A North Perth truck driver has pleaded guilty of careless driving for causing the death of 65 year old Regan Russel, an animal rights activist who was run over in June 2020 during a protest outside a Burlington pork facility.
Andrew Blake appeared in an Ontario court over video to submit his plea.
The Crown read an agreed statement of facts which said Blake should have been aware Russel was standing in the path of his truck near the driveway as he turned into the facility.
Russel regularly attended protests at the Burlington plant where trucks often stopped by where protesters gave pigs water.
Blake was fined $2000, 12 months probation and a driving restriction preventing him from making non essential trips.
Ontario legislature debated Bill 156, the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act introduced by then Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ernie Hardeman.
The Bill received Royal Assent on June 18th 2020.
“The Bill is intended to protect farm animals, the food supply, farmers and others from risks that are created when trespassers enter places where farm animals are kept or when persons engage in unauthorized interactions with farm animals. The risks include the risk of exposing farm animals to disease and stress, as well as the risk of introducing
contaminants into the food supply.”
The Bill can be read here: BILL 156