Warrant to Search vs. Search Warrant: What It Means — and What It Doesn’t

Most Canadians hear the words “search warrant” and think of police investigating a crime. But what the CFIA obtained in Edgewood, British Columbia wasn’t that. It was something very different — a warrant to search under the Health of Animals Act. This quiet distinction gave the agency extraordinary powers to enter private property, seize animals, and even destroy them — all without criminal oversight or due process.

In this video, we break down what a “warrant to search” really means, how it was used against Universal Ostrich Farms, and why the Supreme Court of Canada’s stay order stopped CFIA in its tracks. Because understanding the language of the law is the first step to recognizing when it’s being abused.