This is a private member's bill which usually go absolutely nowhere. I would agree with the overall spirit of this bill, especially w.r.t specifically banning the practice of sharkfinning etc, but the incredibly vague wording of the other parts potentially opens up a lot of unintended consequences.
The alarmist headlines are missing this clause "(c) kills an animal without lawful excuse;".
If hunting and fishing and slaughterhouses and pest control are legal then the activity is not an offence.
I dont believe that's necessarily true based on the bill's wording.
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;
(c) kills an animal without lawful excuse;
(d) without lawful excuse, poisons an animal, places poison in such a position that it may easily be consumed by an animal, administers an injurious drug or substance to an animal or, being the owner, permits anyone to do any of those things;
(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;
(f) makes, maintains, keeps or allows to be made, maintained or kept a cockpit or any other arena for the fighting of animals;
(g) promotes, arranges, conducts, assists in, receives money for or takes part in any meeting, competition, exhibition, pastime, practice, display or event at or in the course of which captive animals are liberated by hand, trap, contrivance or any other means for the purpose of being shot at the moment they are liberated; or
(h) being the owner, occupier or person in charge of any premises, permits the premises or any part of the premises to be used in the course of an activity referred to in paragraph (e) or (g).
Violating any of these points would make you a criminal. Having a lawful excuse (c), doesnt absolve you of violations (a) through (h). One could argue that killing a fish by ripping out it's gills and letting it bleed out is in violation of 182.1 (1) (a) because you could have bonked it first to limit its suffering. Or argue that bashing a fish's head with a rock ten times because you couldnt be bothered to carry a proper bonker is in gross violation of 182.1 (1) (b)
And the entire concept of C&R fisheries where if not retained for sustenance is basically inflicting unnecessary suffering, because why do we *need* to catch them otherwise?