The Provincial Government has proposed a bill that will look at protecting farmers, their animals, livestock transporters and the province’s food supply from on-farm trespassers. The proposed legislation titled the “Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act” would increase fines for trespassing on farms and food-processing facilities and make it illegal to obstruct trucks carrying farm animals. Under the legislation, fines for trespassing would be set at a maximum of $15,000 for a first offence and up to $25,000 for subsequent offences, compared to the current maximum of $10,000.
Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek says that trespassing on farms is a huge issue in our own riding.
Yurek says that while speaking with the Elgin Federation of Agriculture, most farmers mentioned the concern they had about protesters interfering with their livelihood as well as putting their animals at risk. Yurek expects that the bill will be voted on early in the new year.
