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

Austrian Airlines Flight Diverts To Eastern Newfoundland Due To Passenger: Police

A 35-year-old Israeli man is facing charges after an Austrian Airlines flight from Vienna to New York had to divert to St. John's, Newfoundland.

Austrian Airlines Flight Diverts To Eastern Newfoundland Due To Passenger: Police

Nipigon River Bridge Closure Blocks Trans-Canada Highway In Northern Ontario: Ontario Mayor

Damage to a newly built bridge cut traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway in both directions Sunday and it wasn't clear when it could reopen, said the mayor of a Northern Ontario community.

Nipigon River Bridge Closure Blocks Trans-Canada Highway In Northern Ontario: Ontario Mayor

Justin Trudeau, Canada On Agenda For International Meeting Of Economic Elites

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will head overseas at the end of the month to sell his economic policies to international leaders and some of the world's wealthiest and most powerful people.

Justin Trudeau, Canada On Agenda For International Meeting Of Economic Elites

Transit Workers Reject City Offer, Vote In Favour Of Strike In Fredericton

Ralph McBride of CUPE says the 43 members of Local 1783 voted 73 per cent in favour of a strike over the weekend.

Transit Workers Reject City Offer, Vote In Favour Of Strike In Fredericton

Woman Dead Falling From Party Bus In Vancouver

Sgt. Randy Fincham says police received a report around 9:30 Saturday evening that a woman had fallen from a moving party bus at Burrard and West Hastings Street.

Woman Dead Falling From Party Bus In Vancouver

Alberta's Rachel Notley Says Document Shredding Ban Continues At Environment Department

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says a ban on document shredding will continue in the Environment Department until she is sure no more documents are improperly destroyed.