Over 275 days of symptom-free ostriches. France has demonstrated that mandatory vaccination programs can reduce avian influenza losses by 90% without harming flocks. Katie Pasitney has called on supporters to contact MPs on the Standing Committee overseeing the CFIA to add the ostrich situation to their agenda, urging oversight and a halt to unnecessary destruction. Meanwhile, CBC reporting has misrepresented the flock’s health, suggesting a single “compromised” ostrich—injured by RCMP drone activity—poses potential risks, reflecting a troubling lack of investigative rigor that paints these healthy birds in an unfairly negative light.
Email Template ⬇️ To Officials
Subject: Urgent Call for Vaccination Alternative to Stamping-Out Policy at Universal Ostrich Farms – Aligning with Proven International Success and CFIA's Own Precedents
Dear [Government Official],
I am writing to urge the CFIA to reconsider its rigid application of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) stamping-out policy in the case of the 400 healthy ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., which have been symptom-free for over 275 days since their initial H5N1 exposure in December 2024. While I respect the CFIA's mandate to protect public health and the poultry industry, the evidence overwhelmingly supports exploring vaccination as a viable alternative, particularly given France's resounding success and the CFIA's own recent policy shifts.
France's mandatory vaccination program for ducks on farms with over 250 birds, launched in October 2023, has vaccinated more than 61 million animals and reduced avian influenza outbreaks from hundreds in prior seasons to just 10 in 2023-2024—a 90% drop in losses without compromising biosecurity. This approach, endorsed by WOAH as a complement to stamping-out, demonstrates that vaccination can effectively suppress symptoms and transmission while preserving flocks. Notably, the CFIA itself lifted its import restrictions on certain unvaccinated French poultry products in January 2025, following a joint evaluation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture that affirmed the program's safety through enhanced surveillance and DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) testing. If the CFIA deems French-vaccinated poultry sufficiently low-risk to allow into Canada—restoring trade access without HPAI-free status concerns—why not extend similar flexibility to domestic flocks like these ostriches, whose survival of a highly mutated H5N1 strain (as reported by CFIA veterinarian Dr. Cathy Furness in her affidavit, noting its lethality in mice) offers even greater potential?
Ostriches possess robust immune systems, producing high levels of potent antibodies that have been studied for applications in human vaccines, including against COVID-19. These birds' natural immunity after exposure to a novel reassortment variant could yield superior vaccine candidates to protect Canada's poultry industry—especially critical after 8.7 million birds culled since 2022. Pursuing vaccination here would not only align with WOAH's allowance for alternatives in exceptional cases but also leverage the CFIA's own precedents: In 2022, the agency granted an experimental exemption from stamping-out for a turkey flock infected with H5N2 in Ontario, allowing vaccination and monitoring instead of depopulation. Similarly, CFIA policy under the Health of Animals Act permits case-by-case exemptions for rare or genetically valuable poultry, as explicitly sought by Universal Ostrich Farms for its unique genetics—birds that logically qualify given their proven resilience to a deadly strain.
If vaccination can be safely implemented—as validated by France and the CFIA's import decisions—should it not be pursued to advance science, safeguard biodiversity, and avoid irreversible loss? I implore you to grant an exemption for testing and vaccination at Universal Ostrich Farms, ensuring transparency under the Supreme Court of Canada's interim stay (September 24, 2025). This would demonstrate accountability and innovation, protecting Canadian interests without unnecessary destruction.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City/Province]
[Your Email/Phone]
Standing Committee Email
On Wednesday October 1st, Katie Pasitney asked all supporters to contact MP's who were members of the Standing Committee holding oversight over the CFIA for the purpose of addressing the plight of Universal Ostrich Farms in their meeting held today (Thursday October 2nd).
The meeting is over, but sending a message to the relevant MP's still holds value to show the numbers of people who are deeply moved by the farm's plight.
Here is Katie's message, with the relevant MP's and the brief message which can be sent to them.
#1 Send this email to these 20 MP's that sit on the Standing Committees with oversight of CFIA:
Michael.coteau@parl.gc.ca
yves.perron@parl.gc.ca
john.barlow@parl.gc.ca
richard.bragdon@parl.gc.ca
sophie.chatel@parl.gc.ca
paul.connors@parl.gc.ca
marianne.dandurand@parl.gc.ca
dave.epp@parl.gc.ca
jacques.gourde@parl.gc.ca
emma.harrison@parl.gc.ca
hedy.fry@parl.gc.ca
dan.mazier@parl.gc.ca
luc.theriault@parl.gc.ca
burton.bailey@parl.gc.ca
maggie.chi@parl.gc.ca
doug.eyolfson@parl.gc.ca
helena.konanz@parl.gc.ca
marcus.powlowski@parl.gc.ca
sonia.sidhu@parl.gc.ca
matt.strauss@parl.gc.ca
Subject: URGENT: Add UOF Ostrich Cull to Oct 2 Agenda – Don't Ignore This Crisis
Dear Standing Committee member
As a concerned Canadian, I join the thousands demanding that the Universal Ostrich Farm (UOF) cull of healthy ostriches be stopped.
Please support the UOF owners in their request to have CFIA/UOF oversight added to the Agenda of your October 2nd standing committee meeting.
This isn't partisan: It's about due process, science (no live birds have been tested), and animal welfare (injured ostriches under federal watch). Your committee can refer for suspension and hearings—act before the stay lifts.
I'll share your response with my network.
Thank you.
