Overview

• Justice Gerald Heckman denied Universal Ostrich Farms’ latest stay request, saying the farm failed to raise a serious or arguable issue for Supreme Court review and that the CFIA must be allowed to carry out its mandate.
• The ruling removes last weekend’s interim halt, leaving the Edgewood, B.C., farm without legal protection as the CFIA prepares to enforce its December 2024 depopulation order.
• An affidavit from CFIA deputy chief veterinarian Dr. Cathy Furness reported a novel reassortant H5N1 with enhanced pathogenicity that ranked among the most virulent tested, though the agency said the likelihood of current infection in the flock is unknown.
• Farm spokesperson Katie Pasitney says they have petitioned the agriculture minister to rescind the order and will seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court, as supporters gather at the property.
• The court noted late expert materials from the farm were disregarded under the rules, and the CFIA argued those submissions improperly asked the judiciary to adjudicate scientific questions.