‘Something is rotten,’ says U.S. billionaire who funded B.C. ostrich farm legal defence

Businessman John Catsimatidis speaks about the culling of more than 300 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farm with Katie Pasitney, whose family owns the farm.

This article's headline has been updated to correct that John Catsimatidis's funding went to the farm's legal defence. — Supporters of the B.C. ostrich farm say they are looking at next steps after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) culled more than 300 ostriches last week.

Speaking in a virtual press conference Monday afternoon, U.S. billionaire John Catsimatidis, who has helped fund Universal Ostrich Farms’ legal battle, said they are looking for “truth and justice.”

“Something is rotten at the CFIA in Ottawa, and I think this requires an investigation by an outside force,” Catsimatidis said, but fell short of confirming what actions will be taken.

Last week, the Supreme Court had ruled that it would not hear a final appeal from the farmers, ending the last legal obstruction to the cull.

The CFIA went ahead with the “complete depopulation and disposal” of the flock last Thursday, more than 10 months after an avian flu outbreak killed about 70 of the birds.