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CBC
01-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
How the fate of a herd of ostriches on a small B.C. farm caught the attention of the Trump administration
Edgewood, B.C. isn't usually the sort of place that would be on the radar of high-ranking White House officials. On the west shore of Lower Arrow Lake and surrounded by the Monashee Mountains, it's a roughly 200-kilometre drive from Kelowna, B.C. on a windy road. An unincorporated community, the latest census put it at a population of 235 people working in farming, forestry and tourism. But since December 2024, it's been making international headlines over the fate of a group of ostriches living on one particular farm near the end of a rural road: Universal Ostrich, owned by Karen Espersen and Dave Bilinski and whose spokesperson is Katie Pasitney, Espersen's daughter. In December, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) officials were tipped off that some of the large birds on the farm had died, with tests confirming the presence of avian flu. That resulted in a cull order, which the farm has fought, picking up high-profile allies along the way and a court ruling allowing the cull to move forward. Among the farm's supporters are U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., former TV host and current administrator for the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz, and U.S. billionaire John Catsimatidis, all of whom who have now publicly urged Canadian officials to allow the ostriches to live. WATCH | U.S. officials seek to reverse ostriches' fate: Dr. Oz, U.S. billionaire offer to take B.C. ostriches ordered killed 4 days ago Duration 2:42 Meanwhile, the CFIA argues that as difficult as the decision is, the cull must move forward to protect public health and Canada's agriculture industry. On May 30, the agency said the farm has been fined $20,000 for its failure to report the initial infection and deaths of birds, and for its later failure to adhere to quarantine and cull orders. And at the centre of it is a farm full of ostriches in a tucked-away part of the province. "We've taken years to be able to pet these guys, walk among these guys," Espersen said in a Facebook video, surrounded by her birds, in early May. "If we don't stand for this … then what kind of world have we become?" Here's what you need to know about this story, so far: The avian flu context The government of Canada, as well as other governments worldwide, are currently monitoring an outbreak of a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) known as H5N1. Though it mainly infects birds, it can spread to other animals and humans, which typically happens through direct contact with infected birds or contaminated environments, the government says. While human infection is rare, the fatality rate is "approximately 52 per cent", the government says, though it cautions that number may be an overestimate "given that mild infections can go undetected and under-reported." The first human case of H5N1 contracted in Canada was reported in B.C. in November 2024. Avian flu's primary impact has been seen among domestic birds, particularly chickens. Because poultry live together in close quarters, the virus can spread quickly among the flock, leading to high mortality rates and potential mutations. The disease has been blamed as a primary factor for high egg prices in the United States as laying hens were killed. In response to the virus, the CFIA has a "stamping out" policy which requires all domestic birds in a flock to be killed even if the virus is detected in just one bird. Thousands of birds have been culled under this policy. What you should know about the H5N1 strain of avian flu 6 months ago Duration 2:56 "Allowing a domestic poultry flock known to be exposed to HPAI to remain alive allows a potential source of the virus to persist," the CFIA said in a statement. "A human case of H5N1 in B.C. earlier this year required critical care, and an extended hospital stay for the patient, and there have been a number of human cases in the United States, including a fatality." Disease detected at Universal Ostrich According to court documents, in early December 2024 the farm was home to about 450 ostriches, some more than three decades old. Partway through the month, several ostriches on the farm developed "flu-like" symptoms, which started about a week after 300-500 ducks landed on the premises. The farm says that from Dec. 14, 2024 to Jan. 14, 2025, "69 young male and female breeders died, most of them under four years old." This ostrich farm survived wildfires. Now, avian flu means 400 birds need to be culled On Dec. 28, the CFIA investigated following an "anonymous report of multiple ostrich deaths" at the farm, the court document says, and a quarantine was ordered the same day four more ostriches died. Samples