[Your Full Name]
[Your City/Province]
[Your Email/Phone]
CBC News
On Friday September 26th, CBC reported that the CFIA agency said 1 ostrich on site had "compromised health".
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ostrich-cull-stayed-health-risk-cfia-1.7644764
What the article fails to report is that the reason the ostrich had "compromised health" was because earlier in the week on Monday September 22nd , RCMP drones were flying so low over the farm that ostriches panicked and one ran through a fence and was injured.
https://x.com/ChantaleBerger3/status/1972075459870707845
Sadly this is the unsurprising lack of investigative journalism which results in misleading the Canadian public into believing these healthy ostriches pose a threat to human health, when the only threat being perpetrated, is that of the CFIA and its auxiliaries on innocent animals.
Please Keep Contacting Officials
If you have time and energy in your busy life to continue to email and call relevant officials, please keep doing so.
It is through an avalanche of public pressure on officials that the Supreme Court will consider accepting this landmark case, and, hopefully, this gross injustice can be corrected.
Many thanks everyone,
David.
Contact Information
Decision Makers
*** Contact Your Local MP ***
📩 Search for your Member of Parliament
https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/search
1. The Right Honourable Mark Carney
Prime Minister of Canada
Online Contact Form: Contact the Prime Minister
Website: https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/connect/contact
X (formerly Twitter): @MarkJCarney
2. The Honourable Pierre Poilievre
Leader of the Opposition
Constituency: Battle River—Crowfoot
Email
pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca
House of Commons
Telephone: 613-947-4608
Constituency Office
Telephone: 780-608-4600
3. The Honourable Sean Fraser
Attorney General of Canada
Constituency: Central Nova, Nova Scotia
Email
sean.fraser@parl.gc.ca
House of Commons
Telephone: 613-992-6022
Constituency Office
Telephone: 902-752-0226
4. The Honourable Heath MacDonald
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/heath-macdonald%28109891%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com#contact
Constituency: Malpeque, Prince Edward Island
Email
heath.macdonald@parl.gc.ca
House of Commons
Telephone: 613-992-2406
Constituency Office
Telephone: 902-566-4577
GEDS Directory
Telephone : 613-773-1059
Email : aafc.minister-ministre.aac@agr.gc.ca
5. John Barlow, M.P.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food
Constituency : Foothills, Alberta
Email : john.barlow@parl.gc.ca
House of Commons Phone : 613-995-8471
Constituency Office : 403-603-3665
6. The Honourable Marjorie Michel
Minister of Health
Constituency : Papineau, Quebec
Phone: 613-957-0200
Email: hcminister.ministresc@hc-sc.gc.ca
- Source: GEDS Directory
new.geds-sage.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-947-9299
Email : marjorie.michel@parl.gc.ca
Constituency Office
Telephone: 514-277-1645
7. Dan Mazier, M.P.
Shadow Minister for Health
Constituency : Dauphin, Manitoba
Telephone: 613-992-3176
Email : Dan.Mazier@parl.gc.ca
Constituency Office
Telephone: 204-622-4659
8. Scott Anderson (Share Thanks / Ostrich Supporter)
Member of Parliament
Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee, British Columbia (District of Universal Farms)
Telephone: 613-995-3501
Email : scott.anderson@parl.gc.ca
9. MLA: Hon. David Eby, K.C. (Share Thanks / Ostrich Supporter)
Premier and President of the Executive Council
Vancouver-Point Grey
Office
Email : Premier@gov.bc.ca
Phone: (250) 387-1715
Constituency
Email : David.Eby.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Phone: 604-660-1297
10. MLA: John Rustad (Share Thanks / Ostrich Supporter)
Leader of the Official Opposition
Nechako Lakes
Office
Email : john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca
Phone : (250) 387-3507
Constituency
Phone : (250) 567-6820
Toll Free: +1 (877) 964-5650
11. The Honourable Lana Popham
BC Minister of Agriculture and Food; MLA for Saanich South
Parliamentary Office Phone: 250-387-1023
Constituency Office Phone: 250-479-4154
Email: Lana.Popham.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Parliamentary Email : AF.Minister@gov.bc.ca
12. Paul MacKinnon
President, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Phone: 613-867-7045
Email: Paul.MacKinnon@inspection.gc.ca
Source: GEDS Directory
new.geds-sage.gc.ca
13. Debbie Beresford-Green
Vice-President, Canadian Food Inpection Agency (CFIA)
Phone : 613-859-9118
Email : Debbie.Beresford-Green@inspection.gc.ca
14. Dr. Mary-Jane Ireland
Chief Veterinary Officer, CFIA
Phone: 343-553-5166
Email: Mary-Jane.Ireland@inspection.gc.ca
Source: GEDS Directory
new.geds-sage.gc.ca
15. Hui Hang
Director of Operations, CFIA (Pacific Region)
Phone: 604-644-9624
Email: hui.hang@inspection.gc.ca
16. Carlie Watson
Director General, CFIA
Phone : 403-542-3716
Email : Carlie.Watson@inspection.gc.ca
17. Cortnie Fotheringham
Inspector, CFIA (Based out of Abbotsford)
Email : cortnie.fotheringham@inspection.gc.ca
Phone : 604-557-4500 (CFIA Abbotsford Animal Health)
Email : AbbotsfordAnimalHealth@inspection.gc.ca
18. Media Relations Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Email : aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca
Phone : 1-866-345-7972
19. CFIA : Complaints
* Fill out online form
https://active.inspection.gc.ca/netapp/contactus/contactuse.aspx
Media
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