Supreme Court plucks last hope of saving B.C. ostrich flock from cull

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court plucked the last hope for survival of the now-famous flock of nearly 400 B.C. ostriches whose owner was hoping to save from being culled by the federal food inspection agency.

On Thursday morning, Canada’s top court declined to hear the final appeal from Universal Ostrich Farms of a series of lower court decisions confirming that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) had fairly determined the flock of exotic birds needed to be culled.

The court does not issue reasons for its decisions on applications for leave to appeal.

Within minutes of the decision, the CFIA confirmed in a statement that it would be going forward with a “complete depopulation” of the flock linked to an outbreak of avian influenza on the farm in December 2024.

The virus killed 69 of the farm’s ostriches within the last year. Though the remaining flock is said to be displaying no symptoms, CFIA fears they could still be shedding the virus or be the source of further spread of infection to people, livestock and wildlife.

The ostriches have become a flashpoint for U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, right-wing anti-government and left-wing environmental activists in both Canada and the U.S.

U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy Jr. and Mehmet Oz, a former T.V. star and current administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, have publicly called for the ostriches to be spared.

In a sign that the government fears protesters will still try to prevent the cull, CFIA spelled out in its statement that it is illegal to interfere with their agents’ work.

“Any such actions may result in enforcement measures or prosecution,” the agency said.

The farm owner did not immediately issue a statement on the Supreme Court’s decision.

National Post, with files by Stewart Lewis.

cnardi@postmedia.com

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