OPEN QUESTION PERIOD
...
Stuart Mackinnon asked that a
referendum be held this year and questioned the validity of studying
cetacean behaviour in captivity. He asked the Park Board to have the
courage to do the right thing for whales and dolphins in captivity in
Stanley Park.
Charles Shane asked if
including the Nelson Park project in the 2006 � 2008 Capital Plan
committed the incoming Park Board to the current Nelson Park plan. He said
this was the third plan and that there is a great deal of confusion. Staff
informed the Board that the concept has been recommended at the committee
level only, and a final design will
brought to the Board for a
decision in early 2006.
Edith Lear said it was not fair
to increase all fees and charges because golfing rounds have gone down and
efforts should be made to encourage golfers. She asked why the fields at
Connaught Park are not closed when it rains and how much is spent to
maintain them. Staff replied that they work with all sport groups who use
these fields to determine when they need to be closed, and a member of the
Board referred to the agenda item on fees and charges to follow later in
the meeting.
Kelly Bunting said that the
Vancouver Aquarium was in violation of the 1996 By-Law when it recently
imported two dolphins, and asked if the Park Board was given the
opportunity to approve this importation. She said it is the Board�s
responsibility to allow a referendum question on whales in captivity
during this election. The Chair said that the Board is taking the dolphin
importation situation very seriously.
Anthony Marr described a typical dolphin hunt in Japan where
dolphins by the pods are killed for meat, and some selected for Japanese
aquariums and for export. He said that there are many loopholes in the
system for exchanging dolphins between aquariums. Dolphins caught from the
wild are bred in captivity, and their offspring are sold to aquariums that
have policies of not accepting wild-caught dolphins. He told the Board
that keeping cetaceans in captivity is evil regardless of whether they are
caught or bred in captivity.
Robert Light said that while
many people in Vancouver have asked the Board to put the issue of whales
in captivity to a referendum, the Board has not responded.
Wayne Fisk is alarmed that
golfers have to keep paying the higher rate and that there should be
realistic numbers that help elevate the number of rounds. He suggested
that the comparison between golf course fees in the report is not fair as
the courses are very different.
Ingrid Pollack said that she is
upset about cetaceans in captivity at the Vancouver Aquarium and asked for
an assurance that she would be able to get information about the
Aquarium�s development plans and the minutes from this meeting. Staff
referred her to the Vancouver Aquarium�s website to access their expansion
plan, and the Board
encouraged her to call staff in
order to receive minutes from the meeting.
An individual commented that
the Board has been asked if it will vote on their request for a referendum
question and is not responding, and asked the Board why it has delayed
dealing with this request until it is too late. A member of the Board said
that the Board has had extensive discussions about the issue and are
putting forward a notice of motion
this evening.
Keith Edwards does not
understand how the dolphins came in to the Aquarium without the Board�s
approval and would like to see a motion about ending dolphin importation
to Stanley Park. He said there are other ways of studying cetaceans
without captivity and that the Park Board should not approve the
Aquarium�s expansion plans. Staff explained that because the Board has an
operating agreement with the Vancouver Aquarium, and the Aquarium has an
obligation to work within the limitations of the agreement and the By-Law,
there is not a requirement to have the Board�s approval as long as the
Aquarium is
following our agreement.
Jenna Hunt said that whales and
dolphins in captivity in Vancouver will create negative publicity for
Vancouver during the Olympics and there is an opportunity to bring the
issue to a referendum now...