The decision to cull more than 300 ostriches at a B.C. farm last November cost the federal government more than $6.7 million across three agencies, according to newly released data.
After Universal Ostrich Farm, located near Edgewood, B.C., reported it had lost dozens of birds following an avian flu outbreak in late 2024, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ordered the farm to cull its remaining herd by Feb. 1, 2025.
This triggered a months-long legal battle, with the farm fighting to save the birds, and the CFIA arguing in court that the cull was necessary under its “stamping out” policy, which aims to minimize risk to human health.
The saga garnered global attention and saw demonstrators gather to protest the cull — before the Supreme Court said it would not hear the farmers’ final appeal.
Ultimately, more than 300 birds were shot and killed on the farm in early November.
According to newly released government documents detailing the costs associated with the contentious dispute, the cull cost the CFIA nearly $1.6 million, the Department of Justice approximately $1.3 million, and the RCMP more than $3.8 million.
These figures were made public on Monday, tabled in Parliament as part of a written response to an order paper question from Conservative B.C. MP Scott Anderson.
One of the largest line items for all three agencies were the salaries for employees involved with the cull, the legal battle, and related public safety matters.
For the CFIA, salaries amounted to $339,497.
The CFIA also spent $482,734 on “professional services,” which include, in part:
- Disposal
- Protection services
- Transportation of materials
- Cyber security
- Office security, and
- Private veterinarian services.
Also included under the professional services umbrella is a charge for $772 for laundry.
The CFIA also reported spending $220,923 for “straw and delivery.” While the agency does not specify a use for the straw, Canadian Press photos from Nov. 6 show the birds corralled into a cull enclosure, which appears to be made of stacked bales. The agency separately reported paying $13,780.00 for “ostrich feed.”
The RCMP also itemized its expenses related to the ostrich farm from Feb. 20, what it called the “first transaction date,” to Dec. 9, the date Anderson asked Parliament for the cost breakdown.
For personnel, the RCMP spent $2,016,566. Expenses related to the ostrich farm also cost the RCMP about $1 million for transportation and telecommunications, $657,037 for professional and special services, $59,210 for rentals and leases, $16,866 for repairs and maintenance, and $210 for utilities, materials and supplies.
The justice department did not provide a breakdown of its $1.3-million bill, only to say it included the “total legal costs (actual and notional costs) associated with action taken related to the ostrich farm.”
The CFIA also listed its own legal costs — $44,248.00 — which it says is “not including litigation costs incurred by the Department of Justice Canada.”
With files from CTV News’ Judy Trinh and Rachel Aiello
