â–ş Listen Live
â–ş Listen Live

Edgewood ostrich farm loses latest appeal

The Federal Court of Appeal has ruled against an Edgewood ostrich farm that was seeking to overturn an order to cull their animals.

The unanimous ruling today found that the flock did not qualify for an exemption from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s order. The court dismissed the appeal as well a motion to provide fresh evidence.

“In so concluding, we recognize that our decision might lead to the death of over 400 ostriches … an outcome that would doubtless be very difficult, both financially and emotionally, for the appellant’s principals,” the three-member panel wrote.

“While we have considerable sympathy for them, the law we are bound to apply inevitably leads to the conclusion that this appeal must be dismissed.”

In a video posted online, a tearful Katie Pasitney, whose mother co-owns the farm, said without an emergency stay order, “we are essentially just sitting open ducks in a field waiting for the next steps of the CFIA.”

Pasitney said their lawyer is going to seek another emergency stay while they seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. However, given the unanimous judgement today, she said the chances that the high court will hear their case are “very low.”

In June, the federal court issued a stay of execution while it deliberated.

The CFIA ordered the farm to cull its entire flock after it declared an avian influenza outbreak at the property late last year. However, the farm has refused to do so. They said the remaining birds didn’t show any sign of illness and are useful for scientific study.


Be the first to know! Don’t miss out on breaking news and daily updates in your area. Sign up to MyKootenayNow News Alerts.

Greg Nesteroff
Greg Nesteroff
Greg has been working in West Kootenay news media off and on since 1998. When he's not on the air, he's busy writing about local history. He has recently published a book about the man who founded the ghost town of Sandon.

Continue Reading

cjat Now playing play

ckqr Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

BCGEU says mediation talks progressing as strike impacts widen across B.C.

The B.C. General Employees Union (BCGEU) said Thursday progress is steady as mediation talks between the union and the province continued for a sixth day.  The post BCGEU says mediation talks progressing as strike impacts widen across B.C. appeared first on AM 1150.

Supreme Court judge excludes key evidence in Castlegar drug case

A B.C. Supreme Court judge has thrown out key evidence in a Castlegar drug trafficking case, ruling that police violated the accused’s Charter rights when a search warrant was executed in 2021.

Police bodycam rollout delayed in West Kootenay

While they have already been rolled out in other parts of the country and province, body cameras are still a few months away from being deployed

B.C. Conservative management committee says Rustad should step down as leader

The B.C. Conservative Party's management committee says the party is in turmoil and is calling on John Rustad to immediately step down as leader.

Teck reports $53M Q3 profit in Trail

The local operation's concentration on producing more silver, germanium and indium with reductions in refined lead and refined zinc helped increase its gross profit in the third quarter.
- Advertisement -