were collected from two of the dead ostriches and by Dec. 31 they had tested positive for avian flu at the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network laboratory in Abbotsford, B.C.. On Jan. 3 the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease in Winnipeg confirmed H5N1. The order to cull the flock was given on Dec. 31. Quarantine orders not followed Inspectors also noted the ostriches were in open pens, allowing for free access by wild birds and animals, and that staff at the farm shared equipment and "moved freely among open pens", posing a biosecurity hazard when the disease was present. Even in January, after quarantine orders were in place, inspectors noted wild animals were still freely interacting with the ostriches and other safety measures weren't being followed. "The record also shows that the Applicant's farm also exhibited sick ostriches being moved to treatment pens in contravention of quarantine requirements, dead ostriches dragged through pens populated with living ones without robust separation measures, and unauthorized individuals walking inside the infected zone," the judge wrote. In its May 30 statement, the CFIA wrote that the farm's failure to quarantine its birds increased the chance of transmission and "reflect a disregard for regulatory compliance and animal health standards." Claims of herd immunity When the cull order was given on Dec. 31, 2024, the farm was given a compliance deadline of Feb. 1, 2025. They used that time to try and build a case for the ostriches to be spared. According to the court case, the farm's operators began raising the ostriches in the mid-1990s, and Espersen and Bilinski say they incorporated Universal Ostrich Farms, Inc. in 2001 with a focus on "ethical breeding and care." In court, the farm's lawyer says that the farm's operations include selling breeding stock, raising birds for slaughter and meat and agri-tourism. However, the farm also says it pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic to focus instead on research, specifically on trying to use ostrich eggs to produce antibodies for COVID-19 or other viruses. "Meat processing ceased in the summer of 2019," it said in a statement. The farm says it partnered with Yasuhiro Tsukamoto of Kyoto Prefectural University in Japan for this work. Neither Tsukamoto nor the university have responded to CBC News in relation to the story but the researcher, known in some circles as "Dr. Ostrich," has previously made headlines for his work with ostrich eggs and COVID-19. CBC News also heard from a researcher who has confirmed his work with Universal Ostrich. "Dr. Yasuhiro Tsukamoto and I are Co-CEOs of Ostrich Pharma USA (OPUSA)," said Stuart Greenberg in an email. "OPUSA has been tasked with commercializing the specialized ostrich antibodies produced by Dr. Tsukamoto and his research team in Japan. We have been working with Universal Ostrich in B.C. to develop the techniques for large-scale production of ostrich antibodies derived from the yolks of their eggs," the email continues. "Our focus has been on the production of antibodies against human digestive enzymes to produce a dietary supplement for weight loss." Tsukamoto has not confirmed his work in this area. Additionally, Universal Ostrich maintains that all of the birds that died due to avian flu were acquired "after 2020." This is important to them because they say that in March 2020, a flu-like disease infected their herd which they believe gave the survivors "natural and eventual herd immunity," and say that since January the remainder of the ostriches are "happy and healthy" showing no sign of sickness. Exemption denied According to the court case, the farm first raised the possibility that its ostriches had developed immunity to avian flu during a Jan. 2 phone call with a CFIA case officer, who explained the process for receiving an exemption to the cull order. In followup emails, the officer provided the forms and documentation that would be needed to make the case that the birds should not be killed, and the farm made its application. However, by Jan. 10 the exemption was rejected. According to the courts, the CFIA concluded the farm "failed to demonstrate the existence of any distinct epidemiological unit," that was not likely to be exposed to avian flu, nor had it submitted "sufficient evidence to support its claims of genetic rarity and value qualifying the flock for an exemption," the latter of which could be proven through breeding books, recognition from breed associations, or genomic testing. The May 30 statement from the CFIA also said the farm failed to provide "research documentation" and that the farm lacks facilities "suitable for controlled research activity or trials." The court case also noted that there has only been one exemption to the "stamping out" policy granted in Canada during the current H5N1 outbreak, in the case