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

Vancouver Aquarium Files Copyright Lawsuit Against Documentary Filmmaker Gary Charbonneau

Gary Charbonneau's documentary "Vancouver Aquarium Uncovered" was posted on YouTube and Vimeo, but he said Vimeo took down the film last week.

Vancouver Aquarium Files Copyright Lawsuit Against Documentary Filmmaker Gary Charbonneau

B.C. Murderer Waives Parole Hearing For 1982 Slayings Of Six People

David Ennis, who has changed his name from David Shearing since the August 1982 murders, was due for a parole hearing in August.

B.C. Murderer Waives Parole Hearing For 1982 Slayings Of Six People

U.S. No-fly List May Have Tripped Up Canadian Youngsters, Minister Ralph Goodale Says

The U.S. no-fly list, not Canada's secret air-security roster, might be what has been ensnaring Canadian youngsters, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale is telling several families experiencing travel headaches.

U.S. No-fly List May Have Tripped Up Canadian Youngsters, Minister Ralph Goodale Says

Shopify CEO Calls On Federal Government To Abandon Tax Plan For Stock Options

The CEO of one of Canada's up-and-coming tech companies is calling on the federal government to abandon its plan to tax stock options, saying the move will hurt innovation and hamper startup firms.

Shopify CEO Calls On Federal Government To Abandon Tax Plan For Stock Options

Ontario Bill Would Allow First Responders With PTSD Quicker Treatment

The law would create a presumption that PTSD in first responders is work related, removing the need for them to prove a causal link to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

Ontario Bill Would Allow First Responders With PTSD Quicker Treatment

Pope Francis Suggests Contraception Can Be Condoned In Zika Crisis

Pope Francis has suggested that women threatened with the Zika virus could use artificial contraception, saying there's a clear moral difference between aborting a fetus and preventing a pregnancy.