2026 2026 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the Parliament of Canada on behalf of the Auditor General of Canada
Ottawa, May 4, 2026—A report from Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Jerry V. DeMarco, on behalf of the Auditor General of Canada, concludes that while the federal government has measures in place to protect wildlife, domestic animals, and people from avian influenza, there remain several areas in which actions have fallen short. Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a highly contagious active virus that mainly infects wild birds but that has spread to domestic animals—such as chickens, cattle, and pets—and then to humans.
The audit found that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency successfully implemented procedures to eliminate the virus from all 47 premises included in the audit sample, which helped contain the spread of the disease among domestic animals. However, the audit revealed weaknesses in the agency’s documentation of these activities, including inconsistent and missing information.
The audit also found that after the outbreak started in December 2021, Environment and Climate Change Canada redirected funding to strengthen its surveillance of migratory birds. The department almost tripled the number of samples it collected each year and expanded antibody testing in wild birds. However, without dedicated funding, these efforts may be difficult to sustain. The department also failed to conduct targeted surveillance to assess the impact of the virus on species that are or could become threatened, endangered, or extinct. By November 2025, bird flu was confirmed in 43 at-risk bird species across Canada, including the endangered Whooping Crane.
In addition, the audit found that by March 2025, the Public Health Agency of Canada had secured 870,000 doses of an avian influenza vaccine for people at risk of exposure, such as farmers and veterinarians. Yet over 95% of these doses were not used and expired by February 2026.
"While Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the Public Health Agency of Canada took action to prevent and manage outbreaks of avian influenza, we found that they need to improve on planning, documentation, and the management of human vaccines to better prepare for future threats to public health and vulnerable wildlife," Mr. DeMarco said.
The 2026 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Avian Influenza , is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.
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