City of Victoria staff recommend banning off-leash dogs from Gonzales Beach
Dogs may no longer be able to run free at one of Victoria’s most popular beaches, because City of Victoria staff are recommending council approve a change to a bylaw that would remove Gonzales Beach as an off-leash area.
City staff are recommending that council amend the "Animal Responsibility Bylaw," which governs off-leash areas, to align with the federal Wildlife Protection Act. The federal regulation protects the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary (VHMBS), which includes Gonzales Beach.
The proposed change was prompted after the city received a letter from The Canadian Wildlife Service in June.
The national animal protection agency noted there was an inconsistency between the city’s Animal Responsibility Bylaw, which allows dogs to be off-leash at Gonzales Beach, and the federal Wildlife Protection Act.
Section 5(1) of the Wildlife Protection Act regulations states: "No person who owns a dog or cat shall permit the dog or cat to run at large in a migratory bird sanctuary."
The letter from the Wildlife Service asked that the City of Victoria to make the changes to the bylaw to address the issue.
In a report to be presented to city council on Thursday, staff recommend changing the current bylaw that permits off-leash dogs at the beach in order to comply with the federal regulations and to protect migratory birds that depend on VHMBS as a habitat.
In a statement to CTV News, Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps says staff are recommending the change to meet the federal regulations and to maintain biodiversity.
"This proposed change will bring the city’s bylaws back into compliance with federal regulations with respect to the bird sanctuary," said Helps.
"Gonzales Beach is the one key area where off-leash dogs can have a negative impact on migratory birds," she said.
The report says that in addition to amending the bylaw, staff plan to work with the Canadian Wildlife Service to update signs at Gonzales Beach outlining the impact of off-leash dogs on bird habitats. It says the Wildlife Service has committed to assisting with education and enforcement efforts in the coming months.
Under the current bylaw, dogs are not permitted on the beach leashed or unleashed during June, July and August.
With the city expected to ban off-leash dogs at Gonzales Beach year-round, city staff are recommending that visitors and residents use nearby Pemberton Park if they want to have their pets off-leash.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.