of a turkey farm infected in 2022 that was able to demonstrate the complete separation, including biosecurity measures, of turkey flocks where some birds had been infected. Not only were the spared birds kept in separate barns from the infected animals with distinct ventilation and a "shower in/shower out" procedure, but the facility was also able to demonstrate the birds had "rare and valuable genetics" used for "high value pedigree birds." The CFIA also refused the ostrich farm's request that it do follow-up testing on its surviving birds. Legal courts and court of public opinion The farm went public with its plight early, with Pasitney first speaking to CBC News on Jan. 9. The story was also covered by local outlets and was later picked up as a campaign by the Ezra Levant-owned website the Rebel, which in a Jan. 24 post encouraged readers to begin emailing the CFIA and other officials, claiming the cull was in part because of the influence of major pharmaceutical companies. Also involved is B.C. Rising, a group with a website that includes a section arguing that COVID-19 was part of a United Nations-led plot to take control of vast swaths of land and that 15-minute cities, an urban planning tool aimed at creating walkable neighbourhoods, is actually a plot to trap people in individual sectors of their city. The site now has a section titled "Save Our Ostriches" and helped organize a "convoy" of people to visit the farm and show their opposition to the kill order. The farm welcomed supporters, while also posting a disclaimer stating it did not necessarily agree with all of the material being circulated by those who had taken up the cause of saving the ostriches. "We're just trying to do what's right," Pasitney said. In the meantime, the farm contracted a lawyer to apply for the cull to be stayed until the case could be heard by the courts, arguing Universal Ostrich would suffer "irreparable harm" should it move ahead. That stay was granted, and the case went to federal court for two days of hearings on April 14 and 15. Legal and scientific debate During the hearings, Universal Ostrich pleaded its case for an exemption, reiterating many of its previous claims about herd immunity and the scientific value of its birds. It also called on three individuals who argued that the stamping-out policy used by the CFIA was not required, at least in the case of the ostriches. Those individuals were Steven Pelech, a UBC professor and biochemist with training in immunology and virology, Bryan Brindle, an immunologist at the University of Guelph and Jeff Wilson, a former senior epidemiologist and manager at the Public Heath Agency of Canada. Collectively, the trio made the case that ostriches should be treated as different from hens or other poultry due to a combination of their long lifespan (three to five decades) and the fact that they don't live in as densely populated conditions as hens. They also argued that the CFIA should have been open to further testing of the surviving birds after the initial deaths occurred. But the CFIA pushed back. "Whether or not the birds recover and appear healthy is not the concern when implementing a cull policy," said Paul Saunders, the agency's lawyer. "That concern also includes the potential for the mutation of the virus among healthy birds.... an infection in birds could be a precursor to a human flu pandemic. Regardless of how likely that is, once it happens, it's happened, so that is a concern motivating the CFIA's response." The CFIA also relied on a report from Shannon French, a veterinary epidemiologist trained in epidemiology, virology and poultry health management, outlining the international scientific standards that inform its decision-making. The agency's legal team also attacked the trio of scientists put forward by the farm, stating none have ever worked with ostriches, and that much of their testimony was "speculative" and "well outside mainstream peer-reviewed literature." Likewise, the farm's lawyers attacked French for not being impartial given her professional association with the CFIA. "Unsurprisingly, each side seeks to narrow the evidentiary footprint of the other, and asks this Court to rely on the opinion of their experts should opinions diverge," Justice Russel Zinn wrote, ultimately declaring it would be inappropriate for him or any other judge to do so. Instead, he focused on the fact that the CFIA was the agency in Canada tasked with managing the complex scientific and technical decisions in relation to avian flu. "When Parliament leaves technical or scientific assessments to specialized administrative bodies, it signals that those bodies, not the courts, are best positioned to make judgments on complex, expertise-driven matters," he wrote, allowing the cull to proceed. A difficult decision Both Zinn and the CFIA noted the emotional and economic toll any cull takes on farmers. They