Legal action possible as mink breeders fight fur farm ban
Canadian mink breeders are not ruling out legal action as they slam the B.C. government's decision to shutter the mink fur farming sector.
On Friday, provincial Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham unveiled a process to permanently phase out the farming of mink, due to concerns over COVID-19. The process is expected to be completed by April 2025.
There are nine mink farms in B.C. with a total of 318,000 mink. Animals on three of those farms have been infected with COVID-19.
“That has led to transmission between mink, between mink and humans, and humans back to mink,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, on Friday.
Denmark ordered the slaughter of millions of mink in November 2020 over concerns that the coronavirus could mutate in the animals and be passed back to humans. However, Canadian breeders say their facilities have adequate biosecurity measures in place, and don’t believe there’s sufficient evidence to shut the industry down in B.C.
“This is absolutely an unnecessary, radical and excessive response,” said Matt Moses, a Nova Scotia mink farmer and former president of the Canada Mink Breeders Association (CMBA).
Of the 60 mink farms in Canada, Moses says just three have recorded cases of COVID-19. He’s calling on the B.C. government to approach COVID-19 outbreaks the way same way it treated outbreaks of avian flu in poultry plants.
“Eradicate the animals on a single farm, not perfectly healthy farms,” said Moses. “We’ve never in Canadian history, to my knowledge, gone so far as to eradicate perfectly healthy farms.”
The CMBA claims the province is caving to pressure from animal welfare groups.
“It takes generations of work, including excellent nutrition and care, and abiding by Canada’s robust mink welfare program, to develop the quality of mink that Canada is famous for,” said Rob Bollert, president of the CMBA, in a press release.
“These bureaucrats are destroying all that effort without any real scientific justification,” said Bollert.
Moses says if the provincial government is not willing to reconsider the phase-out plan, fur farm advocates will look to have their arguments heard in court.
“I would relish the opportunity to demonstrate both sides in front of people who make proper decisions,” he said.
“It’s the last gasp of a dying industry, frankly,” said Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of Humane Society International Canada.
In addition to animal welfare concerns, Aldworth believes the fur farming industry must shut down if it poses any risk to public health.
“The (CMBA) is rightfully concerned that other provinces are going to follow B.C.’s tremendous lead and they’re trying to do some scare mongering to prevent that from happening.”
However, Moses believes B.C. is the only province willing to shut the sector down.
“I’m confident the Canadian (government) and other provincial jurisdictions will, at least, sit at the table and look over all of the science to date, and certainly won’t come to these same conclusions,” he said.
The multi-year phase-out includes an immediate provincewide ban on mink breeding, and a closure of live mink farms by April 2023. To give operators ample time to sell their live mink to other regions, they will be permitted to keep a reduced number of the animals until early 2023. All remaining pelts must be sold by April 2025.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Toronto Maple Leafs fire head coach Sheldon Keefe
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Court to hear about search for remains as Winnipeg murder trial enters second day
A courtroom in Winnipeg is expected to hear testimony today about the search for the remains of the four victims of Jeremy Skibicki.
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
'We can and we must do better': First ever Air Accessibility Summit hits Ottawa
Federal ministers, airline executives and members of the disability community are gathering in Ottawa today for the first ever Air Accessibility Summit.