Hog truck driver charged in death of Ontario protester, which lawyer says could have been prevented if laws enforced
An Ottawa lawyer who specializes in farm law says the recent death of an Ontario animal rights activist could have been prevented.
In the middle of June, the Ontario government passed Bill 156. It protects farmers and agri-food businesses from illegal acts, such as activists who enter farmland, barns and buildings, or protesters who stand or jump in front of livestock trucks.
On June 19, a few days after Bill 156 received royal assent, a protestor outside the Sofina packing plant in Burlington was hit by a truck hauling pigs. Renee Russell, 65, a Hamilton resident and part of the Toronto Pig Save group, died from her injuries.
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Bill 156 is not in force yet because the Ontario government is still writing the regulations.
If it was, the accident would not have happened, said Kurtis Andrews, a farm and animal welfare lawyer.
“It’s clear as day. If that law was in place and enforced, (she) wouldn’t have died,” Andrews said.
“Bill 156 is about a lot of things … (but) it specifically creates an animal protection zone around transport truck trailers. If it was enforced they (the activists) wouldn’t have been permitted into that zone and she wouldn’t have been killed.”
On July 20, Halton Regional Police charged the truck driver with careless driving, noting the incident was not an intentional act and not a criminal office.
Anita Krajnc, co-founder of Animal Save Movement, described the charges as “feeble.”
“(They) do not amount to justice for Regan,” she told the CBC. “Enough is enough. How many more lives will be lost at the hands of Sofina … before they agree to a safety policy?”
Members of Toronto Pig Save and other vegan activists regularly hold protests, or vigils, outside the Sofina hog processing plant. A group, anywhere from five to 50, step in front of livestock trucks before they enter the plant, said Susan Fitzgerald, executive director of the Ontario Livestock Transporters’ Alliance.
A few stand in front of the vehicle, while others give water to the pigs, touch or film the animals, she said. After a few minutes, they allow the truck to enter and repeat the procedure for the next truck.
“We’ve been consistently, along with Ontario Pork and with Sofina, communicating to Halton Regional Police our concerns,” Fitzgerald said.
“Our concern is that all vehicles have blind spots, especially when you’re dealing with large equipment. We’ve said that’s a danger to the protesters and the driver.”
Even without Bill 156, Halton police could have done something to stop the vigils, Andrews said. Canadians have the right to gather and protest but not if it threatens public safety.
The police could have charged the activists with mischief or for intimidation, which is preventing someone from doing something they’re allowed to do.
“(The activists) are compelling the drivers to stop their vehicles, to prevent them from (going to) the processing facility…. It’s a clear violation of the law,” he said.
“(The police) are allowing them to go on the (public) road and block traffic…. What they’re allowing the protesters to do … is inherently dangerous.”
Police in Ontario have arrested animal rights protesters, but the end result was free publicity for the activists and no punishment.
A few years ago, Kranjc was arrested for giving water to pigs outside the Burlington pork plant. The case made it to trial, but she was found not guilty of mischief. She became a celebrity in Toronto as Canadian and international media reported on the case.
Then, an activist entered a pig barn near London, Ont., and admitted to stealing two pigs. She was charged with mischief and break and enter. Last fall, crown prosecutors dropped the case.
Stacey Ash, Ontario Pork’s communications manager, said such decisions sent a clear message to vegan activists.
“I was in the courtroom … and she stood in court and announced to her supporters that they had a green light to go ahead with … harassment and (other) activities,” Ash said.
“We’ve certainly seen an increase in aggressive behaviour … by extremist members of those groups.”
Since Russell’s death, the protests outside the Sofina plant have intensified. The activists are now stopping trucks for about five minutes. Before, it was only two minutes.
Andrews can’t believe the protests are being permitted, even after someone has died.
“Anybody with a certain amount of common sense … (knows) this is dangerous.”