also noted that the cull is not punishment but instead based on the pubic good, which is also why farms receive financial compensation when they take place — up to $3,000 per animal in the case of the ostriches. "While compensation may not offset the emotional toll of depopulation, it can provide resources to recover and reestablish operations," CFIA said. But that's not feasible for Universal Ostrich, Pasitney said. Her mother is in her 60s, her business partner in his 70s, and they don't feel they can start over with a new set of birds, especially ones as finicky as ostriches. "They're in the pecking order," Pasitney said. "They know them." Scientists not involved in the court case say the CFIA and Universal Ostrich are trying to navigate a difficult position. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, a professor at the University of Montreal's veterinary school, says Canada has signed a treaty with the World Organisation for Animal Health, which means it has agreed on certain specific measures, like culls, when it comes to controlling avian flu. "We try to extinguish the fire — so essentially the virus can't feed and replicate if it has other birds around," he said. J. Scott Weese, a professor at the Ontario Veterinary College, told CBC News in an email that a decision to cull animals at a farm is a cost-benefit decision, where the costs and benefits can't be quantified easily. "In general, culling makes more sense when there's widespread infection, risk to people around the animals, limited other exposure risk, where disease is more severe and where there's less value — economic, conservation, human-animal bond — of the animals," he said. But Weese added that H5N1 is now well established in Canada, and there may be less justification for culling from the standpoint of controlling disease. "An individual group of birds is a drop in the bucket now," he said. "Culling probably has little population benefit." He added, though, that from a "risk aversion standpoint," a cull is the "easiest thing" to do. And Fiona Brinkman, a professor at Simon Fraser University's department of molecular biology and biochemistry called the spread of avian flu "a tragedy," saying that she had hoped the CFIA would conduct new tests of the ostriches while she also recognized the worry that they could be reinfected or asymptomatic, passing the flu back and forth with wild birds. "There's a real problem with the birds not being able to be sheltered," she said. "Poultry, for example, you can put them in a barn. That's not appropriate for ostriches." And rights group Animal Justice has become involved, arguing that rather than mass culls, Canada should focus on improving conditions at large-scale poultry farms where birds are kept in more confined conditions. Political pushback Despite the ruling, B.C.'s premier has expressed frustration with the CFIA for not showing more "flexibility" in its decision making. "We understand the importance of containing the bird flu and the important role that agency plays," he said following the court ruling. "What's hard to watch is a lack of discretion and ability to evaluate case-by-case scenarios." He said putting the specifics of the ostrich case aside, it's a "consistent experience the province has had with federal agencies." Conservative MP Scott Anderson has visited the farm, which is in his riding, and says he has asked the CFIA to "hold off" on the cull and be open to other solutions. Another politician to visit is independent MLA Jordan Kealey of Peace River North, who is a farmer himself. He told CBC News the case had struck fear into many independent farmers who worry that with avian flu so prevalent among wild birds, it will be nearly impossible to avoid exposure and, ultimately, will lead to the loss of animals. Meanwhile, the Regional District of Central Kootenay voted to not accept the carcasses of any killed ostriches at local landfills unless followup testing of the birds was done, and the results made public. That meeting was attended by nearly 300 supporters of the farm via Zoom. Threats, deaths and RCMP involvement Since the ruling, a few dozen supporters have camped out at the farm, at the encouragement of its owners, with Espersen encouraging them to "come surround the farm" and "don't let them do this to these beautiful animals." WATCH | Supporters gather at Universal Ostrich: Supporters back ostrich farm fighting cull despite past cases of avian flu 8 days ago Duration 3:36 The remote community of Edgewood, B.C., is now ground zero for a fight to save 400 ostriches. Protesters have descended on Universal Ostrich Farm this weekend, defying an avian flu cull order. Radio-Canada's Camille Vernet was there this week, exploring why people are so deeply invested in this flock's fate. The farm has urged its supporters to be peaceful and spoken out against threats of violence that have