This enactment amends the Health of Animals Act to make it an offence 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 that is capable of affecting or contaminating them.

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Exposure of animals to disease or toxic substance

9.‍1 No person shall, without lawful authority or excuse, enter a building or other enclosed place in which animals are kept knowing that or being reckless as to whether entering such a place could result in the exposure of the animals to a disease or toxic substance that is capable of affecting or contaminating them.

General offence

65 (1) Every person who contravenes any provision of this Act, other than section Insertion start 9.‍1 or Insertion end 15, or the regulations or who refuses or neglects to perform any duty imposed by or under the Act or the regulations is guilty of

(2) Section 65 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (1):

Exposure of animals to disease – individuals

(1.‍1) Every individual who contravenes section 9.‍1 is guilty of

• (a) an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both; or

• (b) an indictable offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both.

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Exposure of animals to disease – other persons

(1.‍2) Every person, other than an individual, that contravenes section 9.‍1 is guilty of

• (a) an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars; or

• (b) an indictable offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand dollars.

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