Bill C-246 is the Modernizing Animal Protections Act, and was originally designed to protect animals from vicious and or cruel owners who may be raising them to fight or kill. As it pertains to the fisheries act the bill cites that it's sole purpose is to aid in stopping the act of shark finning.

If we take this bill at face value its objective seems clear and something that most Canadians could easily get behind. But, with that said when reading the bill in full fisherman like myself quickly noticed how once passed this law could easily be turned against anglers and hunters

Below I have highlighted the offences listed in Section 182.1 that in which an angler could be found to be breaking the law along with the associated fines. 

182.‍1 (1) Everyone commits an offence who, wilfully or recklessly,
(a) causes or, being the owner, permits to be caused unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal;

(b) kills an animal or, being the owner, permits an animal to be killed, brutally or viciously, regardless of whether the animal dies immediately;

(e) in any manner encourages, promotes, arranges, assists at, takes part in or receives money for the fighting or baiting of animals, including breeding, training or transporting an animal to fight another animal;

Fines for anglers found guilty of any of the above offences can results in $10,000 in fines and up to 18 months in jail

 

By signing this petition we are asking Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith to amend his bill to include the following:

add an Exclusion to the fisheries portions of the act to exclude legal activities from being criminalized under the Criminal Code.

These activities include but are not limited to: fishing and Minnow/Bait Trapping.

 

To learn more about Bill C-246 please check out this article from Keep Canada Fishing HERE

To read Bill C-246 in full please click HERE