Ostriches, Symbols of Government Overreach

Vernon BC, September 26, 2025

Timothy Knight, CEO, PPC BCPA

A Plan is Hatched

Evy LaCroix, PPC National Coordinator, called Timothy Knight, CEO of the PPC British Columbia Provincial Association (BCPA), to see if a candidate could be organized to visit the Universal Ostrich Farms to make a report as an official representative of The People's Party of Canada.

After an initial survey of the two regions, Rockies South and Rockies North, it was decided that Chris Enns of Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola (chris.enns@teamppc.ca and @_chrisenns on X) would be the project Field Lead.

• Past candidate for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, Peyman Askari, was also identified by Evy as a potential support for Chris's contacts and social media networking. Peyman has been to the farm and is familiar with its stakeholders

• A core team, consisting of Chris Enns, regional candidates (see below), Barbara Bednarski (BCPA CFO), Timothy Knight, Evy LaCroix, and Peyman Askari, has been assembled.

The Itinerary

On Friday, September 26, Chris will travel to and visit the site over two nights. The purpose is to obtain daylight interviews and footage, and to serve as a nighttime eyewitness, since the RCMP have been reported to have employed nighttime harassment tactics. The PPC would like to document this on record.

• There is an added benefit with a two-night stay that gives the regional Rockies South candidates freedom to use Chris as a local headquarters to anchor their own visits to the farm to present a show of numerical strength and to produce commentary and reports in their own voices.

• The four Rockies South region candidates are

  • Debbie Robinson of Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna (debra.robinson@teamppc.ca)

  • Barry Dewar of Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay (barry.dewar@teamppc.ca)

  • Laurie Baird of Columbia—Kootenay—Southern Rockies (laurie.baird@teamppc.ca),

  • Michael Henry of Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies (michael.henry@teamppc.ca).

Additionally, Drea Humphrey of Rebel News will be contacted and invited to interview official PPC spokespersons (candidates) for political commentary.

NewGen PPC director, Timothy Breen, has been apprised, and we expect NewGen to provide significant social media support with their nationwide team and scope.

Who is Chris Enns?

Chris Enns stood as the PPC candidate for the district of Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola in the 2025 federal election. His campaign focused on core PPC principles, emphasizing individual freedom, personal responsibility, and a smaller government footprint.

Chris Enns garnered 516 votes in the Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola riding, which accounted for 0.8% of the total vote. The incumbent, Frank Caputo of the Conservative Party, was re-elected with 51.5% of the vote.

In this video, Chris Enns introduces himself and outlines the reasons for his candidacy in the federal election for the Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola riding. Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola PPC candidate Chris Enns

Who is Debbie Robinson?

Debbie Robinson ran as the PPC candidate in the district of Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna during the 2025 federal election.

Debbie Robinson received 307 votes, representing 0.5% of the total votes in the Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna riding. The seat was won by Dan Albas of the Conservative Party, who was re-elected with 50.9% of the vote.

Universal Ostrich Farm: Timeline of Legal Actions

Here is a timeline of the legal action between Universal Ostrich Farms and the Government of Canada from Summer 2024 to the present:

Late Summer 2024:

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) detects an outbreak of a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza at Universal Ostrich Farms in British Columbia.

• To contain the spread of the virus, the CFIA, acting on behalf of the federal government, issues a cull order for the entire flock of ostriches on the farm.

Fall 2024:

• Universal Ostrich Farms files for an emergency injunction to halt the cull order. The farm's legal team argues that a significant portion of their flock has survived the initial outbreak and has developed a natural immunity to the virus, making them scientifically valuable. They contend that the blanket cull order is an excessive and unnecessary measure.

• A temporary injunction is granted, pausing the immediate destruction of the remaining ostriches pending further legal review.

Winter 2024-2025:

• Lawyers for both Universal Ostrich Farms and the Government of Canada engage in preliminary legal arguments. The government's lawyers assert that the CFIA is acting within its mandate to protect the Canadian poultry industry from the economic devastation of a widespread avian flu outbreak and that the risk of the surviving birds acting as carriers is too significant to ignore.

