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iN DISCUSSION: Vernon MP swept up in moral panic over ostriches
This is where cold hard facts give way to the hottest of takes, mostly mine I suppose. I’m the editor, Marshall Jones.
Want to include yours? Listen, this isn’t the comment section, this isn’t social media. Discussion and debate requires context and a wee bit of bravery — we need your name and where you’re writing from. Include it in your account or email me anytime.
Scott Anderson ‘chose heartstrings over the hard things’
I needn’t agree with Scott Anderson to respect him as a politician and I have, at times.
He’d say what he thinks, popular or not. He tries — or at least used to — back up his claims with research and I always thought he was genuine in his takes and views.
So watching him, now as an MP for Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee, get swept up and captured entirely by the moral panic over flightless African birds infected with a deadly transmissible disease, was disappointing.
Of course people love animals, even ostriches specifically. It’s horrible they had to die, same with the millions of other birds already killed but which don’t make cool tattoos. I can even understand some folks just want to yell at the government for a while.
But Anderson knows better.
He knows Canada needs systems to protect its food and international agreements. He knows a Conservative government would have handled this precisely the same way — no leeway. He knew why the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was toothless in a social media war. He knows the birds had to be destroyed. He knows the owners of Universal Ostrich Farm may be skilled at drawing sympathy but their actions are not defendable and put everyone at risk.
Anderson, Mr. Conservative, chose heartstrings over the hard things.
Ok, I guess he wouldn’t be the first politician to pander to a mob. It would have taken real courage to educate them, push back for the sake of farmers in general or residents in the area tired of the charade. But no one will hoist him upon their shoulders for that, no pats on the back like he wants and apparently needs.
Sadly his struggle to understand cause and effect was not a short-lived malady. Anderson was back in the news this week, trying desperately to keep lit the torch he chose to bear. He sought and got an accounting of how much taxpayers spent dealing with the Universal Ostrich Farm.
And he twists that to somehow blame agencies that have nothing to do with the Liberal government for spending nearly $7 million dealing with a mob he helped whip up.
Astonishing.
But hey, as always, that’s just my take. Tell me yours. Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.
Mj
Marshall Jones
Managing Editor
NDP government deeply unserious about Kelowna’s short-term rental struggle
Global events can’t help but expose just how deeply unserious this province can be.
No story illustrates that better than Kelowna’s short-term rental dilemma.
Kelowna did a lot of things right before and during the housing crisis, streamlined its approvals process, got out of the way to get things built. And it worked.
Well now they’re built and of all the places in this province, the tourist town has a vacancy rate of 6.4%. That means, by the province’s own admission, it is well above the 3% threshold that triggers market protections for renters.
In other words, there’s no longer any justification to restrict short term rentals.
The City wants out from under that thumb. Local businesses want out. The Chamber of Commerce and tourism organizations are nervously hoping short term rentals will return in time for some big events this year.
There’s no real justification for keeping regulations as rent prices fall.
So what are we waiting for? The calendar. That’s it.
Someone in government wrote down that this decision will be made in November. And that’s like a brick wall to bureaucrats that neither common sense nor the collective efforts of businesses, people and politicians shall break.
It’s the red tape the NDP doesn’t want to be known for but can’t escape from. They could dispel that idea really easily by bringing this issue to a practical close.
What do you think? Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.
Mj
Marshall Jones
Managing Editor
City councils spend money without taking future expenses into account
Let’s say your family really wants a boat. Let’s say it would be a big expense, enough to clean you out of discretionary cash and require hefty monthly loan payments.
Before you committed, it would be prudent to think of where that money might be needed down the road, like a roof replacement, new car or a move, right?
We all know people who don’t think that way, just dive straight in. And chances are those people are sitting on your local city council, doing this with your tax money.
In every city and town in the Southern Interior, with notable exceptions in Kelowna and now Osoyoos, your councils have been spending money without any real sense of future expenses.
The provincial government is now making them all create asset management plans that lay out maintenance and replacement of infrastructure. Clean water, sewers, drainage, streets, streetlights — all this stuff takes maintenance and replacement but somehow it hasn’t been standard practice to write down when and plan for it.
Without those plans, councillors have been making decisions partially blind. And that’s all fine and dandy if you’re dealing with things you need, just expect occasional 10-12% tax hikes to replace big ticket items.
The problem arrives when someone wants to buy a boat.
And in Kamloops, they’re buying two at the same time it has roof repairs. All three have an estimated $517 million, almost all debt. This in a period of high inflation, unpredictability in supply chains and tariffs, rising unemployment, high housing costs and depleted reserves.
