Federal officials have disclosed that the total cost of a contentious cull at an ostrich farm in Edgewood, B.C., last year was close to $7 million. The cull was initiated after the detection of highly pathogenic avian flu among the flock, resulting in the euthanization of approximately 300 ostriches at Universal Ostrich farm.
Despite opposition from a group of supporters and appeals from U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the cull proceeded. Conservative MP Scott Anderson, representing the area that includes Edgewood, revealed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) spent over $3.8 million on policing the operation.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), responsible for ordering and executing the cull, spent nearly $1.6 million on the operation. This included expenses for the disposal of birds, cybersecurity, and office security measures due to threats against CFIA personnel.
The majority of the RCMP’s expenses, exceeding $2 million, were attributed to personnel costs. Anderson criticized the high costs associated with the cull operation, questioning the CFIA’s justification for its actions and highlighting the disruption caused to the community.
Legal costs related to the cull totaled around $1.38 million, primarily covering litigation services. The CFIA defended its stamping-out policy, emphasizing the importance of preventing the spread of avian flu and safeguarding Canada’s food security.
The Universal Ostrich farm faced international scrutiny following legal challenges to halt the cull. Despite court rulings upholding the CFIA’s decision, the farm was fined for failing to report avian flu symptoms promptly. The Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the farm’s case, solidifying the previous rulings.
The Agricultural Review Tribunal upheld a $10,000 fine against the farm for non-compliance. The CFIA confirmed the completion of the cull, emphasizing the necessity of the measures taken to address the avian flu outbreak.