May 13, 2025:

• The Federal Court of Canada hears the case for judicial review. Universal Ostrich Farms presents its case for the scientific importance and unique genetics of its surviving flock.

• The Federal Court rules in favor of the Government of Canada, upholding the CFIA's cull order. The judge determines that the CFIA's decision was reasonable and based on sound scientific principles to prevent the spread of the disease.

Late May 2025:

• Universal Ostrich Farms immediately files an appeal of the Federal Court's decision. Their legal counsel argues that the judge erred in their interpretation of the scientific evidence and did not give adequate weight to the farm's claims of herd immunity.

Summer 2025:

• The Federal Court of Appeal hears preliminary arguments and grants a temporary stay of the cull order pending the outcome of the appeal. This allows the surviving ostriches to remain on the farm while the legal process continues.

• The case draws significant media attention, with animal welfare groups and some scientific researchers voicing support for the farm's efforts to preserve its unique flock.

Early September 2025:

• The legal battle escalates as the Government of Canada files a motion to have the stay lifted, arguing that the ongoing presence of the potentially infected birds poses a continuous threat to national biosecurity.

• Universal Ostrich Farms' legal team indicates that if they are unsuccessful at the Court of Appeal, they are prepared to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, signaling a protracted legal fight ahead.

Present - Late September 2025:

• The situation remains at a legal impasse. The surviving ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms are still under a cull order, but the execution of that order is on hold pending the decision of the Federal Court of Appeal. Both sides are preparing for the next stage of what has become a landmark case in Canadian agricultural and administrative law.

Federal Court Upholds Order to Cull Ostriches at B.C. Farm Amid Avian Flu Outbreak

Ottawa, ON – May 13, 2025 – In a significant ruling, the Federal Court of Canada today dismissed an application for judicial review filed by Universal Ostrich Farms, upholding the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) order to cull the farm's flock of ostriches following an outbreak of avian influenza. The decision marks a key moment in a protracted and contentious dispute between the British Columbia-based farm and the federal government.

The case centered on a cull order issued by the CFIA after the H5N1 avian flu virus was detected on the farm. Universal Ostrich Farms had argued that the surviving ostriches had developed a natural immunity to the virus and represented a unique opportunity for scientific study. They contended that the cull was an unnecessary and excessive measure, disputing the CFIA's assessment of the risk posed by the remaining birds.

The Government of Canada, represented by the CFIA, maintained that the cull was a necessary biosecurity measure to prevent the potential spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza. The agency's legal team argued that their primary mandate is to protect Canada's poultry industry and the public from the devastating economic and health consequences of a widespread outbreak. They presented evidence that even asymptomatic birds could still carry and shed the virus, posing a significant threat to other avian populations.

In his ruling, the presiding judge found that the CFIA had acted within its legislative authority and that its decision to issue the cull order was reasonable. The court determined that the agency had a sound scientific basis for its actions and had appropriately weighed the risks involved.

The legal battle did not end with this federal court decision. Universal Ostrich Farms subsequently sought to appeal the ruling, leading to further legal wrangling and a temporary stay of the cull order. The case has drawn considerable public attention and has seen the farm garner support from various groups who view the government's actions as an overreach. The dispute eventually escalated to the Supreme Court of Canada, which has also been involved in deliberating on the matter. However, the May 13th federal court decision was a crucial juncture that affirmed the CFIA's authority to enforce animal health regulations in the face of a significant disease threat.

Who or What is the Universal Ostrich Farms?

Nestled in the remote landscape of Edgewood, British Columbia, Universal Ostrich Farms has, for over three decades, been a testament to the pioneering spirit of its owners and the unique potential of the world's largest bird. What began as a venture into a niche agricultural market has evolved into a research-focused enterprise, now embroiled in a high-stakes battle for its very existence.

The farm's long history is a compelling narrative of adaptation, scientific ambition, and, most recently, a fight for survival against a government-mandated cull.

The origins of Universal Ostrich Farms trace back to the early 1990s, a period marked by a speculative boom in the North American ostrich market. Dave Bilinski, one of the farm's co-founders, transitioned from cattle ranching to the more exotic world of ostrich farming. He was instrumental in importing breeding stock from Africa, establishing quarantine facilities to ensure the safe transport of the birds to Canada.