That’s how it will look for at least the next 30 years. And we now know this doesn’t include $1 billion in other anticipated costs in roughly the next decade just now being accounted for.
How about this chart, also from the City of Kamloops.
By our simple calculations, by 2029, every man, woman and child in Kamloops will pay $370 per year on debt and more than half of that — $230 — will go to interest.
We haven’t even got there yet and this council is depleting reserves just to grease the project through growing budget estimates.
Kelowna is spending too but decades of financial prudence has them in a much better position. Its larders are full and it has always had something akin to asset management plans. Not so, in Vernon and Penticton and West Kelowna.
All this to say, it’s about time to check in on your own town or city’s finances. They all have to create these plans and they should be arriving soon.
As for Kamloops, I’d be more than a little concerned they dove headfirst into all these projects at the same uncertain times without being fully prepared and eyes wide open.
But then again, I am known for shaking my fist at the wrong cloud from time to time. Tell me I’m wrong.
Mj
Marshall Jones
Managing Editor
iN RESPONSE
This Was Never About Science — It Was About Profit, Delay, and Defiance
This crisis was not caused by the CFIA.
It was caused by Universal Ostrich Farm’s refusal to obey the law.
Once a reportable avian disease was confirmed in their flock, CFIA had no legal choice. Federal law requires immediate action to protect other farms, wildlife, food safety, and public health.
But instead of cooperating, Universal Ostrich Farm chose defiance.
They stalled.
They delayed.
They resisted.
They turned a public safety emergency into a money-making campaign.
Non-compliance became a business model
Every day of delay created opportunity:
Online fundraising
Merchandise sales
Speaking tours and media campaigns
Donations framed as “saving the birds”
Legal crowdfunding
Sympathy-based marketing
The longer they refused to comply, the more attention they gained — and the more money flowed in.
This was not desperation.
This was grifting for personal profit while risking everyone else.
These were not “pets” — they were a commercial product
For over 30 years, the ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farm were a business commodity, not family pets.
They were sold for:
Meat
Dog food
Oils
Creams
Eggs
Breeding stock
They were inventory. They were revenue.
To now call them “babies” and “family” is not truth — it is emotional manipulation.
No one kills their “babies” for profit for three decades and then suddenly claims they were never livestock.
You cannot rewrite history when it becomes convenient.
They forced the escalation
CFIA did not want an armed operation.
They did not want court battles.
They did not want RCMP command centres or multi-million-dollar legal bills.
That only happened because the farm refused every lawful order and forced the government’s hand.
More than $6.7 million in taxpayer money was burned — not on prevention, not on science, not on food safety — but on enforcement made necessary by defiance.
That money is gone forever.
Neighbours paid the real price
Their choices didn’t just affect them.
They endangered:
Nearby farms
Wild birds
Food systems
Human health
People who followed the rules were put at risk by people who profited from breaking them.
That is not activism.
That is reckless self-interest.
“Stolen science” is a lie
There was no validated research.
No approved trials.
No peer-reviewed data.
You cannot steal science that does not exist.
What existed was a narrative — designed to buy time, raise money, and avoid accountability.
This is why trust is breaking
CFIA is now cutting staff, inspectors, and veterinarians.
They claim there is no money — yet millions were wasted fighting one farm that refused the law.
Not because CFIA wanted power —
but because someone chose profit over responsibility.
The truth
This was not about saving animals.
It was not about science.
It was not about freedom.
It was about delay, defiance, and dollars.
And the people who paid were:
Canadian taxpayers
Neighbouring farmers
Frontline inspectors
The public
This is not a tragedy caused by government.
It is a tragedy caused by grifting wrapped in victimhood.
Canadians deserve the truth.
Debra Pion
A local senior
Edgewood BC
Hi Marshall,
This is regarding your comment “of how much taxpayers spent dealing with the Universal Ostrich Farm”. The almost 7 million dollars was not spent by taxpayers, but taxpayer money needlessly wasted by the government in another effort to show it has complete control in the lives of ordinary people. And the so called “mob” you refer to were the local farmers and local people who realize the road this government is driving us down. Speak out or stand up against and you will be punished! The CFIA was wrong and they know it. They murdered and made suffer all those ostriches without having them tested. How can anyone stand by and accept it?
