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“It was getting so bad my kids were scared,” she said. “The dogs would bark in the middle of the night, and we’d jump out of bed expecting the worst.”

A few weeks ago, Treur invited Chilliwack-Kent MLA Laurie Throness to her organic farm to explain what was happening.

The result was a private member’s bill tabled this past week at the B.C. legislature, proposing fines for trespassing on farms and food-processing facilities, with larger fines for people who breach biosecurity protocols and groups that organize occupations.

Throness said the bill was modelled, in part, after similar legislation announced in October by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney at a Hutterite turkey farm that was also targeted by activists.

“We don’t want to limit protest,” he said. “But we need to protect our farmers. They have families, they have little kids, and these are their homes.”

Agriculture Minister Lana Popham was unavailable for an interview this week, but she also addressed trespassing at a B.C. Ag Day reception in Victoria on Tuesday, telling farmers she wanted to “speak directly and publicly in support of those of you that raise livestock.”

“We are working hard to deter people who trespass on your property, and damage your farm equipment, and endanger the animals in your care,” she said. “We understand the current rules are not stopping illegal protesting activity and we have already taken a number of steps to address this problem.”

She went on to introduce Solicitor General Mike Farnworth and Attorney General David Eby to the crowd, saying she had their support.