A pending verdict on a federal court case about a B.C. ostrich farm may have effects on farmers in the province’s northeastern pocket, according to the region’s MLA.
At the centre of this controversial court case is the Universal Ostrich Farm near Edgewood, which is over 1,200 km south of Fort St John, where the farmers were instructed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to cull 400 birds after some of their ostriches died this winter from avian flu, a federally regulated disease.
The animals were ordered to be put down, the farmers allege, after one or two died, though the total death count reached 69.
It is rare for avian flu to be transmitted to humans, but when the mutation occurs the disease can be life threatening, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
A verdict from Ottawa’s Federal Court of Appeal was expected after justices heard arguments on July 15, however, they must review the entire case which began in December.
Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy has kept his eyes peeled on the ostriches and has been posting about the farm’s court cases on social media, with his banner on Facebook is a picture of him with the birds.
Kealy is also a farmer, and has said he sympathizes with the ostrich farmers.
On the morning the verdict was due, Kealy posted in support of the farmers – “without farmers we have no future,” he wrote.
In May, Kealy brought one of the farmers from the Universal Ostrich Farm to question period in Victoria. During his introduction to the issue at question period, he said the decision made in their case can impact his constituents and his own farm if its verdict crosses into other types of animals.
He told his fellow provincial parliamentarians the focus should be on advancing antibody research for fighting the avian flu, instead of “destroying an entire flock.”
Kealy called on Premier David Eby and the Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham to advocate for an exemption or alternative option for the food inspection agency’s mandatory cull.