— Tamara Clarke via email
You have hit the nail right on the head, to bad Anderson was not hit on the head. Like I commented to you many months ago before making any random editorials about the ostrich’s, do your research. I have limited knowledge about their arrival to Edgewood, B.C., Canada from Africa as I lived in the area at the time, from the scams, the blatant lies told to the public by the owners of the UOF. I thought it was over with the final judgements ordering the culling of the Ostrich’s as they were infected by the bird flu. Now with Scott Anderson making it a issue with his continued “head-lining” tactics of continuing this farce, I question his ability to represent me in federal politics. To conclude, thank you for your 100% correct analyzation of Mr. Anderson’s role in this matter.
— George Miller via email
You just wrote an excellent article. Even though I too had sympathy for the owners losing beloved pets, the bird flu kills millions more birds in the wild and in our food chain and the possibility to kill humans and other animals.
Possibly the idea they had gained immunity was an idea that had merit.
It was not up to them to ignore rules put in place to protect us. That was up to scientists to make the ultimate decision.
Glad you put this politician in his place.
Political games have no business in life threatening decisions!
— Diane Courneyeur via email
Months after B.C. ostrich cull, why does protest movement persist?
What an amazing level of commitment the ostrich farm owners have. They are so committed that they are willing to bet/gamble with everyone else’s flock too.
— William Mastop via iNFOnews.ca
Defence argues ‘hockey culture’ reason former Penticton Vees player had sex with 15-year-old
I’m sorry but when do people start taking responsibility for themselves? From the information in this article it’s unclear whether she was in any way drugged, intimidated or forced. My daughter in high school talked about the girls that were called the “Viper Pipers”. So many wanting to be “with” Viper players. It’s contradictory to expect the player to have all the responsibility and excuse the decision of the girl. Is she having buyers remorse? It’s a very difficult decision and not mine to make. But I’m really getting tired of people who don’t take responsibility for their own actions and then expect someone to clean up behind themselves.
— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca
Alberta judges urge respect after Smith said she wants to ‘direct’ them
She and PP think they’re going to win by replicating Trump and MAGA. We don’t want kings here either.
— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca
Hearing into Myles Gray’s beating death halted for 4 weeks over obscenity resignation
It was not an honourable decision by Mr. Hickford to step away from this proceeding. It was cowardly and self serving. Frankly the law society should consider this resignation as the more serious dereliction of duty.
— William Mastop via iNFOnews.ca
B.C. attorney general warns against doing deals with ICE, amid pending Pattison sale
Come on Jimmy! You don’t need the money that bad. Sell it to someone else or hold it until he’sp is out of office.
— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca
iN RESPONSE to Monday’s newsletter opinion editorial on municipal government spending
Good article! Great timing, it will be interesting to see what the turnout will be this evening at the ‘Budget Update Session’.
— Mary Aulin via email
The graph you put into this edition should be presented to (Kamloops) city councillors as it should wake them up since logic seems to escape them. If there isn’t a budget for future projects that aren’t a necessity, they shouldn’t even start. I think this council is trying to give the citizens the idea on how great they are with spending money they don’t have on skating rinks and PAC (Performing Arts Centre) for examples. Nice things to have by not necessary. Wake up council and use some common sense.
— N. Sarrasin via email
A brief explanation of the BC extortion crisis
There are so many officers they are tripping over each other!
— Roy Clough via email
‘Troubled’ counsel for OPCC resigns from Myles Gray hearing over obscenity
Good grief. Mr. Hickford appears intent in derailing this matter in any way possible. The judge is quite right here, the parties need to get over it and move on. Resigning as counsel is not in any way doing his duty. He needs to apologize to the court and counsel and get on with doing his duty. The Law Society is not going to do him any kindnesses but honestly he’s making this thing even worse. The family of the deceased has waiting for years for this hearing.
— William Mastop via iNFOnews.ca
Golden motel worker who sexually assaulted guest loses appeal, faces deportation
Good he should be sent back to his country assaulting someone and thinking he can get away with it. Good job on the Judge for this.
— Cheryl Kittle via iNFOnews.ca
Tara Armstrong Recall Countdown
Tara Armstrong is currently the MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream. She rode the coattails of the BC Conservative Party, got elected, then rejected and left the party to serve as an Independent within weeks because the Conservatives were too left wing. Now she gets to spout moronic, hateful rhetoric and claim that her riding supports her.
Elections BC says you can recall an MLA if 40% of eligible voters in the riding sign a recall petition — but not for the first 18 months after an election. Some people started an online petition calling for a byelection once she made a shift to independent, then got herself a raise by forming her own party, but it won’t mean anything until the countdown clock hits zero.
So let the countdown begin!
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