REGINA — A private member’s bill to amend the Health of Animals Act has received third reading and gone to the Senate.
Agriculture critic John Barlow’s bill, C-275, addresses biosecurity on farms and was passed by a 278-36 vote Nov. 29.
During third reading debate a week earlier, Charlottetown Liberal MP Sean Casey said making it illegal to enter a barn would “provide Canadian farmers with the reassurance that they no longer have to worry about potential biosecurity breaches from individuals entering their property illegally.”
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He said the bill is another tool for producers to use to protect their animals and described that as “commendable.”
Manitoba Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux, parliamentary secretary to the leader of the government in the Commons, said the government would support the bill because it understands the importance of the food supply.
Barlow said passing C-275 would show farmers they matter.
“The message from the House of Commons would be that their animals matter, Canadian agriculture matters, our food security matters and, most importantly for farm families across the country, their livelihoods matter,” he said.
The bill has been placed on the Senate’s order paper for second reading in that chamber and is one of several with agricultural implications that the Senate is currently examining.
The others include Bill C-280, which would provide financial protection to fresh fruit and vegetable farmers, Bill C-282, which would keep supply managed sectors off the table in trade talks and Bill C-234, the bill to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act.