Around the same time, Karen Espersen was developing her expertise in the intricacies of ostrich husbandry, with a particular focus on the delicate processes of incubation and hatching. Her deep understanding of the birds' life cycle would become a cornerstone of their future enterprise.

The speculative bubble of the 1990s, which had drawn many into the promise of lucrative returns from selling breeding stock, eventually burst. As the market corrected, many fledgling ostrich operations faltered. It was in the wake of this downturn that Bilinski and Espersen decided to pool their complementary skills and create a more resilient, vertically integrated business. In 2001, they formally incorporated Universal Ostrich Farms, Inc.

Their vision was to move beyond simply selling breeding pairs and to develop a market for a wide array of ostrich products, including meat, leather, hides, feathers, and healing oils. This approach allowed them to weather the fluctuations of the market and build a sustainable operation. Over the years, they even engaged in selective breeding to enhance the qualities of their flock, such as increasing the yield of valuable ostrich oil. Espersen's leadership in the field was recognized through her role as a director of both the Canadian and Alberta Ostrich Associations.

For nearly two decades, Universal Ostrich Farms operated as a multifaceted agricultural business, contributing to the small but dedicated community of ostrich farmers in Canada. However, a significant shift in their business model began in the summer of 2019 when they ceased meat processing. This move signaled a new direction for the farm, one that would fully come to fruition with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the world grappled with the novel coronavirus, Universal Ostrich Farms pivoted towards scientific research, leveraging the unique immunological properties of their ostriches. They embarked on a collaboration with Dr. Yasuhiro Tsukamoto of Kyoto Prefectural University in Japan and Ostrich Pharma USA. The research focused on the production of antibodies from ostrich eggs. The science is based on the principle that ostriches have a robust immune system and produce a high concentration of antibodies in their eggs.

By inoculating the birds with specific antigens, they could harvest eggs rich in antibodies that could potentially be used in a variety of applications, from diagnostics to therapeutics. The farm's research interests were broad, exploring antibodies for viruses and even for use in weight-loss supplements.

This new chapter as a research-oriented facility was, however, tragically interrupted in December 2024. An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) was detected on the farm, leading to the death of 69 ostriches. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) responded by issuing a cull order for the remaining flock of over 400 birds, citing the need to prevent the spread of the virus and protect the broader Canadian poultry industry.

This directive marked the beginning of a protracted and highly publicized battle. Espersen and Bilinski, along with their daughter and farm spokesperson Katie Pasitney, refused to comply with the cull order. They argued that the surviving ostriches, having developed a natural immunity to the virus, represented a unique and invaluable resource for scientific study.

They contended that destroying the flock would not only be a devastating personal and financial loss but would also extinguish a rare opportunity to research avian flu resistance in ostriches.

The ensuing standoff throughout 2025 has drawn international attention. The farm's plight has been championed by a diverse group of supporters, including high-profile figures such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz. The controversy has ignited a debate that touches on issues of animal welfare, government oversight, and the potential for alternative approaches to disease management in agriculture.

The legal battle has been arduous, with Universal Ostrich Farms challenging the CFIA's decision in court. While lower courts have upheld the agency's authority to order the cull, the farm has continued to pursue every available legal avenue, including an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, which granted a temporary stay of the cull order in the fall of 2025.

The history of Universal Ostrich Farms is thus a story in three acts: a foundation built on the ashes of a market bubble, a long period of stable and diversified agricultural production, and a recent transformation into a research hub that now finds itself at the center of a national controversy. The ultimate fate of the farm and its unique flock of ostriches remains uncertain, hanging in the balance of legal decisions and the ongoing debate about how to best manage the complex interplay of animal health, public safety, and scientific potential.

Whatever the outcome, the story of Universal Ostrich Farms will stand as a poignant and powerful chapter in the history of Canadian agriculture.

Summary

Follow the People's Party of Canada through the eyes of local candidates, who are on-site at the Universal Ostrich Farms. Join Chris (@_chrisenns on X) and Debbie as they discuss the events at Universal Ostrich Farms with stakeholders and offer a People's Party perspective.