OBA Call to Action on Class Action Lawsuit re: Opening Canadian Border to Honey Bee Imports

URGENT: ACTION REQUIRED REGARDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON OPENING 
CANADIAN BORDER TO HONEY BEE IMPORTS

Dear Beekeeper, 

The Board of Directors of the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association, recognizing the risks of importation of honey bees from the continental U.S., recently passed the following resolution:

Whereas: Opening the border to the importation of honey bees from mainland U.S creates health risks for the Canadian bee population, including the risks created by Africanized honey bees, antibiotic-resistant American foulbrood and Amitraz-resistant varroa mite; and

Whereas: Three western Canadian beekeepers have filed a class action lawsuit against the Government of Canada for damages caused as a result of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (“CFIA”) ban on the importation of bees into Canada, and have included all Canadian commercial beekeepers in this action unless they choose to opt out; 

Therefore: the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association supports CFIA’s prohibitionof honey bee hives and/or nucleus colonies and/or package bee imports from mainland United States, and strongly urges qualified beekeepers to Opt Out of this class action.

 The health of Ontario beekeeping demands action to keep the border closed.

If you keep – or have kept – more than 50 honey bee colonies in Canada for commercial purposes after December 31, 2006 you are automatically included as a member of the Beekeepers Class Action UNLESS YOU OPT OUT.

 
In order to send a clear message rejecting the opening of the U.S. border, you must return by mail, fax or courier by November 5, 2017 the attached Opt Out form to Koskie Minsky LLP, the plaintiffs’ lawyer.

Thank you,

Jim Coneybeare, President 

Attachments:
Opt Out Form
Newfoundland & Labrador Beekeeping Association Letter Supporting Continued Closed Border
Notice of Certification of Class Action Lawsuit to Commercial Beekeepers in Canada
OBA’s Statements on Importation of Bee Packages from the US