Banned and Bankrupted by B.C. Government, Canada’s Heritage and Artisanal Mink Breeders Withdraw Their Lawsuit

A framed photo of Dogwood Fur Farms in Aldergrove, B.C. prior to the mink farming ban is held up against the current farm, which has been decommissioned. The farm was a multigenerational business that was started in 1957. (Courtesy Angela Bernemann.) Business Wire

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia — After more than four years in front of courts, and legal fees far beyond their means, the British Columbia Mink Producers Association and the Canada Mink Breeders Association are dropping their petition for judicial review of the Province of British Columbia’s decision to impose a ban on their industry. The result is that the government and an aggressive anti-fur lobby have effectively shut down, without any compensation, farmers in one of Canada’s most sustainable heritage industries. This unilateral and groundless decision is an enormous blow to the right to farm in British Columbia and across Canada.

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To the shock and devastation of B.C. mink farmers, the B.C. Government announced in November 2021 that it would “phase out” all mink farming in the province, citing public health concerns after cases of COVID-19 were reported in three mink farms. Despite the phrasing, it was an immediate ban on mink farming, as farmers were prohibited from breeding mink moving forward.

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The B.C. Government attributed this drastic decision to a threat that mink farms pose to public health. However, live mink were permitted on site for another 18 months and could be transported to other provinces. In addition, all mink pelts had to be sold or removed from site by April 2025, despite research showing these goods would not contain the live virus or pose a public health risk.

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Five farms fought back in a separate lawsuit against the province demanding compensation, but after investing significant funds, the case was thrown out of court. To date, the government has not offered any financial compensation; instead, they distributed mental health information such as suicide hotlines and job ideas — many of which were unrelated to the farmers’ expertise. The farmers have absorbed the exorbitant cost of tearing down their farms.

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British Columbia is the only North American jurisdiction to shut down an entire farming sector. The Danish government issued a similar order during the pandemic, but later reinstated mink farming with an apology, compensating its mink farmers with up to 19 billion Danish krones (CAD $3.9 billion).

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“We were 65 years in business, providing livelihoods for generations of family, employees, and community suppliers,” said Angela Bernemann of Dogwood Fur Farms, which was started in 1957. “Our capacity to make an income was shockingly taken away from us when the government informed us they were essentially banning mink farming immediately. The public was notified in a press conference before we even had a chance to inform our employees. The loss of our right to farm has been devastating both morally and financially. We are still struggling to date.”

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“This isn’t really about being pro- or anti-fur,” said Terry Engebretson of Engebretson Fur Farm. “This is about how the government treats its citizens and how it treated these farmers.”

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Engebretson grew up on the Abbotsford farm and later bought it, continuing the legacy of his grandfather who had been a hunter, trapper, and fisherman. Family members took pride in their multigenerational practice, owning two farms with fifteen employees. After the ban, they were forced to sell the farm that Terry, his children, and grandchildren grew up on to pay their debts.

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Terry Williams of Williams Fur Farm in Aldergrove, B.C., worked in the fur industry for over 50 years. The ban left him with approximately $7 million in debt. “I was devastated,” he said. “What the government did was wrong. I had ordered lots of specialized equipment and could’ve saved all that money if I’d had more warning. It was mind boggling that they could strip us of our right to farm and toss us aside like we were insignificant.”

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“We are appalled and devastated by the action of this government, and the manner in which it has treated our B.C. farmers, their families, and our sector,” said Ian Stansell, the President of the Canada Mink Breeders Association. “We would have loved to see our day in court and finish out this David vs. Goliath fight, but unfortunately, this time Goliath wins.”

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About the Canada Mink Breeders Association

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The Canada Mink Breeders Association (CMBA) is a not-for-profit organization representing Canadian mink farmers. Formed in 1952, the CMBA, on behalf of its members, provides leadership in research, animal welfare, best farming practices, marketing, and promotion of the fur farming sector. The CMBA also facilitates the sector’s robust, globally recognized, third-party audited mink welfare certification program – Certifur Canada. Learn more about the Canada Mink Breeders Association and Certifur Canada at www.canadamink.ca and www.certifur.ca.

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Contacts

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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

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Jacklyn Gilmor

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Torchia Communications

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705-817-8327

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