Park board commissioner seeks referendum on Vancouver Aquarium

[nova9]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Ah, but then you really forfeit your right to complain, don't you?

Out of all the candidates, at least one should be able to earn your vote, remember you don't have to vote for the full number of positions available.

That is true - I was just being facetious. I guess what I mean to say is I probably will not campaign for candidates anymore because I am just so fed up with politics.

But I wouldn't be a good vancouverite if I didn't like to complain so I will vote.

[Zassk]

Originally Posted by racc

Do you people even bother reading what is being proposed before hysterically overreacting. As I have highlight in bold, the proposed referendum is not about closing the aquarium, it would merely ban the capturing of whales and dolphins. This is more than reasonable. I can't understand why anyone would object to at least having the public decide on this. I thought we lived in a democracy.

But the aquarium already has a policy against capture of these creatures. It only gains them from rescues, offspring, and adoptions from other facilities. So what is the point of all this intervention by the park board?

[nova9]

Originally Posted by Zassk

But the aquarium already has a policy against capture of these creatures. It only gains them from rescues, offspring, and adoptions from other facilities. So what is the point of all this intervention by the park board?

it's what happens when people jump and make reactionary decisions based on something that just happened. it shows no foresight nor long-term vision. they are so clouded by ideology that they become foolishly opportunistic.

[WaxItYourself]

If the aquarium actively went out and captured animals for display I'd be all for getting rid of these type of animals. However, as stated previously, they don't do that. They take in sickly creatures or creatures born in captivity that could not survive in the wild and train them. From what I've seen they are very well taken care of.

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by Zassk

But the aquarium already has a policy against capture of these creatures. It only gains them from rescues, offspring, and adoptions from other facilities. So what is the point of all this intervention by the park board?

I was thinking the same thing. Basically if an organization actively captured a whale after a certain year ( I think in the 70s ) the Aquarium will not accept it.

If a whale is caught in a fishing net and is rescued from death ( if injured ) and unable to return to the wild for some reason, then the Aquarium would accept it.

Why do people think the Greater Vancouver Zoo ( in Aldergrove ) is badly maintained? Doesn't seem that bad to me when I've visited... any examples?

[Yume-sama]

Supposedly Vision is against this movement, citing the fact the Aquarium is humane, and its conservation efforts are good (Common sense? Say it ain't so!), and warns the Aquarium would have the right to sue as this is not supposed to be re-negotiated before 2015, and would put in jeopardy their entire expansion plan. Also, the Aquarium employees have written a letter to the Parks Board explaining why this is not necessary.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/07/15/bc-vancouver-aquarium-vote.html

Perhaps we can rename it the Xwayxway Marine Life Conservation Exhibit

You can't be against both the Natives and Conservation. That would be a political loser!

[nova9]

And the suggestion of even a plebiscite is insulting considering the Aquarium fought tooth and nail to even have the expansion plans approved. The situation with the Parks Board was really ridiculous - they complain about small tanks but put up so much opposition to ideas of an expanded footprint for the Aquarium.

The future expansion of the Aquarium will be the first time in its history, I believe (if at all) that they are expanding PAST their original 1950's footprint. The AquaQuest centre and other expansion in the 2000s was mostly vertical.

[Yume-sama]

An expansion definitely is needed, and I was glad to hear about it.

I'm sure most of the opponents of the expansion were the same people who decided to spend $600,000 to prop up the big dead tree stump.

Ohh, Vancouver.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

An expansion definitely is needed, and I was glad to hear about it.

I'm sure most of the opponents of the expansion were the same people who decided to spend $600,000 to prop up the big dead tree stump.

Ohh, Vancouver.

The environmentalists weren't environmental?!!! NO WAY!


Since we're against keeping animals in confined spaces...then what about all the animals we slaughter as food? Where do we draw the line in things being intelligent? What about our own house pets??? OMG WHAT ABOUT THE SENIORS WE KEEP LOCKED UP AT SENIOR HOMES?!!! The list is endless.

The same goes for all those lefties that are against the seal cull in the maritimes and arctic just because they're cute....but I do think that the way they are killed should be more humane.

If you had it my way, I'd re-introduce orcas back into the aquarium...but of course, the tank would have to be pretty huge and it needs to be a rescued mammal...

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by mr.x

The environmentalists weren't environmental?!!! NO WAY!


Since we're against keeping animals in confined spaces...then what about all the animals we slaughter as food?

I'm pretty sure Vancouver leads the pack as far as militant Vegan / Vegetarians go

I remember ordering chicken somewhere a few years ago and hippy girl with purple rats nest / dreadlocks on her head and a nose ring gave me a serious death stare.

And of course I was accosted by Green Peace for wearing a leather jacket, last year. "I guess YOU don't want to sign our petition *glare*" As I walked by.

I can't even count how many good red-blooded Calgary girls I knew who moved to Vancouver / Victoria and came back a frail vegan with pamphlets to give to everyone on why we're evil.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

I'm pretty sure Vancouver leads the pack as far as militant Vegan / Vegetarians go

I remember ordering chicken somewhere a few years ago and hippy girl with purple rats nest / dreadlocks on her head and a nose ring gave me a serious death stare.

And of course I was accosted by Green Peace for wearing a leather jacket, last year. "I guess YOU don't want to sign our petition *glare*" As I walked by.

