I didn’t know shooting at night was legal, but on the eve of Nov. 6, nearly 1,000 bullets were fired into the huge bale-lined pen at more than 300 terrified ostriches as they ran for their lives. For over four hours, more bullets ripped and tore through the birds.

These sentient beings, which had only known gentleness, some in residence on the farm for more than 30 years, became the centre of the most brutal Canadian government massacre I have known in my lifetime. The next morning, the gruesome truth revealed that there were still birds alive in that mess of blood and death. Not a few, but rather 47 more shots rang out, finally putting an end to the birds’ long night of pain and suffering.

They could have hooded the birds individually, injected them or used a bolt gun — humanely, out of sight of their pen mates — but that wasn’t the plan.

I am horrified and traumatized, and it is beyond my wildest imagination that any veterinarian on the planet could have been a part of this.

Under the Health of Animals Act, section 65, and Criminal Code s.4451, it’s illegal for anyone — including government employees — to cause unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal. Neither CFIA officers nor the veterinarians and RCMP serving them are exempt from humane-treatment laws.

This was an epic failure in justice and humanity, and Canadians want to know why the “Edgewood Massacre” occurred. What a dark day for Canada.

Dr. Brenda Bernhardt DVM (ret)

Cobble Hill

Victoria city council is asking staff the wrong question. Asking staff to recommend ways to reduce the $38 million increase in the 2026 budget will not achieve meaningful results.

Governance best practice would have the council establish the desired outcome, and lead by setting a target. For example, Vancouver council has asked staff to develop a budget with no increase, and in Colwood, the budget target is a 2% increase.

To get serious, labour costs have to be addressed. Labour costs account for 54 per cent of the City of Victoria’s operating costs. What is shocking is that staffing has increased by 68 per cent, to 1,460 in 2024 from 868 in 2019.

When higher wages,........

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