Petition to Save 400 healthy ostriches that have developed natural herd immunity to Avian Influenza but are subject to be killed due to a "stamping out" policy of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

To: The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, CFIA Leadership, and Relevant Government Authorities

Re: Support for Universal Ostrich Farms and Urgent Call to Halt the CFIA’s Culling Order

We, the undersigned members of the public, write to you today out of deep concern regarding the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) decision to order the mass culling of nearly 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms Inc. in Edgewood, British Columbia.

This action, taken on the basis of unconfirmed and highly questionable PCR test results from just two deceased birds, lacks both scientific and ethical justification. The CFIA has refused to conduct confirmatory testing, denied the farm’s right to independent diagnostics, and dismissed the farm’s documented history of similar illness resolved through natural recovery. We are particularly troubled by CFIA’s own admission that, had the illness truly been Avian Influenza, the entire flock would have perished within 24 to 36 hours. Instead, most birds remained healthy or recovered—clear evidence contradicting the official narrative.

We stand in full support of Katie Pasitney and her mother, Karen Espersen, and David Bilinski owners of Universal Ostrich Farms. For 35 years, this family-run operation has contributed not only to ethical farming practices but to promising research in antibody science with significant potential for public health. The antibodies extracted from ostrich eggs at this farm have demonstrated the capacity to neutralize various diseases, including COVID-19, offering a non-lethal, scalable, and sustainable solution to antibody production—an achievement that should be celebrated, not suppressed.

We are alarmed by the timing and nature of the CFIA’s actions, which appear to coincide with increased attention to the farm’s scientific research. The farm’s work was reportedly halted when a collaborating lab was acquired and silenced under a non-disclosure agreement. Further, CFIA officials reportedly demanded access to the farm’s COVID-19 antibody research while simultaneously preparing the cull order. This raises serious concerns about potential abuse of regulatory authority and conflicts of interest.

Moreover, we question the blind application of the “stamping out” policy, which mandates mass culling in suspected avian influenza cases, based on guidelines promoted by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). While international cooperation is important, these guidelines are not laws and should not override common sense, scientific evidence, or Canadian sovereignty. Applying a blanket policy from an international body—without room for independent verification, proportionality, or case-specific review—endangers not only animal welfare and food security but public trust in our regulatory institutions.

This case has far-reaching implications. If a family farm conducting innovative, humane, and potentially world-changing research can be shut down without due process or transparent science, what does that say about the future of food security, independent research, and agricultural rights in Canada?

We therefore urge you to:

 1. Immediately halt the CFIA’s culling order pending a full independent review by neutral experts.

 2. Investigate the conduct of CFIA officials, including the denial of independent testing and the apparent suppression of vital research.

 3. Review Canada’s adoption of WOAH’s “stamping out” policy to ensure it aligns with national interests, scientific freedom, and ethical standards.

 4. Protect Universal Ostrich Farms’ intellectual property and support its continued research for the public good.

The Judicial Review on this matter is set for April 15–16, and the eyes of the nation are on this case. We stand with Universal Ostrich Farms in their fight for justice, truth, and scientific freedom. We call upon you, as stewards of public policy, to act in the interest of transparency, ethics, and the future of sustainable innovation in Canada.

Respectfully,

Concerned Members of the Public

Members  of Parliament, Senate Agriculture Committee, Office of the Prime Minister