Any immediate plans for urban chickens have been grounded.
Councillors voted 5-3 against the animals on Monday night, citing other priorities and wanting to avoid potential smells and diseases.
With so much already going on at City Hall, Councillor Terri McConnachie says the idea came at an unfortunate time.
“I’d have to really be convinced that this is something that’s time has come right now or even in the near future. I’m not adverse to supporting the advent of staff actually looking into it. I’d like to see that as part of the planning process.”
Councillor Garth Frizzell was in favour of the hens. He proposed a pilot project to test chickens in the city.
“Just because Edmonton does it, doesn’t mean we should do it. Just because Calgary doesn’t do it, that doesn’t mean we should avoid it. We’ve got to make our own choices, we’ve got to get the information to make our own choices. If this comes back again, we can still have that opportunity.”
His idea was ultimately defeated. Poultry for Prince George spokesperson Laura Lawrence says she’s upset about Council’s decision. She wants to bring it back to Council.
“I will no longer allow my children to not know where their food comes from. They need to know where eggs come from, they need to know what it’s like to grow food out of the dirt and that’s important,” she says, “I’m not going to give up on it.”
Lawrence adds that she feels it’s everyone’s right to grow their own food.
Council said it may revisit this topic.
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