal Justice is a Canadian nonprofit organization with three main areas of focus: lobbying for stronger animal protection laws, improved enforcement of those laws, and fighting for animals in court.[1]
It is Canada’s only national organization dedicated to advancing the interests of animals in the law. The organization makes submissions in court to obtain intervenor status and provide the perspective of animals.[2] The organization was founded in 2008 and is led by animal rights lawyer Camille Labchuk.[3]
In 2017, Animal Justice released undercover footage taken by a whistleblower who worked on the grounds ofPapanack Park Zoo near Ottawa, Ontario.[4] The zoo was investigated but no charges were laid.[5]
In 2016, Animal Justice was the first animal advocacy group to make oral arguments as an intervener in a Supreme Court of Canada case in order to provide context to the Court's assessment.[6] The case identified a loophole that most sexual abuse of animals in Canada was not illegal.[7] Following the case, Animal Justice campaigned for Bill C-84, which closed the loophole and banned all forms on bestiality in Canada.[8]
Animal Justice supported the passage of Bill S-203 that phases out the practice of keeping cetaceans in captivity in Canada and prohibits breeding of cetaceans and collecting reproductive materials from them.[9]
In 2021, Animal Justice filed a constitutional challenge to anti-whistleblower laws in Ontario that would make it illegal for journalists and animal advocates to go undercover on farms to expose animal cruelty, known as “ag gag” laws.[14] The organization is arguing that the Ontario law violates Canadians’ right to freedom of expression.[15]
The organization has held an annual national animal law conference since 2019.[16] PhilosopherPeter Singer was the keynote speaker at the first conference in 2019.[17] The 2022 Canadian Animal Law Conference had 200 attendees and discussed legal developments furthering animal rights in Canada.[18]
Canada