been made by some opposed to the cull. The union representing CFIA workers says it has fears over some of the rhetoric being posted online, including death threats against members. "Nobody likes to see their flocks culled, and we certainly don't take any pleasure in doing it, but ... it is our jobs, it's our mandate for the safety of Canadians to ensure that we carry out our job," said Milton Dyck, the president of the Agriculture Union, in an interview with CBC News. In its May 30 statement, the CFIA said the farm owners and supporters had gathered in "an apparent attempt to prevent the CFIA from carrying out its operations at the infected premises. "This has delayed a timely and appropriate response to the HPAI infected premises, resulting in ongoing health risks to animals and humans," the statement read. On the other side, Universal Ostrich says two of its birds have been shot, one on the night of March 21 and the other on the night of May 23. RCMP has not confirmed the cause of the deaths but says it is investigating both instances. RCMP liason officers have also been paying regular visits to the farm in what they describe as an effort to maintain safety for everyone involved. Universal Ostrich says it supports the RCMP's presence. RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz weigh in In the meantime, word of the ostriches' fate has continued to grow through dedicated coverage from independent streamers and websites dedicated to pushing back against what they view as government overreach. One of the most high-profile supporters to jump on the cause has been U.S. billionaire John Catsimatidis, who told CBC News he had been following the story through a website called Broken Truth. That website, published through the Substack platform, describes itself as a network aimed at "exposing fraud and corruption, particularly in medicine and beyond," and says it has its roots in pushing back against public health policies stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Catsimatidis then used his platform, which includes a radio show on a New York-based station he owns, to bring the topic up to other leaders, including Kennedy. During an April episode of his program with the health secretary, Catsimatidis claimed the ostriches were being killed because of corruption and pharmaceutical companies, with Kennedy responding that it was a "huge mistake." Kennedy then followed up with a letter posted X on May 23, stating that he had met with the president of the CFIA and was requesting that Canada consider not culling the herd but rather work with the United States to research them. The U.S. health secretary has previously suggested in interviews that farmers should allow avian flu to "run through" their flocks in order to "preserve the birds that are immune to it" — a significant departure from Canadian, U.S. and international health guidelines that has received widespread criticism from those tasked with controlling the disease. Additionally, former TV host Dr. Mehmet Oz, who is now the administrator for the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has offered to take the ostriches in at his ranch. The farm has rejected the offer but said it appreciates the support. "They see the science, they see the potential," Pasitney said in an interview with CBC News. Fate unknown Through all this, the CFIA has remained steadfast in its policy to have the flock culled, saying stamping out is a necessary policy needed to protect public health and Canada's argriculture industry. It says the cull will be done humanely, and under veterinary supervision, but that it will not be sharing details of the operation — including when it might take place — in advance. But on May 28, Canada's minister of agriculture indicated the birds will "not necessarily" be killed. "We're in a process," Heath MacDonald, the minister of agriculture and agri-food, said. "We're taking all facts into consideration. And we'll move forward on the best possible solution for everybody involved." Asked directly if the birds would be killed, he said, "The process is in place. And not necessarily." And Universal Ostrich is hoping to go back to court, having filed an appeal of the earlier court ruling on May 26. According to the Canadian Press, the farm's appeal claims the court made "multiple reversible errors" in its earlier ruling upholding the cull order, and that its own lawyers provided "ineffective assistance" that "amounted to incompetence, and resulted in a miscarriage of justice." The farm's appeal says "prior counsel had a financial stake in the destruction of the appellant's ostriches, resulting in a blatant conflict of interest." Lee Turner, one of the farm's former lawyers, told The Canadian Press he "certainly did not" have a conflict of interest, and his co-counsel Michael Carter did a "a remarkable job with the short window of time that he had."
