The months-long operation at the Universal Ostrich Farm operation last year cost federal agencies over $6.8 million, according to newly released financial figures.
The Edgewood farm became the focus of federal action last year after an avian flu outbreak was detected in December 2024, ultimately leading to the culling of the farm’s entire flock in September 2025.
Vernon–Lake Country–Monashee MP Scott Anderson requested a breakdown of federal expenditures related to the farm in December. The figures were made public Monday through responses to written questions in the House of Commons.
The roughly $6.8 million total reflects spending by three federal agencies: the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Department of Justice and the RCMP, through the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
CFIA expenses
The CFIA incurred nearly $1.6 million as of Dec. 9, 2025.
The largest portion of CFIA spending went to professional services, totalling $482,734. About $159,541 of that was spent on office and cyber security at CFIA locations across the country.
The agency said those costs were incurred following “threats to CFIA personnel across the country, at a number of CFIA offices, via IT accounts and direct threats to CFIA employees.”
Roughly half of the professional services costs, $248,583, were related to destruction and disposal activities.
The CFIA also spent $380,396 on materials and supplies, including more than $200,000 on straw and delivery, as well as specialized equipment and water.
Salary costs totalled $339,487, covering CFIA staff deployed to the file along with overtime incurred during the on-site operation.
Additional CFIA expenses included $148,249 for facilities such as portable washrooms and handwashing stations, $100,067 in travel costs, $62,355 in vehicle rentals and $13,780 for ostrich feed.
Legal services accounted for $44,248, not including litigation costs handled by the Department of Justice.
Department of Justice
The Department of Justice reported about $1.38 million in legal costs associated with actions related to the farm, reflecting costs recorded as of Dec. 17, 2025.
The department said most of the amount reflects litigation support services. It said while Justice lawyers are salaried public servants and do not bill fees, a “notional amount” was calculated based on hours worked and approved internal hourly rates, along with actual disbursements and legal agent fees.
Department of Public Safety
The RCMP spent $3.38 million related to the farm operation between Feb. 20 and Dec. 9, 2025, though updated totals in the agency’s financial records show spending closer to $3.83 million.
Most RCMP costs were tied to personnel, totalling just over $2 million, followed by $1.08 million in transportation and telecommunications expenses.
Professional and special services accounted for $657,037, with additional costs for rentals, repairs and supplies.
The Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness noted that the RCMP figures do not include past and pending expenses such as overtime, which are not reflected in the data. It said those costs will not be known until the end of the fiscal year.
MP reacts
Anderson said the figures signal the CFIA needs more federal oversight.
“The costs we know of to date are over $6 million for the months-long ostrich saga in Edgewood,” Anderson said in a social media post.
“The drama significantly affected the Canadian public’s distrust of federal institutions, and yet we have heard very little in defense from the CFIA other than bland claims that the stamping out policy is good.”
Anderson broke down the $6.7 million total and estimated it cost more than $20,000 to cull each bird at the farm, based on roughly 300 birds.
He also questioned whether RCMP expenses were warranted.
“I don’t know how many police officers were taken out of circulation by this action, but it must have ultimately involved hundreds of officers and detectives from across this province. So while protesters sang around a campfire, the peace was guarded by millions of dollars worth of our national police force, which should have been out catching real crooks.”
He said the CFIA needs federal oversight and a minister who can intervene on “behalf of Canadians.”
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