Vancouver Park Board Meeting; Commissioners Sarah Blyth and Constance Barnes Champion Cetaceans in Captivity Recognizing Shifting Public Sentiment But See Minimal Gains

VANCOUVER, British Columbia and NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Investorideas.com, a global news source covering leading sectors, reports on the Vancouver Park Board meetings held November 24, 2014.

Current Park Board Commissioners present were: Head Commissioner Aaron Jasper, Park Board Vice-Chair Constance Barnes, Commissioners Sarah Blyth, John Coupar, Melissa De Genova, Trevor Loke and Niki Sharma.  Also attending in the audience were advocates for cetaceans in captivity.

The event was also live-streamed for advocates to follow and comment at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sea-shepherd-vancouver.

This was a controversial and heated meeting, dealing with a proposed amendment of Parks Control By-law section 9e in regard to keeping cetaceans in captivity, which was a result of public consultation hearings held in July of 2014.

On Saturday, July 26^th and Monday, July 28^th, the public was allowed to speak.  One hundred and thirty-three speakers signed up to voice their opinions.  The special meeting addressed the issue of keeping captive cetaceans (like whales and dolphins) at the Vancouver Aquarium located in Stanley Park.

The meeting was to address expansion plans to add to the Aquarium's two harbour porpoises, two Pacific white-sided dolphins, and two belugas. The Aquarium also owns other belugas currently on loan to SeaWorld and The Aquarium in Georgia. 

The Park Board Commissioners met on Thursday, July 31^st and voted unanimously to allow the aquarium to keep whales and dolphins in captivity but did order an end to the breeding program (unless it was to preserve a threatened species). They also ordered the creation of a third party oversight committee, consisting of animal welfare experts, to ensure the well-being of the captive animals.

Advocates globally felt this was a victory for cetaceans but few knew that with the pending Park Board Elections in the fall, that all of this was at risk and in fact was not even implemented into by-laws.

As stated by Head Commissioner Aaron Jasper at the November 24^th meeting, "it was a concept."

Commissioner Sarah Blyth bravely motioned for the by-law to be voted on that evening but it was apparently not in order (due to the fact that she would have had to submit the motion two- weeks prior to the November 24^th meeting).  This started a debate among Commissioners - could they in fact vote on this issue if a majority approved it? They went ahead and it was disappointingly voted down 4-3, with Head Commissioner Aaron Jasper being one of the "no" votes.   

Commissioner Sarah Blyth then proposed an amendment to address requests of the November 2006 Park Board regarding section 9e be reviewed in 2015. The intention, if the by-law was not going to pass with this Board, was that at least it would move it forward to 2015 for review again.

This resulted in a flurry of interruptions and objections from NPA elected official Commissioner Melissa De Genova. It created a discussion that became a theme for the night as to "why now", echoed by fellow NPA Commissioner John Coupar.

They wanted to understand why this was such a critical issue to address now? Why, after being on the Park Board for six years, was this important issue to Sarah Blyth and Constance Barnes now?

Both gave very important answers back for the public to hear; as they were speaking on behalf of the many advocates that have presented at hearings, sent letters and emails to the Board. These women did hear and pay attention to those concerns. They both stated that the Board had to be open to change and to listen to the shifting sentiment of the public on cetaceans in captivity.

After much debate the amendment was passed 4-3 and the next Board will have to address this issue.

It was then a matter of splitting the issues of the proposed by-laws into separate issues that could be voted upon and the third motion and vote, addressing the creation of an Oversight Committee became the most heated of all, with Head Commissioner Aaron Jasper having to remind members of the Commission to be respectful.

Head Commissioner Aaron Jasper gave his most impassioned speech during this session and also stated that "there has been a shift in consciousness."  He also went on to say that "there is a need for more public consultation."

He directed his plea to Commissioners John Coupar and Melissa De Genova, who were obviously not in favour of anything that represented compromise to the Vancouver Aquarium saying, "I urge you to weigh and support a balanced approach. I do think this is the best compromise."

He also said that "More transparency is never a bad thing."

Commissioner John Coupar felt the creation of an Oversight Committee was an "unnecessary step."

Head Commissioner Aaron Jasper also warned "Our successors will have to be part of a whole new review." He made a personal note that during the intense public hearings in July he wished he "had been in Paris" and wished the new Head Commissioner luck.

Articulate and gracious Park Board Vice-Chair Constance Barnes told the members and the audience in regard to the Oversight Committee and the transparency it would result in, "This is a huge part of what has been missing."

Going back to the theme of "why now", she also reminded Board members that they had received a petition with 35,000 plus signatures from members of the community against cetaceans in captivity and the breeding program.

Ultimately the motion  for the  creation of the Oversight Committee was voted on and passed 4-3, with a surprising no vote from Commissioner Sarah Blyth, presumably making a statement that perhaps this was just not enough.  She had started the evening with the intention of passing the by-law that many members of the public had assumed was a done deal from the July hearings.

The new Park Board members will be sworn in next week. Unfortunately, no cetaceans will be present to speak on their own behalf. And from the tone of a Board, with new members publicly stating they would revoke the by-law if it was passed before they were even sworn in, it is going to be a tough fight for the advocates fighting for them.

Information Presented at the hearing:

SUBJECT: Aquarium Cetaceans - Parks Control By-law Amendment & Oversight Committee Terms of Reference:

TO: Park Board Chair and Commissioners

FROM: General Manager – Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation

SUBJECT: Aquarium Cetaceans - Parks Control By-law Amendment & Oversight Committee Terms of Reference

RECOMMENDATION

THAT the Vancouver Park Board receive for information and consideration:

The proposed amendment of Parks Control By-law section 9e in regard to keeping cetaceans in captivity (attached as Appendix A to this report); and

The proposed terms of reference for the establishment of an Vancouver Aquarium Oversight Committee (attached as Appendix B to this report); and

FURTHER THAT the Board direct staff to conduct further public consultation on this matter.

Read the full report: http://former.vancouver.ca/parks/board/2014/141124/REPORT_Aquarium_Cetaceans-Parks-Control-By-Law-Amendment-and-Oversight-Committee-ToR-20.pdf

Comments can be sent to the Vancouver Park Board at [email protected]

Minutes of previous meetings can be read at:

http://vancouver.ca/your-government/regular-park-board-meetings.aspx

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