THE CHATHAM VOICE
PAGE 6
THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2023
Opinion Avian flu raises questions As Chatham-Kent Council deals with the issue of allowing urban chickens, an outbreak of Avian influenza in the community may throw another wrinkle into the discussion. Earlier this month the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) declared the area bound by Pinehurst Line, Mull Road, Lake Erie, Dillon Road, and Maynard Line a Primary Control Zone due to potential infection or contamination by the highly pathogenic avian influenza. Primary control zones exist to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in Canada. Birds, their products and by-products, as well as things exposed to birds cannot be moved into, out of, within, or through the primary control zone except by permission through permits. The discovery in a flock of poultry on a non-commercial property in the Charing Cross area raises the issue of the practicality of imposing such a ban in an urban neighbourhood. Avian influenza viruses, such as the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus present in Asia, can, on rare occasions, cause
disease in humans. Transmission to humans has occurred when people have had close contact with infected birds or heavily contaminated environments. Will the CFIA be able to monitor situations where several homes in a neighbourhood have flocks of chickens? If not, who has the responsibility and the expertise? Will that be added to the duties of property standards officials? Will public health officials play a role? C-K Council had turned down the urban backyard chicken issue previously in 2013 and 2020. Currently, the municipality’s responsible animal ownership bylaw permits chickens on premises zoned agricultural but doesn’t allow chickens in residential urban and rural areas. The municipality is seeking input on its Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent platform through April 11. This issue needs more than a thumbs-up or down social media verdict. Council requires some definitive answers before it takes one more step into this chicken coop.
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Get involved in citizens’ inquiry Editor: Canada’s federal, provincial and municipal governments’ COVID-19 policies were unprecedented. These interventions into Canadians’ lives, our families, businesses, and communities were, and to great extent remain, significant. In particular, these interventions impacted the physical and mental health, civil liberties and fundamental freedoms, jobs and livelihoods, and overall social and economic well being of nearly all Canadians. In May 2022, the Reclaiming Canada Conference brought together civil rights advocates, medical and legal experts, and grassroots organizations to thoughtfully examine the status of Canada’s democracy. These aspirations began taking the form of limited
initiatives, such as, A Citizen’s Hearing (https:// citizenshearing. ca/) and Reclaiming our Voice – A Conversation in Ottawa (https://freedomrising.info/wp-content/ uploads/2022/06/ News-Release_Reclaiming-our-Voice_JamesTopp_June-21-2022.pdf). On November 2, 2022 the NCI was launched. The NCI is possible because so many Canadians expressed their support for an independent, citizen-led and citizen-funded national inquiry into Canada’s Covid-19 response. This announcement is a testament to the civic dedication, commitment and hope, of tens of thousands of Canadians, who contributed to its development and ultimate realization.
The National Citizen’s Inquiry Hearings Event will commence in the city of Truro, Nova Scotia Canada, before moving on to Toronto. Dates and times for the remainder of the event are still being determined. The NCI’s purpose is to listen, to learn, and to recommend. What went right? What went wrong? How can Canadians and our governments better react to national crises in the future in a manner that balances the interests of all members of our society? For more information please visit https://nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/. Hope you will all take some time to join the inquiry! Sincerely, Shelly Chruscik Blenheim, Ontario