Local MP voices opposition to decision not to hear ostrich cull appeal

Nov 6, 2025 | 2:43 PM

The Member of Parliament for Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee has again criticized the move to cull ostriches in Edgewood and the decision to not provide the farmers another chance to fight the order.

Bird flu was identified in the flock of roughly 400 ostriches at a farm in Edgewood in December 2024, leading to the death of roughly 70 birds. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency tested the birds and ordered a cull to stop the disease from spreading any further.

The farm owner fought the order in the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal, but in both cases the courts ruled in favour of maintaining the order.

The Supreme Court of Canada declined to grant the farmers leave to appeal their case again on Thursday, Nov. 6.

Scott Anderson said in a release that he had been monitoring the situation for the past 10 months since the CFIA ordered the birds be culled due to bird flu, and said the decision by the Supreme Court to not hear an appeal was disappointing.

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“My heart goes out to the residents of Edgewood and the farmers who have had their lives disrupted for almost a year by the incompetence of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the unexplainable silence of both the Ministers of Health and Agriculture,” Anderson said in a written statement.

“This operation has cost Canadians millions of dollars, hundreds of hours of RCMP overtime, and has turned the once peaceful town of Edgewood into something that looks like a science fiction movie set featuring Area 51.”

The local MP went on to say the silence from the CFIA “has unnecessarily increased the level of distrust among Canadians in our government institutions,” and adding that the government must do more to serve Canadians.

Anderson had previously voiced his support for the farmers and opposition to the cull orders.

-With files from the Canadian Press

by Liam Verster

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