National

Victoria City Council Hears Debate Over Horse-Drawn Carriage Tours

The Canadian Press, 25 Mar, 2016 12:47 PM

VICTORIA — Debate over horse-drawn carriage rides in downtown Victoria, B.C., is heating up.

The owner of Victoria Carriage Tours appeared at a city council meeting on Thursday to defend the industry after an animal rights group started an online petition looking to ban the rides.

Katarina Gallagher says she has was blindsided by the petition, which alleges there has been poor maintenance of equipment, reckless driving of the carriages and improper care of the horses.

Gallagher says the "unfounded" and "vague" accusations about inadequate care and reckless driving are baseless and constitute fear mongering.

More than 900 people have signed the petition, and several speakers aligned with animal rights group "Victoria Horse Alliance" addressed council Thursday, saying they support the ban.

There are currently two carriage companies in the city, Tally Ho Carriage Tours and Victoria Carriage Tours, that have a total of 52 horses and employ roughly 70 people.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Accused Winnipeg Letter Bomber Loses Bid For Out-Of-Province Judge

Guido Amsel is accused of sending letter bombs to his former wife and two law offices last July.

Accused Winnipeg Letter Bomber Loses Bid For Out-Of-Province Judge

Another Rare Animal Washes Up On A Cold B.C. Beach

In the latest discovery, a Risso's dolphin was found dead on a beach on Graham Island, part of Haida Gwaii.

Another Rare Animal Washes Up On A Cold B.C. Beach

RCMP Officers in New Brunswick Challenge Claim That Carbines Are In Every Patrol Vehicle

Two Mounties at different detachments say they have some of the high-powered rifles, but can't use them because they haven't been trained.

RCMP Officers in New Brunswick Challenge Claim That Carbines Are In Every Patrol Vehicle

Flatulent, Foul-Mouthed And Barefoot: Uncivil Servant Made Co-worker Ill

Line Emond, a data quality manager at the Parole Board of Canada, has been granted the right to a new workplace in a decision by the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board

Flatulent, Foul-Mouthed And Barefoot: Uncivil Servant Made Co-worker Ill

Wind, Ice And Freezing Rain Cut Power To Thousands In Quebec And Eastern Ontario

Hydro-Quebec reported 180,000 customers were without electricity as of 11:15 a.m. Thursday, while Hydro-One said 22,000 people had no power in Ontario, mostly in the eastern part of the province.