The federal government has announced $1.2 million for insurance against poultry disease outbreaks as Canada continues its battle with bird flu.
Until earlier this month, no new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza had been found in Canadian domestic birds since June 18. As of Aug. 1, Alberta and Quebec have reported positive flocks.
Why it matters: Canada and the U.S. are only two on a list of countries that had serious outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the first half of 2022.
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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) estimates more than two million birds have been affected over the course of the outbreak, which has spanned 109 premises and nine provinces since the first infections were confirmed in late 2021.
Those numbers pale compared to the U.S. The U.S. Department of Agriculture continues to report new infections in an outbreak that has claimed 40.14 million farm birds, although the pace of new cases has slowed significantly since the end of May.
Funding announced July 27 is earmarked for developing or supporting insurance products oriented around disease, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) said.
“Outbreaks of diseases, such as avian influenza, are a major source of financial and emotional stress for farmers,” said Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau. “These sector-led projects are effective tools to mitigate the impacts of the challenges facing our agricultural producers.”
Three organizations, two of them in Quebec, will receive funds.
Les Producteurs d’œufs d’incubation du Québec will get up to $531,813 for its Hatching Egg Producer Compensation Plan, while Équipe québécoise de contrôle des maladies avicoles will get up to $337,216 for a new insurance product against false layer syndrome for table egg producers.
Another $408,485 has been slated for the Canadian Egg Industry Reciprocal Alliance (CEIRA) to revamp its compensation model for table egg producers impacted by avian influenza.
“The changes will help ensure the viability and sustainability of this insurance tool,” said an AAFC release. “The funding also supports activities to raise awareness of CEIRA’s insurance products to poultry producers across Canada.”
As of July 28, Alberta had seen the largest loss from the outbreak in terms of bird numbers. The CFIA has reported 937,000 birds impacted over 17 sites.
Ontario gets the dubious honour of second place, counting 560,500 birds affected and 18 sites. Quebec, which has seen 10 premises infected, has lost 286,000 birds.