It's not like they're going to go behind doors and kill a chicken right on the spot just because you ordered it, loll (though in some parts of the world that's what happens), the thing has likely been dead and mutilated for quite some time.

Humans are animals...we're omnivores. Surely, you wouldn't deprive a grizzly bear of the meat he needs.

[Zassk]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Why do people think the Greater Vancouver Zoo ( in Aldergrove ) is badly maintained? Doesn't seem that bad to me when I've visited... any examples?

I agree, I don't know why people speak against it. We go there at least once a year (our aquarium membership gives a discount there) and have never been offended by the animal care or facilities there.

It desperately needs an infusion of cash to update the oldest sections at the front of the park, but the other 80% seems to be a well-built and humane environment for the animals.

I really cannot see what the difference is between it and Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida (which I got to tour behind the scenes).

They would probably get more business if they changed their name (again) to Metro Vancouver Zoo.

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

I'm pretty sure Vancouver leads the pack as far as militant Vegan / Vegetarians go

But what I want to know is, who will stand up for the poor plants?

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Zassk

I agree, I don't know why people speak against it. We go there at least once a year (our aquarium membership gives a discount there) and have never been offended by the animal care or facilities there.

It desperately needs an infusion of cash to update the oldest sections at the front of the park, but the other 80% seems to be a humane environment for the animals.

They would probably get more business if they changed their name (again) to Metro Vancouver Zoo.

It's just a bit weird to see how the animal exhibits are all almost the same...even though many live in very different environments. You just don't see that at other zoos. And recently didn't a bunch of animals die from stress because they were put in the same enclosure of an intimidating species?

Cue my idea to move the zoo to Hastings Park, which would give it tons more attendance given its much more central location and thus a high and constant revenue stream for maintenance. Of course, scrap that...given our trouble to keep the aquarium we have.

[twoNeurons]

Isn't Hasting Park a far LESS natural environment than Aldergrove, which is far from any major roads and has a MUCH larger footprint?

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Isn't Hasting Park a far LESS natural environment than Aldergrove, which is far from any major roads and has a MUCH larger footprint?

Yes, which means animal attractions will be prioritized and narrowed down...some will be given to other zoos. Do note that the zoo has something like

But it will still be bigger than the world-famous Taronga Zoo in Sydney, which has more than 2x more species and 4x more animals than the GV Zoo.

I would argue that the air quality in Vancouver, even next to some major roads, is much, much better than the air quality in the Fraser Valley.

It's not all just about space either, it's also about the quality of the enclosure - whether it really reflects the environment the animals come from.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

...Why do people think the Greater Vancouver Zoo ( in Aldergrove ) is badly maintained? Doesn't seem that bad to me when I've visited... any examples?

A quick search reveals:
Four Zebras Die at Greater Vancouver Zoo
Baby Giraffe Dies at Vancouver Zoo
Lions at Zoo Kill Captive Eagle
Crown Counsel Lays Charges Against Zoo Over Hippo

Looks like a disturbing pattern...

[Zassk]

^ A facility with a lot of animals will have deaths every year, the question is whether they are dying due to neglect.

The Calgary zoo has had a lot more deaths and bad press than the GVZ in the past couple years.

[Hourglass]

Well, the park board chair gave a pretty good response against the proposal. I think that's the end of that -- for now, at least.


Park board chair slams proponents of whale referendum

By Gerry Belett, Vancouver Sun July 16, 2010

Any attempt to amend an agreement between the Vancouver park board and the Vancouver Aquarium about the use of captive whales and dolphins would likely invite a lawsuit, according to park board chairman Aaron Jasper.

Jasper reacted angrily to a plan by Green Party commissioner Stuart MacKinnon, who wants to hold a referendum on phasing out the use of captive whales and dolphins.

Jasper said the board had a "legally binding agreement with the Vancouver Aquarium" and MacKinnon's proposal would put the board at risk of a lawsuit.

He said a 20-year agreement with the aquarium was signed in November 2006, with a clause that the Parks Control Bylaw relating to the use of captured cetaceans could be reviewed in 2015.

MacKinnon has said he intends to ask the park board on Monday to approve a motion calling for a referendum on ending the use of captured cetaceans on the 2011 civic election ballot.

"This is the height of irresponsibility," Jasper said in a statement released Thursday.

"I am absolutely shocked that in spite of being aware of the binding agreement that we as park commissioners are bound by, Mr. MacKinnon is still pushing ahead with this motion," Jasper said.

He said that under the existing agreement, the issue was moot until 2015 "and bringing forth such a motion puts the taxpayers of Vancouver at considerable risk of a lawsuit."

He accused MacKinnon of letting his personal ambitions "cloud his responsibility to put fiscal responsibility first."

"Regardless of our personal feelings, we as elected representatives have a responsibility to put the interests of our constituents ahead of petty politics," Jasper said.

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© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

[mr.x]

^ Hopefully it's the end of it...though I'm sure the July 19th will be a gong show, with the aquarium reps and tree huggers attending.

But it'll only be a matter of weeks before our leaders suggest another half-brained scheme.

[Yume-sama]

Hmm. I was expecting him to be outraged by the fact that these animals could not live out of captivity and were not, ever, violently captured.

Not by the fact the aquarium could sue And why do we care more about the Baby Beluga than all of the other animals? Is it Raffi's fault?!