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OTTAWA, May 5, 2025 — Animal Environmental Legal Advocacy (“AEL Advocacy”) and World Animal Protection Canada have submitted an application for review under subsection 61(1) of Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR), urging the province to strengthen its legal framework for addressing the environmental harms caused by industrial animal agriculture.
The request follows the organizations’ 2023 report, Animal Agriculture and Environmental Protection: A Multi-Jurisdictional Legislative Review, which found that Ontario’s existing environmental laws are failing to address the severe and escalating impacts of industrial livestock operations––including pollution of waterways, greenhouse gas emissions, and inadequate oversight of large-scale factory farms.
“Industrial animal agriculture poses a serious and growing threat to animals, our environment, and public health," said Krystal-Anne Roussel, Co-Director and Legal Counsel at AEL Advocacy. "Our current laws were not designed to regulate today’s massive, industrial-scale farming operations. The government must act now to modernize environmental protections and implement meaningful safeguards."
AEL Advocacy and World Animal Protection Canada are specifically requesting that the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks conduct a comprehensive review of the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 and the Environmental Protection Act, 1990—the two primary laws governing agricultural pollution in Ontario.
According to the organizations, the current legal framework:
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Contains sweeping agricultural exemptions that allow industrial farms to avoid environmental accountability;
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Lacks effective oversight, enforcement, and transparency measures to control nutrient runoff, manage animal waste, and prevent air and water pollution;
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Fails to adequately limit harmful emissions like methane and ammonia that contribute to climate change and poor air quality; and
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Enables large-scale factory farms to operate with minimal regulatory scrutiny, putting communities, ecosystems, and animals at risk.
As part of the review, AEL Advocacy and World Animal Protection Canada are recommending:
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A new, integrated legal framework that comprehensively regulates the environmental impacts of animal agriculture;
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A moratorium on new and expanding industrial livestock operations; and
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Increased government support for plant-based agriculture, which would help reduce Ontario’s environmental footprint while fostering a more humane and sustainable food system.
“The science is clear—industrial animal agriculture is one of the top drivers of environmental degradation, from water contamination and biodiversity loss to climate disruption,” said Roussel. “Yet Ontario’s outdated laws continue to give factory farms a free pass while animals suffer in inhumane, overcrowded conditions. It’s time for bold action to protect our environment, animals, and future generations.”
Under the EBR, Ontarians have the right to seek legislative reviews when existing laws are failing to protect the environment. The government is now required to respond to the application within 60 days—either agreeing to conduct a review or providing written reasons for a refusal.
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ABOUT AEL ADVOCACY: Animal Environmental Legal Advocacy (“AEL Advocacy”) is a public interest law practice and not-for-profit organization based in Ontario. Our lawyers understand the important interconnection between humans, animals, and the environment. We leverage our legal and political expertise to support individuals, communities, and organizations working to protect animals and the environments where they live.​​
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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
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Kira Berkeley
​Co-Director and Legal Counsel
kira@aeladvocacy.ca
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