The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) welcome the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision, which provides important clarity on the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act. BFO has long supported the Act as a necessary safeguard for farm families, employees, livestock, animal health, biosecurity and the integrity of Ontario’s food supply.
Ontario beef farmers are committed to animal care, transparency and accountability. At the same time, farms are private property, workplaces and often family homes. Unauthorized access to farms or livestock areas can create serious risks, including disease transmission, animal stress, food safety concerns and safety risks for farmers, employees and visitors.
BFO respects the right to peaceful and lawful protest, freedom of expression and public discussion about food production practices and animal agriculture. However, those rights do not extend to trespassing on private property, interfering with livestock, or obtaining employment or access to agricultural facilities through false pretenses.
At its core, this case was not about the right to speak, criticize agriculture or advocate for policy change. It was about whether individuals should have a protected right to gain access to private farms and agri-food workplaces through deception. Many of the organizations supporting this challenge are fundamentally opposed to modern animal agriculture and sought to establish a legal framework that would permit undercover access obtained through misrepresentation. The Court of Appeal has now confirmed that Ontario can protect farms, livestock, employees and food production facilities from that type of unauthorized access.
The decision reinforces an important principle: transparency and public debate must be balanced with respect for private property, biosecurity, animal welfare, employee safety and the integrity of the food system. Ultimately, farmers should not be expected to accept deception, trespass or unauthorized access as a condition of operating their businesses, or a risk to their livelihoods they are forced to take.
Source : Ontario Beef