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
RFK Jr and Mehmet Oz seek to save Canadian ostriches despite avian flu fears
Senior officials in the Trump administration have intervened in attempt to save more than 300 ostriches on a farm in British Columbia which the Canadian government had ordered to be killed over fears the flock is infected with avian flu. Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, and Mehmet Oz, a physician and former TV host appointed by Trump as the director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, have offered to move the birds to Oz's ranch in Florida – despite the kill order imposed by Canadian health authorities. Universal Ostrich, a farm in Edgewood, BC, was ordered to kill all its birds after authorities received an anonymous tip in December 2024 that some were dying. Samples collected from two birds found they tested positive for H5N1, a strain of bird flu. The farm's owners sued over the order, but the Canadian federal government argued they were following 'stamping out' policy in order to keep avian flu at bay, in line with advice from the World Health Organization. According to court documents, the owners conceded that 69 of their ostriches died from the flu, but argued that the rest were free of symptoms and claimed that there had been no further deaths since January. Karen Espersen, the owner, said she welcomed expressions of support this week from Kennedy, Oz and the US billionaire John Catsimatidis who are lobbying the Canadian government to reverse the order. She said that Oz had told her he would be willing to take the birds to his ranch in Okeechobee, Florida. 'He said 'you know if by chance you want to move [them] to the States, I got 900 acres,'' she said. While Espersen says she wants the birds to stay in Canada – if they can't fight the order at the supreme court, they are open to moving the birds to Oz's ranch. She said: 'We are not against our government … but we're very, very saddened our government [does not believe the birds are well].' Oz told the New York Post that he, Kennedy Jr and Catsimatidis are 'sticking our necks out' for the ostriches. 'It doesn't help anyone to kill the birds,' Oz told the outlet. Kennedy has sent a letter to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which issued the order, to reconsider. But the CFIA has been clear on the need to cull the birds in order to protect Canadians. In statements, it told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that its response is to protect human and animal health and 'minimize impacts on the $6.8 billion domestic poultry industry and Canada's economy'. In the US, bird flu has been spreading among animals and egg prices have been soaring as a result and amid concerns of price fixing. BC has been the epicentre of a bird flu outbreak in Canada. Millions of birds have been culled at hundreds of farms in an infection period that has lasted over three years. North of the border, however, egg prices have not spiked as they have in the US due to the resiliency of smaller farms and supply management system.
Metropolis Japan
27-05-2025
- Health
- Metropolis Japan
Othello Performance in Japan
From the small town B.C. farmer to United States' Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, the flock of those calling for a stop to the ordered killing of nearly 400 ostriches are growing daily. Universal Ostrich, a farm in Edgewood, B.C., has been making headlines since January 2025 when the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ordered the cull of the entire flock of birds. The order is part of the CFIA's stamping out policy when an avian influenza outbreak is declared at a farm. "Canada's response has aimed to protect human and animal health and minimize impacts on the $6.8 billion domestic poultry industry and Canada's economy," the agency told The Morning Star May 27. "This supports Canadian families and poultry farmers whose livelihoods depend on maintaining international market access." The CFIA declared an H5N1 outbreak at Universal Ostrich on Dec. 31, 2024 and issued the cull order on Jan. 10, 2025. The farm has been fighting the order since, challenging the decision in federal court in April, which was turned down May 13. Justice Richard Zinn upheld CFIA's decision, but the farm is again back in the courts and filed an appeal May 26. "Which is fantastic but we are not safe," said Katie Pasitney, whose mom Karen Esperson and partner Dave Bilinski co-own Universal Ostrich. Pasitney is the spokesperson for the farm and explains that since the "outbreak," a total of 69 ostriches died in the initial weeks but the flock has since developed herd immunity. Universal Ostrich wants to work with the CFIA to use the antibodies the ostriches have developed to protect others. "It's all about saving our farmers, saving our food," said Pasitney. "Let's revamp these policies, let's bring science forward." The farm has been flooded with support from hundreds of other farmers, animal activists and Indigenous peoples who have camped out at the farm in recent days and weeks. Many politicians, both locally, provincially and in the U.S., are showing support, even Dr. Mehmet Oz. Oz is the latest U.S. health official seeking a stop to the killing. