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Canada's Fisheries Minister Shea pauses during a news conference with Trade Minister Day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.CHRIS WATTIE

Police have charged a woman with assault after a pie was pushed into the face of federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea Monday in Burlington, Ont.

Ms. Shea was delivering a speech at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters to open the Aquatic Life Research Facility, west of Toronto.

Halton regional police say a woman stood up in the front row and pushed the "shaving cream pie" squarely into Ms. Shea's face.

The animal-rights group PETA says it is responsible for the incident. PETA says in a release it was part of its campaign "to stop the government's ill-advised sanction of the slaughter of seals," and called the pie used a "tofu cream pie."

Ms. Shea, who represents a PEI riding, did not require medical attention and returned to the podium after wiping the pie from her face.

Emily McCoy, 37, of New York City, was taken into custody and charged with assault.

"Shame on you Gail Shea ... it is a shame on Canada, it is a shame that she has not denounced this bloody seal hunt," the protester said after Ms. Shea was pied.





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