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

Thousands Flagged For Scrutiny By Canada's New Air Passenger Screening System

The Canada Border Services Agency says the travellers — flagged for possible links to terrorism or serious crime — represented a tiny fraction of the millions who flew into the country.

Thousands Flagged For Scrutiny By Canada's New Air Passenger Screening System

B.C. Commits To Public Reports On Teens Placed In Hotels After Joint Review

"I can't commit to that today," Stephanie Cadieux said Wednesday. "I don't think that would be reasonable."

B.C. Commits To Public Reports On Teens Placed In Hotels After Joint Review

Vancouver Inquest Calls For Video Cameras, More First Aid Training For Police

A coroner's jury examining the death of a 58-year old woman in Vancouver more than a year ago is recommending more training for police.

Vancouver Inquest Calls For Video Cameras, More First Aid Training For Police

Beloved Victorian-Era Lounge To Close At Victoria's Empress Hotel

For more than a century, the Bengal Lounge at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria has paid homage to the days when the sun never set on the British Empire.

Beloved Victorian-Era Lounge To Close At Victoria's Empress Hotel

Police Breached Cellphone Customers' Charter Rights, Ontario Judge Rules

Telus and Rogers brought the Charter of Rights challenge before the court in 2014 after police asked the companies for customer cellphone information as part of an investigation into the robberies of several jewellery stores.

Police Breached Cellphone Customers' Charter Rights, Ontario Judge Rules

Hospital Layoffs Will Hurt Patients, Warn Ontario Nurses Associations

The Ontario Nurses Association is sounding the alarm about layoffs off Registered Nurses by cash-strapped hospitals, and warns patients will pay the price.