The Supreme Court of Canada overturns a BC Ostrich farm’s attempt to save the herd
The Supreme Court of Canada has rejected a request by a BC Ostrich farm to hear an appeal to save its flock.
The court overruled the petitioner’s motion for fresh evidence and dismissed the farm owner’s appeal, finding that the termination policy, the abandonment notice and the denial of the waiver were all reasonable under applicable law.
The Universal Ostrich Farm, in Edgewood, BC, is challenging the Organic Inspection Agency (CFIA) to eliminate the flock after an outbreak of avian influenza was detected on December 31 31.
The CFIA said farm owners failed to report the first cases of illness and death when the herd became infected.
The CFIA said the use of the Avian Flu Eradication Policy for this farm is supported by the Federal Court of Canada and the federal appeals court, and is supported by scientific evidence.
The debate has been bitter on both sides, with the fate of the birds the focus of global attention.
Get news from around the country
Get the top stories of the Day, politics, economics, and current affairs, delivered to your inbox once a day.
The CFIA is facing growing pushback from the farm and its supporters as the case makes its way through the courts.
The first decision, a discard notice, was issued on December 31, 2024, and required the farm owners to discard all the birds on their farm by February 2024 with the H5n1 strain forfenenza
The second decision, the offensive denial of January 10, 2025, denied the request of the owner of the farm to release at least some of its herds of mercy.
“Two decisions were made under S. 48 of the Animal Health Act, SC 1990, C. 21, and according to the policy of the CFIA EVEROGEENIC Avian Avian Avian Plan,” said the Supreme Court of Canada.
After 69 birds died of avian flu, farm owners protested the surviving ostriches as ‘self-inflicted’ and demanded they be tested.
The Federal Court of Canada dismissed, pending the determination of the judicial review application in the Federal Court, then a single judge of the Federal Court of Appeal of the Owner of the Editors before the Court of Appeal.
“The federal appeals court diligently overruled the petitioner’s motion for new evidence and dismissed the petitioner’s appeal, finding that the objection to the issuance of the stamp, the Supreme Court of Canada said.
The cut-off mark is a measure used by the World Organization for Animal Health. It enables all animals in the flock to be killed, even if Avian influenza is present in one bird.
-With files from Canadian Press
& Copy 2025 Global News, Division of Corse Entertainment Inc.