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. had a call with CFIA president Paul MacKinnon on May 22, along with Martin Makary, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner. The CFIA stands by its policies, citing a human case of H5N1 earlier this year and a number of human case in the U.S., including a fatality. "All highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses, particularly H5 and H7 viruses, have the potential to infect mammals, including humans. Allowing a domestic poultry flock known to be exposed to HPAI to remain alive allows a potential source of the virus to persist. It would increase the possibility of reassortment or mutation, particularly with birds raised in open pasture where there is ongoing exposure to wildlife." The Regional District of Central Kootenay also made a decision to not accept the ostriches at its landfills, pending testing of the birds. But the CFIA says it "has a duty to protect Canadians from the serious potential risks that avian influenza presents to our people and our economy." While compensation of up to $3,000 per ostrich could be awarded to Universal Ostrich, the CFIA says if an owner refuses to meet the depopulation requirements, the agency could move forward with depopulation itself, or use a third-party contractor. "This could mean withholding part or all compensation for the depopulation from the owners," CFIA said. "Depopulation can be a distressing outcome for an animal owner. When a depopulation is necessary, the CFIA provides an opportunity for all poultry farmers to develop the most appropriate plan based for their flock and facilities. CFIA veterinarians and inspectors work with poultry farmers to see that depopulation is completed humanely using internationally accepted methods. "We also provide guidance to producers throughout the process of depopulation, disposal, and cleaning and disinfection, so they can resume their operations as quickly as possible," said the agency.
CBC
27-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Union president raises safety concerns for its CFIA members tasked with B.C. ostrich cull
Social Sharing The union representing Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) workers tasked with carrying out a cull at a B.C. ostrich farm says there are fears over the workers' safety as emotions run high. Over 400 birds at Universal Ostrich farm in Edgewood, B.C., face the prospect of a cull due to an avian flu detection in December. The CFIA, which is handling Canada's response to an ongoing avian flu outbreak, won a court case earlier this month and says the cull will go ahead due to concerns over the spread and mutation of the virus. But a vocal contingent of supporters — including U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — has spoken out against the cull, arguing the flightless birds, many decades old, pose little threat of spreading avian flu and the herd should be preserved for scientific study. WATCH | Supporters protest CFIA cull order: Supporters back ostrich farm fighting cull despite past cases of avian flu 3 days ago Duration 3:36 Supporters have camped out at the Edgewood farm for weeks, saying they won't allow the cull to go ahead, even as farm spokesperson Katie Pasitney has repeatedly urged supporters to be peaceful, respectful and to follow the law. Now, the union representing CFIA workers says it's fearful for their safety, over online death threats it says were made against CFIA members. "Nobody likes to see their flocks culled, and we certainly don't take any pleasure in doing it, but ... it is our jobs, it's our mandate for the safety of Canadians to ensure that we carry out our job," said Milton Dyck, the president of the Agriculture Union, in an interview with CBC News. Dyck said that a CFIA vehicle in the area of the farm was also pelted with a rock, but he does not know if that was directly related to the planned ostrich cull. He said that the average worker was not responsible for the cull decision, which the CFIA says is due to wider concerns over virus mutation and the impact it could have on Canada's food supply. "Some people will be passionate about what their motives are for keeping the ostriches — whether they love ostriches, whether it's something that they feel personally about disease," he said. "But we have to look at it as we are doing a service to Canadians because we're protecting the health and safety of Canadians. We're protecting the value of the food chain going forward." WATCH | Protesters rally against planned cull: People gather at B.C. ostrich farm to protest order to cull flock of birds 5 days ago Duration 1:31 Demonstrators began gathering this weekend at Universal Ostrich farm in the community of Edgewood, B.C. They're there to protest a federal order to cull a flock of nearly 400 birds. As Radio-Canada's Camille Vernet explains, it comes after the farm lost a court challenge of the cull last week. In a statement, the union said it supported every individual's right to peaceful protest, so long as it does not obstruct the work of its members. While the CFIA has said the cull would be proceeding, it has not provided an exact date when it would occur.
