Latest news with #ostrichfarming
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Family that operates B.C. ostrich farm pushes back against CFIA claims
Supporters of Universal Ostrich Farms stand near ostriches at the farm's property in Edgewood, B.C., on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Hundreds of supporters flocked to the farm over the Victoria Day long weekend to protest the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's order to cull 400 ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Hemens The family that operates an ostrich farm in British Columbia's interior is pushing back on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which is poised to cull around 400 birds at the farm due to avian flu. Katie Pasitney, whose parents own Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, B.C., said during Facebook Live stream event Saturday night that the ordered cull is based on misinformation. The agency said on Friday the avian flu infection present at the farm is a mutation not seen anywhere else in Canada. Pasitney said during the livestream the CFIA is exaggerating the human health risks, noting it is not based in sound science. She also said that contrary to what the agency claims, there has not been widespread testing at the farm. While the CFIA has fined the farm $20,000, Pasitney said more information will be coming on Monday about what is happening at the farm and what has been shared with the federal agency. This report by David Boles, The Canadian Press, was first published June 1, 2025.
CBC
09-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Three MLAs are supporting a B.C. farming family whose 400 ostriches are to be culled
Social Sharing A member of an ostrich farming family held back tears Thursday as she called on the provincial government to help stop the cull of their 400 birds. Katie Pasitney, spokesperson for Universal Ostrich Farm owned by her parents, said she is hopeful that her meeting with provincial officials, including B.C.'s Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, will lead to changes that would save the birds because of their potential significance to the poultry industry. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency ordered their cull in late 2024 after an avian flu outbreak, but a Federal Court granted them a stay of execution in late January pending a judicial review. The family and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency now await a ruling from a Federal Court judge on the fate of the animals. A decision is expected to come early next week. Pasitney said the animals living on her parents' farm in Edgewood, B.C., are "healthy" and "happy" now and pose no risk. She said the birds could contribute to the fight against avian flu because they have developed herd immunity. Watch: Ostrich cull paused Court pauses cull order on B.C. ostriches ordered killed over avian flu fears 3 months ago Duration 2:31 The owners of an ostrich farm in the Kootenays have won a court injunction against the cull of hundreds of their birds. A federal agency ordered the farmers to kill off their herd after avian flu was detected at the site in December, but the owners are pushing back. Brady Strachan reports. "They are a living research laboratory," she said before meeting with Popham. Pasitney said after the meeting with the minister that she remains hopeful that her plea to save the birds on the basis of their potential contribution to research will pay off. She said the provincial officials made no commitments. "They listened … and they are going to absorb all the information," she said. Pasitney said the birds are her family's livelihood and having to kill them would be catastrophic. "Some of these animals have personalities," she said, speaking with reporters before her meeting with the minister. Watch: B.C. ostrich farm faces cull Ostrich farm faces Feb. 1 cull 3 months ago Duration 1:40 Pasitney has been receiving support from three Independents members of the legislature, and Dallas Brodie and Tara Armstrong even visually underscored their support by holding up ostrich eggs during a news conference with reporters. Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy acknowledged that the federal government will decide the fate of the birds, but said the provincial government can help secure a stay of execution by lobbying for an exemption from the culling rules. "I think you have to look at every avenue to advocate, and right now, when it came to trying to reach out and contact the (inspection agency), I had difficulties," Kealy said. The fate of the birds had also came up in the legislature when Kealy introduced Pasitney as a representative of the farm, which he described as an "innovative and research-driven operation" that has spent the past three year developing practices based on antibodies to protect against diseases and viruses, including H5N1. "This farm is not used for food consumption and purely research-based," he said. Responding to questions from Kealy, Popham said avian influenza can have a heavy emotional and economic toll, but also pointed to its dangers. "If it mutates into a widespread human illness, the impacts would be catastrophic," she said. "That is the context for why … CFIA is taking the steps they take."
Globe and Mail
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Three MLAs are supporting a B.C. farming family whose 400 ostriches are to be culled
A member of an ostrich farming family held back tears as she called on the provincial government to help stop the cull of their 400 birds. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency ordered the cull in late 2024 after an avian flu outbreak, but family spokesperson Katie Pasitney says the animals living on her parents' farm in Edgewood, B.C., are 'healthy' and 'happy' now and pose no risk. Pasitney says the birds are her family's livelihood and having to kill them would be catastrophic. As Canada rushes to curb bird flu, B.C. farmers decry cull order for 400 ostriches Pasitney is in Victoria meeting provincial officials, including B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, and is receiving support from three former Conservative MLAs, who are now sitting as independents. The family and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are waiting on a Federal Court judge to rule on the fate of the animals. Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy acknowledges that the federal government will ultimately decide the fate of the birds, but says the provincial government can help secure a stay of execution by lobbying for an exemption from the rules.
