Supreme Court stays ostrich cull in B.C. amid protests, surprise interventions
A contentious cull order targeting an ostrich flock in a secluded British Columbia community has been temporarily halted by the Supreme Court of Canada.
A contentious cull order targeting an ostrich flock in a secluded British Columbia community has been temporarily halted by the Supreme Court of Canada.
For nearly a year, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency had been preparing to eradicate the flock at Universal Ostrich Farm near Edgewood in southeastern B.C. after avian flu was detected in some of the birds.
That changed early Wednesday morning following a surprise intervention.
According to multiple social media posts, the Syilx Okanagan Indian Tribe has stepped in, declaring the area “unceded territory” and stating that “these birds are not to be touched.”
Canada’s highest court has temporarily halted the planned cull of hundreds of ostriches, the world’s largest living bird.
A day earlier, RCMP officers, called in by the CFIA to help keep the peace during the cull, arrested farm owners Katie Pasitney and her mother, Karen Espersen, for allegedly riling up protestors when trying to feed the birds.
The protest has been unusually large for the remote B.C. settlement.
One protester told True North that local residents compared the town’s gas station to “a Costco,” referring to the surge of shoppers stopping for supplies on their way to demonstrate against the cull.
In the days leading up to the proposed cull, nearly 100 protesters had descended on the farm to voice opposition to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s plan, which officials said was intended to stop the spread of avian flu.
If the stay is upheld, this will mark the B.C. ostrich farm’s third major court battle and second appeal as the dispute enters its first year.
It remains unclear whether anti-cull protests played a role in the court’s decision.
The RCMP stated that CFIA agents obtained a warrant to search the farm and requested police presence due to “increased tensions” and “protests” on site.
Videos livestreamed in recent days by multiple sources appeared to show activists shouting insults at RCMP officers at the farm.
One protest attendee told True North there were dozens of demonstrators and as many as 60 officers split between the farm and connecting roads.
Another attendee, a Kelowna man who asked not to be named, recalled meeting a counter-protester in Edgewood who complained that living near the ostrich farm was like “being next door to Chernobyl.”
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There is no reason to destroy these healthy birds. They did have some die from the avian flu but the others recovered and are healthy and strong. Why is it that the CFIA will not let the farmers have the birds retested? These birds haven't been sold for meat nor have their eggs been sold for five years now so why should the CFIA even be involved? There's no potential harm for Canadians.
These ostriches are being used for valuable research with a Japanese scientist for possible treatments for avian flu (antibodies in the eggs or something like that). Guess what? That means the bird flu vaccines wouldn't be necessary. I see the hand of big pharma in this.
Why is it that there these pharmaceutical companies have such a strong hold and influence on our Canadian politicians and especially unelected bureaucrats?
Another point is that these birds would be so expensive to be replaced and would the government compensate them the $500-$1000 each it would cost? I looked it up and ostriches can live 45-50 years (some of these are nearly 30 and the farmer's daughter has grown up with many of them) and therefore I believe that means these birds are not likely to easily succumb when illness comes up. In fact, it was younger ones that died last time and the others will have built up immunity.