CBC
24-05-2025
- CBC
Mounties investigating after 2nd ostrich dies on B.C. farm facing cull order
Social Sharing RCMP say they are investigating after a second ostrich was found dead in suspicious circumstances on a B.C. farm where roughly 400 of the birds have been ordered killed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Though a kill order for the ostriches is in place, the CFIA has said the cull will be "humane", with "veterinary oversight." In the meantime, the RCMP are monitoring the farm to ensure overall safety. This is the second investigation into an ostrich death at the farm this year, with RCMP already investigating after one of the birds was shot on March 21. The latest investigation was first confirmed by the Canadian Press. RCMP did not provide an update on that earlier investigation, nor did they confirm the circumstances of the most recent death, which farm spokesperson Katie Pasitney, whose mother is co-owner of Universal Ostrich, said occurred sometime last night. In a series of videos posted to Facebook Live, Pastiney said the farm had lost a "big, beautiful, handsome" male bird and that there was a "clear entry wound and a clear exit wound." She also said the farm had issues with drones in the area but did not want any "misinterpretations" and asked supporters to stick to the facts. "We are not speculating," she said. Pasitney said the farm is working with the RCMP and understands the investigation will take time. "We're doing all the appropriate things," she said. "Just send prayers and love to the farm right now." WATCH | Supporters gather at Universal Ostrich: People gather at B.C. ostrich farm to protest order to cull flock of birds 2 days ago Duration 1:31 Demonstrators began gathering this weekend at Universal Ostrich farm in the community of Edgewood, B.C. They're there to protest a federal order to cull a flock of nearly 400 birds. As Radio-Canada's Camille Vernet explains, it comes after the farm lost a court challenge of the cull last week. A few dozen supporters have been staying at the farm since a court ruling was issued May 13 stating that the cull, first ordered by the CFIA in December 2024, would be allowed to proceed. The judge did not weigh in on the scientific arguments of the case, ruling that the CFIA has a mandate from the federal government to handle cases like culls, and it would be inappropriate for the judiciary to get involved. Instead, the ruling said the CFIA had followed the proper channels and policies in making its decision. The CFIA has consistently said that after testing was done on two dead ostriches found on the farm in December, it was confirmed avian flu had entered the flock. At that point, their policy is to "stamp out" the entire population of birds who may have been exposed to the disease, a policy that has resulted in the killing of thousands of hens, turkeys and other domestic birds across the country. Only one exemption has been granted, in the case of a turkey farm in 2022 where avian flu had been detected in two barns but not others on the premises, because those animals had been kept separate and safety measures had been taken to prevent the possible spread of disease between the different structures — conditions that do not exist at Universal Ostrich where inspectors observed wild birds, weasels and "unauthorized individuals" walking among infected animals, in violation of quarantine policy, according to the court ruling. The CFIA says this policy is necessary in order to live up to Canada's international obligations for disease control through economic treaties, as well as to take every step possible to try to prevent avian flu from mutating and spreading further, potentially making it more dangerous to both animals and humans. But the farm and its supporters argue that while 69 birds died during the initial outbreak, the last death occurred in January, and since then, all the surviving ostriches are "happy and healthy" and should be allowed to live. They've called on the CFIA to conduct follow-up testing. The local regional district has also voted not to receive the carcasses of any of the killed birds at local landfills unless follow-up testing is conducted and released publicly. However, the CFIA said in a statement released to CBC News on Friday that "for poultry operations," which includes ostriches, "a single laboratory confirmed case of H5 avian influenza is sufficient to declare a premises infected, given how easily the disease can spread to other birds." It says duplicate samples were collected from two dead ostriches at the farm on Dec. 30, 2024 and confirmed the presence of avian flu. "Operational plans and dates for the humane depopulation will not be shared with the public in advance," the agency said.
