Under floodlights and black tents, Universal Ostrich Farms healthy, immune birds are currently being culled. We have lost animals carrying antibodies that could have been used to develop new formulations of cheap, patent free, natural products for protecting humans and birds, already implemented in Japan with great success, and providing a viable alternative to pharmaceutical vaccines. 

Probably...the last update 

Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition and stood with the farmers in their fight to save their beloved ostriches — animals who were not just livestock, but cherished companions and part of their family. This has been a long, exhausting struggle against entrenched bureaucracy, and in the end, bureaucracy won.

Stopping the cull was always an uphill battle in a system that often defaults to rigid policy over compassion. Yet there is beauty and nobility in standing up for what’s right. The farmers and their many supporters fought with courage and integrity, extending what would have been a quick, quiet process into a nearly year-long national discussion — one that drew attention to the importance of transparency, humane treatment, and scientific accountability.

This story is a tragedy, but it is also a call to conscience. Let us carry it with us — not as a tale of despair, but as a reminder to stay vigilant and compassionate. Shed tears for what was lost, but let those tears harden into resolve. Together, we can ensure this never happens again.

Below is a fact-based letter you can copy, adapt, and send to government officials or media outlets.
Perhaps consider calling government officials and the media as well to express your feelings on the tragedy that has transpired. 

Thank you my fellow ostrich lovers for supporting this farm. 

Godspeed and God bless. 🙏🏻

David. 

Email Template 📩

Subject : Ostriches Slaughtered. Lifesaving Antibodies Lost to Bureaucracy

To: [Government Official / Media Outlet]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians were told to “follow the science.” That same phrase has been used to justify the CFIA’s decision to cull the ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farm. But given the facts, can anyone truly claim this was about science — or was it about control, bureaucracy, and risk avoidance at all costs?

Below is a summary of key facts and inconsistencies that call the decision into question:

 
• Passive Immunotherapy Potential:
Ostrich eggs naturally contain high concentrations of IgY antibodies, which have been studied internationally for their potential to help combat avian and even human influenza strains. Research in Japan and elsewhere has demonstrated promising results. The farm’s birds could have contributed to this field — offering a non-patentable, publicly beneficial avenue of disease prevention.

• Limited Testing:
CFIA confirmed infection in only two deceased ostriches through PCR testing in December 2024. Experts note that two samples are insufficient to confirm infection across an entire flock, especially when surviving birds showed no symptoms for months afterward.

• No Clinical Signs:
According to reports and witness statements, surviving birds showed no symptoms for over 300 days — far beyond the expected active period of H5N1. Under standard epidemiological models, a virus cannot remain infectious for that duration without observable illness.

• Denied Additional Testing:
Farmers repeatedly requested permission to test additional birds to confirm or rule out infection. They were threatened with penalties if they conducted independent testing, and CFIA declined to perform further confirmatory tests.

• Not a Food Operation:
The ostriches were not being raised for consumption and had been kept for research and educational purposes for several years. The farm is located in an isolated area, over 200 km from major urban centers.

• Minimal Public Health Risk:
Experts widely acknowledge that avian influenza is endemic in wild bird populations across North America. Culling one isolated flock would have no measurable impact on the virus’s natural circulation.

• Missed Research Opportunity:
CFIA’s own deputy chief veterinarian stated that the strain detected was highly pathogenic in lab mice — yet the ostriches survived and remained healthy. This presented a rare scientific opportunity to study natural resistance and develop better prevention strategies.

• Policy Precedent Ignored:
CFIA policy allows exemptions for rare or genetically valuable birds. Despite fitting that description, the farm’s request for an exemption was denied without public explanation.

• Comparable Precedents:
In 2022, CFIA allowed a turkey farm to pursue alternative containment protocols rather than culling. The ostrich farmers requested the same consideration and were refused.

• Species Misclassification:
Ostriches are not poultry and possess distinct immune responses. Treating them under the same policy framework as domestic chickens is scientifically questionable.

