CALGARY—The Alberta government is considering tougher trespassing penalties to deter what Premier Jason Kenney called “anti-farming militants” from protesting on agricultural land.

The move comes after dozens of animal rights activists occupied the turkey barns at the Jumbo Valley Hutterite Colony in southern Alberta, about an hour and a half southeast of Calgary, calling for an end to commercial poultry farming. Speaking at the Jumbo Valley farm Thursday, Kenney said the government doesn’t know of other examples of similar demonstrations disrupting farms in recent years, but the province wants to “lay down the law” now to ward off future action.

“I don’t think it was a protest. … This was an illegal invasion of private property,” Kenney said.

“We should not dignify this by calling it some kind of act of legitimate protest.”

The government is considering changing Alberta’s Petty Trespass Act to specifically include trespassing on agricultural land, with fines of up to $10,000 for a first violation and $25,000 for subsequent instances, with up to six months of prison time also on the table. Under potential new legislation, organizations behind the demonstrations could be fined up to $200,000, and farmers can apply to be compensated for lost income because of biosecurity breaches.

Trespassing is already an offence, but the government is proposing additional penalties for people trespassing on farms, specifically.

RCMP were called to the protest at Jumbo Valley last month, but no charges were laid. The activists left after they were allowed to take five turkeys from the farm so they could live in an animal sanctuary. About 30 people came into the barns, and about 50 more people lined the highway with signs.

Mark Tschetter, the minister at Jumbo Valley, said a protest was the last thing the 80-member community expected.

“When something like that happens, you’re actually in shock. It really did affect us mentally, because you’re just helpless there.”

He said unauthorized people walking into turkey barns also risks spreading disease that could kill the animals.

In a statement Thursday, national organization Animal Justice criticized Alberta’s plans as an “unprecedented crackdown on compassionate citizens.” Animal Justice executive director Camille Labchuk called for the province to create laws to protect farm animals rather than targeting activists.

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen said the government wants to make sure what he called “out-of-control activists” don’t continue to target Alberta farms.

The activists that were here — they were proud and promoting that this is just the start. This is the tip of the iceberg, that they were planning on more attacks across Canada and especially here in Alberta.”

Trev Miller, an organizer in the animal rights movement who helped co-ordinate the demonstration at Jumbo Valley from his home in B.C., said that’s true.

“Alberta is a place where more of these actions are going to be taking place, and so is the rest of the country.”

He called the demonstration a “self-organized protest” where people who share concerns about injustices against animals banded together to fight back. Miller acknowledged that nothing illegal is happening at Jumbo Valley, but he and other activists are advocating for the laws to change. Miller said they’ve already tried to get their message across in other ways.

Last month, Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer started a tour through Alberta’s rural communities to talk about rural crime issues. He said Thursday he’s heard repeated calls for stronger property rights protections.

“We need to make sure we send a clear signal to people that trespass on property that there are consequences to taking that step,” Schweitzer said.

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Kenney added that the government supports freedom of expression and citizens’ right to protest, but he said disrupting private property is a different situation.

“When you harass people who are simply going about their jobs legally, none of that constitutes a legal or legitimate protest.”

Alberta’s announcement comes after the Ontario government said last month that they’re considering legislation to similarly shield farmers from protests.

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