In the midst of the Supreme Court of Canada deliberating on whether to address the case of a British Columbia farm endeavoring to protect its ostriches from a Canadian Food Inspection Agency culling, Ottawa politicians are treading cautiously in their expressions on the matter.
Pierre Poilievre was questioned twice in the past week regarding his stance on the individuals assembled at Universal Ostrich Farms protesting against the planned cull. The usually vocal Conservative leader has refrained from directly addressing the protesters’ assertions.
Without explicitly mentioning “ostriches,” Poilievre, on Thursday, shifted blame towards the Liberal government, accusing them of mismanaging the situation from the outset and causing confusion among Canadians and bewilderment among farmers due to the perceived ineptitude of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Health Minister Marjorie Michel, who supervises the CFIA, expressed her apprehension about the farm’s predicament but declined to delve into specifics, citing the ongoing court proceedings.
Katie Pasitney, the farm’s spokesperson, lamented the political silence on the matter during a press conference on Thursday, emphasizing the need for leaders like Pierre Poilievre to address pressing issues affecting Canadians.
The farm’s advocates draw parallels between the ostrich farm dispute and the COVID-19 mandates that fueled the “Freedom Convoy” protests in 2022, noting visits from prominent “Freedom Convoy” organizer Tamara Lich to the farm.
Despite receiving some backing from the local Conservative MP Scott Anderson and the provincial MLA, the farm is disheartened by the lack of attention from Ottawa, particularly from Poilievre.
Political science professor Lori Turnbull observed Poilievre’s reluctance to take a firm stance on a potentially divisive issue among his supporters, speculating that he aims to balance alignment with the convoy supporters while not fully endorsing their actions.
Former Conservative federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz echoed the sentiment that Poilievre has more significant priorities to address, suggesting that the Agriculture Minister should be more vocal on the matter.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May highlighted her efforts to request re-testing of the ostriches, reflecting the sentiments of constituents who oppose the cull. She emphasized the importance of factual accuracy and criticized the CFIA’s refusal to conduct re-testing.
The CFIA’s stance remains consistent, requiring the cull of the entire flock upon detecting avian flu among domestic birds to prevent spread and adhere to international trade agreements safeguarding commercial poultry.
Legal battles ensued after the CFIA ordered the cull following the discovery of avian flu in two tested ostriches in December 2024, leading to prolonged delays and the CFIA assuming control of the farm pending the Supreme Court’s decision on Universal Ostrich’s legal challenge.