A national animal-rights organization has launched a formal complaint with the province’s ombudsman after Manitoba Agriculture refused to disclose “basic information” about the operation of mink farms.
Animal Justice filed a freedom of information request on May 3 asking the government department to provide information about mink farms, including business names, locations and the number of animals kept and killed on the farms.
Manitoba Agriculture did not provide any of the requested information and claimed it was “an unreasonable invasion of a third party’s privacy,” the group said in a news release issued Monday.
Mink farming was banned in B.C. in 2021 because of the risks of spreading disease between animals and humans. (Sergei Grits / The Associated Press files)
“Animal Justice has long-standing concerns about the welfare of mink and other animals farmed for fur in Canada,” director of legal advocacy Kaitlyn Mitchell said in the statement.
“In light of increasing concerns world-wide about zoonotic disease (infections passed from animals to humans) risks posed by mink farming… we believe it is particularly important to increase public awareness about this industry in provinces such as Manitoba, where mink continue to be farmed for fur, yet there is virtually no publicly available information about the industry.”
Mink farming was banned in B.C. in 2021 because of the risks of spreading disease between animals and humans.
Mitchell said as a Manitoban, she is “incredibly concerned” about the public-health risks. She added other provinces have not refused Animal Justice’s request for the information.
In it’s complaint filed Monday, Animal Justice asks the ombudsman to require Manitoba Agriculture to disclose the requested information “in the interest of public health, environmental protection and animal welfare.”
The complaint claims the decision is not in accordance with Manitoba’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act’s goal of transparency.
No one from Manitoba Agriculture could be reached for comment.
jura.mcilraith@freepress.mb.ca