Legislation was approved in the Commons in the last Parliament,Ottawa—Conservative ag critic John Barlow is trying once again to gain Parliamentary approval for a bill to deter trespassing on livestock farms.His bill in the last Parliament received third reading in the Commons with support from the New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois but was not debated in the Senate before the 2021 election was called. The bill also had the support by many livestock groups.The bill would make it an offence under the Health of Animals Act to enter, without lawful authority or excuse, a place in which animals are kept if doing so could result in the exposure of the animals to a disease or toxic substance.The Act currently has no provisions dealing with trespassers, which is a major concern given “what we have seen across Canada with the spread of Avian Influenza and, the possibility of diseases like African Swine Fever,” Barlow said.“These show how devastating an outbreak is to our food supply, how important it is to protect biosecurity on our farms and ensure that those who may endanger our farms and our farm families are held accountable for those actions.“In today's global marketplace it is critical we protect the integrity of Canada's food supply and ensure our food remains safe to eat, protect animals and workers from disease outbreaks, and ensure farmers and agri-food businesses do not lose significant income.”With Parliament about to begin its summer recess, the bill is unlikely to be debated until the fall and could put the NDP in a tough position because of their cooperation agreement with the governing Liberals.The bill would not limit an individual's right to peacefully protest on public property and will not muzzle whistleblowers, Barlow said. However, it will increase the penalties for groups and organizations who encourage individuals to threaten the biosecurity of animals and workers.The bill will protect the mental health of our farm families and the integrity of the food supply, he said. COVID-19 has “has brought our country, and just about every country around the world, to a screeching halt. Imagine what an animal-borne virus could do to Canada's agriculture industry, whether it is hogs, cattle or feathers. It would be devastating.”Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec have all taken measures on farm trespassing and the bill would reinforce those provisions.