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Universal Ostrich Farms case heads to Federal Court of Appeal
Universal Ostrich Farms case heads to Federal Court of Appeal

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Universal Ostrich Farms case heads to Federal Court of Appeal

The owners of a B.C. ostrich farm that was ordered to cull 400 birds after an outbreak of avian flu brought their case to the Federal Court of Appeal in Ottawa, asking for a judicial review of the CFIA's destruction order. Katie Pasitney, the daughter of Universal Ostrich Farm's owners, says the family operation will be devastated if the order is allowed to stand. The court has reserved its decision. (July 15, 2025)

‘We're going to continue to fight:' B.C. ostrich farm to fight case to cull its herd in Federal Court of Appeal
‘We're going to continue to fight:' B.C. ostrich farm to fight case to cull its herd in Federal Court of Appeal

CTV News

time4 days ago

  • Health
  • CTV News

‘We're going to continue to fight:' B.C. ostrich farm to fight case to cull its herd in Federal Court of Appeal

A sign calling for the protection of ostriches at the Universal Ostrich Farms is displayed 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 about 400 ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Hemens A B.C. ostrich farm that lost dozens of birds following an avian flu outbreak last winter will be fighting in the Federal Court of Appeal in Ottawa on Tuesday to stop an order to cull the remainder of its herd. Today's hearing marks the latest development in a legal battle by Universal Ostrich Farm, located near Edgewood, B.C., to save its birds. 'We're going to continue to fight with all that we have,' Katie Pasitney, the daughter of the farm owners, said in an interview with CTV News before the hearing. 'It is very real that if we are not guaranteed Supreme Court, if we don't make it here, we will be applying for Supreme Court.' After an avian flu outbreak was detected at the farm last December, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ordered the farm to cull its remaining herd of approximately 400 birds by Feb. 1, under its 'stamping out' policy, which aims to minimize risk to human health. The agency says the farm has not complied with the Health of Animals Act by failing to report the initial cases of illness and deaths to the CFIA, failing to adhere to quarantine orders and failing to undertake risk mitigation measures. In a statement on its website in May, the CFIA says, 'Given that the flock has had multiple laboratory-confirmed cases of H5N1 and the ongoing serious risks for animal and human health and trade, the CFIA continues planning for humane depopulation with veterinary oversight at the infected premises.' The farm owners argue the remainder of their herd is healthy and have fought for additional and independent testing. According to a website dedicated to saving the ostriches, Karen Espersen and Dave Bilinski, who have owned and worked on the farm for more than 30 years, stopped producing meat at the farm in 2020 and have shifted their focus to research. 'Science is meant to evolve. Policy is meant to evolve, and that's all we're asking is that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency gives us an offer or an option to research these animals more and prove to the Canadians that they are healthy,' Pasitney said. Asked by CTV News why the farm does not trust the expertise of the CFIA, Pasitney says, 'We have experts as well and we have scientific experts, a large panel of them that have really great qualifications.' Following the order to cull the herd, the farm applied for an exemption for animals with rare genetics because of the antibody research they conduct, but the CFIA denied that application on Jan. 10. The farm then applied to the Federal Court for a judicial review of the CFIA's order, but in May, the judge ruled in favour of the CFIA, saying the cull was reasonable and procedurally fair. The Federal Court of Appeal later denied the farm's request for independent testing on June 20 and ordered Tuesday's expedited appeal. The hearing is scheduled for one day. In a statement to CTV News, the CFIA says the agency 'looks forward to a resolution that allows for the continued implementation of its regulatory response, which aims to protect public and animal health, and minimize impacts on the domestic poultry industry and the Canadian economy.' With files from The Canadian Press

Ostriches and rock music combine for fundraising music festival at B.C. farm
Ostriches and rock music combine for fundraising music festival at B.C. farm