• International Example:
France has vaccinated tens of millions of poultry since 2023 with great success, drastically reducing outbreaks. Canada even permits the import of vaccinated French poultry products, demonstrating confidence in the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.

• Ignoring the One Health Approach:
Canada’s “One Health” framework calls for balanced solutions that protect animal welfare, human health, and the environment. The CFIA’s approach in this case seems inconsistent with that principle.

• Public Health Justification Weak:
CFIA cited human health risk, yet farmers and staff who spent months in direct contact with the birds remained healthy. CFIA and RCMP personnel reportedly wore standard gear at first and did not begin using full biosecurity suits until public criticism arose.

 
In conclusion:
With no clear scientific justification, no follow-up testing, and birds remaining healthy nearly a year after the initial detection, the evidence suggests the CFIA destroyed healthy animals that posed no credible risk.

This tragedy raises serious questions about transparency, proportionality, and whether Canada’s disease-control policy prioritizes optics over science.

If the Canadian government has shown it will disregard science, logic, compassion, the will of tens of thousands of Canadians, the extended hand of its neighbor to the south, all in favor of entrenched government bureaucracy, how can Canadians trust that should another crisis arise, and the government decides it can only be resolved according to its dictates, the government will not once again disregard science, logic, and compassion in favor of a cold commitment to bureaucracy?

Canadians deserve answers — and reforms to prevent such wasteful, heartbreaking outcomes from ever happening again.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City, Province, Postal Code]

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

* Note : Very disappointing Mr. Fraser said in response to a question about the Supreme Court's dismissal of the appeal, "This is a decision that is following the science and the evidence." When there is a veritable mountain of science and evidence showing the exact opposite one questions if the words "science" and "evidence" are not being used as convenient covers for "bureaucracy" and "control". 

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

* Very disappointing Marjorie Michel would not even deign to respond to Rebel New's Ezra Levant's perfectly reasonable question about Robert F Kennedy, the head of HHS and her American counterpart, and his offer to do a collaborative study on the ostriches. She refused to answer the question and her staff brushed Ezra off coldly asking for the next question. A legitimate question from a recognized Canadian news outlet, in a formal press conference was treated as so much meaningless noise. Very disappointing. 

*My message to Marjorie Michel. 

"I would just like to express my extreme disappointment at your complete disregard for a question from Ezra Levant of Rebel News on your opinion regarding your American counterpart, Robert F Kennedy Jr's, expressed desire to engage in a collaborative study of Universal Ostrich Farm's birds. I was frankly shocked at your behavior, seeming to not even acknowledge Mr. Levant existed despite the very politely worded question. Is this really how a government official, a cabinet minister should behave when asked a legitimate question by an approved Canadian journalist? I must admit Minister that if this is how you treat questions and journalists you disagree with, I question how you are handling the health of the tens of millions of Canadians with political views which don't align with your own. I am very concerned. " 

Constituency : Papineau, Quebec

Phone: 613-957-0200
Email: hcminister.ministresc@hc-sc.gc.ca
- Source: GEDS Directory
new.geds-sage.gc.ca

- Joanne (very nice Ministerial Assistant)

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)

* MP Anderson formally presented his Petition with more than 40,000 signatures to Parliament on November 5th calling on the Minister of Health and Agriculture to intervene in the culling of the Ostriches. Consider sharing thanks for all his efforts. 

Telephone: 613-995-3501
* Jenette (his lovely Parliamentary Assistant)
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 (Conservative Caucus)

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

Mainstream Media

CBC VANCOUVER NEWS
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/contact-us-1.3982389

. cbcnewsvancouver@cbc.ca 
. 604-662-6801

CBC : The National

. https://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/how-to-reach-the-national-1.2889780

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. Tel: (604) 872-2557, Press 1 for Tips and Stories

Alternative Media

REBEL NEWS

. https://www.rebelnews.com/contact

WESTERN STANDARD
https://www.westernstandard.news/contact-us

. Email : news@westernstandard.news
. Phone : 866.479.WEST (9378)

JUNO NEWS
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EPOCH TIMES
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