Research Guides: Animal Law: Proposed Legislation

Federal Bills

2023, Bill S-14, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act, the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act, the Rouge National Urban Park Act and the National Parks of Canada Fishing Regulations
Seeking to finalize the establishment of the Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve in Labrador and the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area in Nunavut. The legislation will add 12,085,851 hectares of protected land, contributing significantly to the survival and recovery of species at risk who live there.
2023, Bill S-15, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act
Seeking to phase out the captivity of elephants and great apes, the bill would prohibit acquiring new animals or breeding existing ones.
2023, Bill S-270, An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act and the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations (live horses)
Introduced but not passed. Sought to ban live horse exports for slaughter in Canada.
2023, Bill C-275, An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act (biosecurity on farms)
Ag-gag style bill aiming to penalize individuals unlawfully accessing properties with animals if it poses a risk of exposing them to diseases or toxic substances.
2023, Bill C-355, An Act to prohibit the export by air of horses for slaughter and to make related amendments to certain Acts
Seeking to prohibit the live export of horses for slaughter in Canada.
2022, Bill S-5: An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act
Enacted as SC 2023, c 12. An omnibus act that strengthens Canada's environmental protections, which includes notions of reducing the use of animals in scientific testing in the preamble.
2022, Bill S-241: An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (great apes, elephants and certain other animals)
Introduced but not passed. Sought to enhance protections for over 800 species of animals in Canada's zoo industry, including elephants, great apes, big cats, bears, wolves, and more. The bill also sought to grant limited legal standing for affected animals during sentencing proceedings for captivity-related offences.
2022, Bill C-247: An Act to prohibit fur farming
Seeking to prohibit fur farming in Canada.
2021, Bill C-212: An Act to develop a national school food program for children
Seeking to establish the development of a nation-wide food program in Canadian schools based on Canada's Food Guide.
2021, Bill S-227: An Act to establish Food Day in Canada
Enacted as
2021, Bill C-320: An Act to amend the Textile Labelling Act (animal skin, hair and fur)
Introduced but not passed. Sought to mandate the clear labelling of cat and dog fur, hair, and skin in commercial products.
2020, Bill S-218: An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (great apes, elephants and certain other animals)
Introduced but not passed. Sought to prohibit the captivity of new great apes and elephants, as well as certain other animals.
2018, Bill C-68: An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and other Acts in consequence
Enacted as SC 2019, c 14. Omnibus bill, part of which prohibits the commercial import of shark fins, effectively ending Canada's participation in the global shark finning industry.
2018, Bill C-84: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (bestiality and animal fighting)
Enacted as SC 2019, c 17. Expands the scope of existing bestiality and animal fighting laws.
2017, Bill S-238: An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (importation and exportation of shark fins)
Introduced but not passed. Sought to prohibit the commercial import of shark fins.
2016, Bill C-246: An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Fisheries Act, the Textile Labelling Act, the Wild Animal & Plant Protection & Regulation of International & Interprovincial Trade Act & the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (animal protection)
Defeated at second reading. Omnibus bill that sought to (1) modernize criminal animal cruelty offences, (2) prohibit shark finning and prohibit shark fin importation, and (3) change labelling requirements for cat and dog fur and skin.
2015, Bill S-203: An Act to amend the Criminal Code and other Acts (ending the captivity of whales and dolphins)
Enacted as SC 2019, c 11. Prohibits the captivity of new whales, dolphins, and other cetaceans in Canada.
2015, Bill S-124: An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (cruelty-free cosmetics)
Introduced but not passed. Sought to prohibit cosmetics testing on animals.
2014, Bill C-592: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals)
Introduced but not passed. Sought to clarify various existing Criminal Code offences.
2013, Bill C-322: An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act and the Meat Inspection Act (slaughter of horses for human consumption)
Introduced but not passed. Sought to end Canada's role in the global horse meat industry by banning the import/export of horses for human consumption, as well as interprovincial trade of horses for human consumption.
2011, Bill C-232: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals)
Introduced but not passed. Sought to reorganize the cruelty to animal provision and create an offence of reckless abandonment. Also clarified ancillary orders for sentences, including care and control prohibitions and payment of reasonable costs regarding animal care.
2007, Bill S-203: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals)
Enacted as SC 2008, c 12. Increased maximum sentences for criminal animal cruelty offences.
2001, Bill C-15: An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to amend other Acts
Introduced but not passed. Omnibus bill, part of which sought to consolidate the provisions regarding animal cruelty and increase maximum penalties. The omnibus bill was eventually separated, with the animal cruelty provisions proceeding as Bill C-15B, which was not passed.
1999, Bill C-17: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (cruelty to animals, disarming a peace officer and other amendments) and the Firearms Act (technical amendments)
Introduced but not passed. Sought to consolidate animal cruelty offences, as well as create offences for brutally killing an animal and abandoning an animal.
1898, Bill 11: An Act to amend the criminal code, 1892, with respect to cruelty to animals
Introduced but not passed. Attempted to prohibit the tail docking of horses except by veterinarians and veterinary students.
2022, Bill C-293, An Act respecting pandemic prevention and preparedness
Seeking to give federal health officials authority to regulate or shut down animal agriculture operations during pandemics and promote alternative proteins

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