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

Albertans Asked To Give Input On Doctor-assisted Death In Online Survey

EDMONTON — The Alberta government wants to hear what residents think about doctor-assisted death.

Albertans Asked To Give Input On Doctor-assisted Death In Online Survey

Dry Spring Forecast For Canadian Farmers, Weather Network Predicts

Canada's farmers could be gearing up for a difficult season, as meteorologists are forecasting a dry spring in agricultural regions.

Dry Spring Forecast For Canadian Farmers, Weather Network Predicts

Kathleen Wynne Wants Feds, Provinces To Provide First Nations With Safe Drinking Water

There are more than 150 boil water advisories or do not consume advisories in about 112 First Nations communities across Canada, some more than 15 years old.

Kathleen Wynne Wants Feds, Provinces To Provide First Nations With Safe Drinking Water

Economy Surprises By Showing Growth To End 2015, But Weaknesses Remain

Amid predictions of zero growth, the economy surprised by expanding at an annual rate of 0.8 per cent in the final three months of 2015, Statistics Canada said Tuesday.

Economy Surprises By Showing Growth To End 2015, But Weaknesses Remain

B.C. Applies For Injunction To Remove Homeless Campers From Victoria Tent City

The British Columbia government has filed a court application to evict the remaining homeless campers from a tent city occupying the lawn of Victoria's courthouse.