CTV News

time4 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • CTV News

Ostriches and rock music combine for fundraising music festival at B.C. farm

A sign calling for the protection of ostriches at the Universal Ostrich Farms is displayed at the farm in Edgewood, B.C., on Saturday, May 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Hemens Event goers who descended upon Edgewood, B.C., over the weekend for Farm Aid Canada were treated to all the typical fixings of a cutting-edge music festival: rock music, food trucks, and family-friendly events. There was one element, however, that separated it from its contemporaries. Ostriches. Run by Universal Ostrich Farms, the festival was designed to raise funds for the mounting legal fees expected to be spent by the farm's owners in the battle to keep its ostriches, after an order to cull hundreds of the birds was made by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency earlier this year. The order, issued over fears of a possible avian flu infection, has garnered much attention in the months since and has provoked an outpouring of support for the farm from animal rights activists, fellow farmers and the likes of the U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Despite the festival being thrown together in 'just a matter of weeks' – posters depicting ostriches donning leather jackets and grasping electric guitars were circulated just days prior to the event's beginning – crowds flocked to the farm in their thousands to offer their support, says Katie Pasitney, whose parents own the farm. 'It was wonderful,' she says. The atmosphere fluctuated across the weekend as the crowd experienced moments of sadness as they considered the future the farm could face, says Pasitney. For the most part, however, the lineup, comprising acts like Blind Joe from season nine of The Voice and Kootenay Jack, ensured spirits were high. 'It was a great turn out,' says Paritney, describing how Calgary pastor Artur Pawlowski had even been on hand Sunday, and had baptized 40 guests in the river by day's end. 'Everybody's morale was really positive and supportive, (there was) a lot of crying and a lot of laughter, but all in all it was just really nice for everybody to be around like-minded people,' she says. 'Everybody is desiring the change that all Canadians are waiting for right now,' she said, adding how everyone is 'looking for hope.' Support is still pouring in for the farm, with travellers from all over the country even making Universal Ostrich a destination stop on their road trips so they can take pictures with the owners, ask their own questions and get the latest updates regarding the ongoing saga. 'We have a lot of support. We have a lot of people that don't want to see animals that are healthy be slaughtered, especially with no testing,' she says. Richard Allen, one of the organizers of the event, didn't divulge how much funds were raised over the course of the weekend but did say that it was a 'generous' and 'significant' sum, and that those in attendance totalled 'several thousands.' Allen described the atmosphere of the event as being one of 'very much one of fellowship, love and community and support.' As the event was rounding off on Sunday, Pasitney had been heading to the airport to board a flight to Ottawa for her planned visit to the Federal Court of Appeal, Tuesday, to continue her fight against the order. 'We're all sitting at the edge of our seats, waiting to see what will happen,' she says.

Music festival raises funds to pay B.C. ostrich farm's legal fees
Music festival raises funds to pay B.C. ostrich farm's legal fees

Global News

time12-07-2025

  • General
  • Global News

Music festival raises funds to pay B.C. ostrich farm's legal fees

The phrase 'music saves lives' is being put to the test to help save the nearly 400 ostriches that call Edgewood, B.C., home., as a local farm continues to fight the cull order by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) after an avian flu outbreak last year. 'Our legal bills are definitely mounting, and money is ammunition as always in the battles that we face, and we are taking this as far as we need to,' said Katie Pasitney with Universal Ostrich Farm Inc. It's taking them across the country. Pasitney and her parents, who own the farm, are travelling to Ottawa for July 15 appeal hearings that are set to proceed on an expedited basis. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In a statement, the CFIA said 'The timeline recognizes the risks associated with the delays in the CFIA's ability to exercise its regulatory authority, granted to it under the Health of Animals Act.' Story continues below advertisement It also says, 'The CFIA looks forward to a resolution that allows for the continued implementation of its regulatory response, which aims to protect public and animal health, and minimize impacts on the domestic poultry industry and the Canadian economy.' 2:02 B.C. ostrich farm wins temporary stay of cull, but loses application to re-test birds The fundraising music festival is the most recent event to be championed by their supporters, who continue to find ways to help. 'That money is for our legal fees, operational costs of the farm, since we have been put under quarantine,' said Pasitney. The CFIA says the farm has not complied with quarantine requirements under the Health of Animals Act and has been fined $20,000, which they are disputing. If forced to pay, the farm owners hope that the weekend-long Live Stock Music Festival will help cover it.

Federal Appeal Court grants B.C. ostriches stay of cull pending review
Federal Appeal Court grants B.C. ostriches stay of cull pending review

CTV News

time20-06-2025

  • Health
  • CTV News

Federal Appeal Court grants B.C. ostriches stay of cull pending review

Supporters of Universal Ostrich Farms stand near ostriches at the farm's property in Edgewood, B.C., on Saturday, May 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Hemens The Federal Court of Appeal has granted a stay that pauses the potential cull of nearly 400 ostriches at a B.C. farm. Court records show that a motion to pause plans for the cull, pending an appeal, was granted this afternoon in Ottawa. The owners of Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, B.C., have been fighting an order from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to cull their flock after it was hit with an avian flu outbreak last year. Katie Pasitney, whose mother co-owns the farm, thanked supporters in a post on social media, saying the 'next phase of the battle' will allow the farm to push forward for change. The plight of the ostriches has brought international attention to the farm, with protesters staying on the property to prevent the cull and activists decrying what they call government overreach. The food inspection agency has said the type of avian flu infection present at the farm is a mutation not seen elsewhere in Canada. This report by Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press, was first published June 20, 2025.

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