By Andrea Diaz and Ben Westcott, CNN
(CNN) Canada’s House of Commons passed a bill Monday to make it illegal to hold a whale, dolphin or porpoise captive, punishable by fines up to $150,000 USD.It’s known colloquially as the “Free Willy” bill, named after the 1993 movie in which a young boy frees a killer whale from a US amusement park.”Nothing fantastic ever happens in a hurry. But today we celebrate that we have ended the captivity and breeding of whales and dolphins. This is news to splash a fin at,” animal rights group Humane Canada said in a tweet.
Nothing fantastic ever happens in a hurry. But today we celebrate that we have ended the captivity and breeding of whales and dolphins. This is news to splash a fin at. #bills203 #emptythetanks #cdnpoli Thank you everyone.16012:41 PM – Jun 10, 2019109 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacyThe bill is expected to become law. It was introduced in the Senate in December 2015 and was already approved there but must return now and gain “royal assent.”The Green Party of Canada celebrated in a statement Monday. “These intelligent, social mammals will now get to live where they belong — in the ocean,” the party said.Dozens of supporters of the bill used the hashtag #emptythetanks to celebrate on social media.View image on Twitter
Green Party Canada?@CanadianGreens
#Breaking: When we work together, good things happen.
This is a combined effort from @ElizabethMay, Senators Moore and Sinclaire, key Liberal and NDP MPs, NGOs, marine scientists and everyday people across Canada.#FreeWilly3881:31 PM – Jun 10, 2019202 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacyThe bill makes exceptions if the animals are rescues, in rehabilitation or licensed for scienti?c research, or when it’s in the animal’s best interests.”A person may move a live cetacean from its immediate vicinity when the cetacean is injured or in distress and is in need of assistance,” the bill states.