Raise the Hammer
Here's a brief footnote to last week's Council vote against approving a pilot project to keep backyard hens in Wards 1 and 2. Councillor Robert Pasuta (Flamborough) argued against allowing urban chickens during the discussion, warning that chickens are hard work to take care of and that children could watch videos on farming if they want to learn where food comes from.
However, when it came time to vote, Pasuta sided with the minority of Councillors - Ward 1 Councillor Brian McHattie, Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr, Ward 4 Councillor Sam Merulla, Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark and Ward 13 Councillor Russ Powers - who were willing to let the pilot project go ahead.
RTH contacted Pasuta to find out why he voted in support of the pilot after speaking against it. He responded:
Yes I did speak against urban chickens at Council. I voted to receive the report but voted against no further action being taken because I am supportive of the idea of a pilot project depending on what additional information comes forward. In other words, I'm not in favour of urban chickens, but I am trying to keep an open mind about it and am willing to consider further information.
There's a lesson for his Council colleagues who were less willing to keep an open mind and follow the evidence, even when they had reason to be skeptical. As Councillor Clark tried to argue, "My expectation ... would have been that reasonable and pragmatic minds would have prevailed" in the debate.
By Neil (registered) | Posted December 19, 2012 at 12:14:09
Funny, I would argue that you are driving your 'evidence-based' argument on a narrow view of the utility and potential for nuisance of hens and disregarding their welfare, and therefore to you any disagreement with the idea is anti-evidence.
I propose that everyone be allowed to keep a pet monkey - people love monkeys! We can mitigate the harm by only allowing little monkeys, keeping them indoors and requiring licenses. Anyone disagreeing with this policy is anti-evidence.
Although this may not be Red Hill Valley, AEGD, new highways ripping through our escarpment or across the province to Niagara, Councillor's not supporting two Councillors who would solely be affected by this pilot, is short-sided and looks very bad on council in my opinion.
I think they know that this isn't going to go away. I mean even if they kept the pilot only to those who currently have hens pre-new bi-law.
By seancb (registered) - website | Posted December 19, 2012 at 13:35:07 in reply to Comment 84174
What we really need here is a team of councillors whose first priority is to work together. It seems the current bunch have the following priorities:
To talk the loudest To not get voted out To always be right even when they aren't To disagree with everyone who ever made them mad ...etc
I feel like their dream situation is for a decision to have 15 possible outcomes so that each and every one of them can vote for a different one.
By Pxtl (registered) - website | Posted December 19, 2012 at 14:02:05
I'm still of the opinion that the urban chickens debate was a bit of bikeshedding, but it still nicely drew the lines on which councillors were willing to listen to evidence, willing to try new things, willing to defer to the councillors for wards that would be most directly effected by a decision... and which councillors were not.
By mrjanitor (registered) | Posted December 19, 2012 at 23:49:16
I'm sorry guys but I'm just not getting the whole chicken thing happening here. There just seems to be so many other things in Hamilton that could use that energy. I do admire the passion, I just think this is a lower priority right now. Gonzo has your support I'm sure!
By Not chicken to say no (anonymous) | Posted December 21, 2012 at 17:13:01
At least a few here see the animal welfare issue which not only is troubling, it has a bad record in Hamilton and will be expensive or drawing on funds that are already too low to deal with current animal welfare issues. i think people need to clean up their act city wide when it comes to animals before considering allowing another species to be kept in the city. You not only have to look at studies but also the actual environment you are putting them in and I do not see that done all I here is regulations will take care of any problems. You know what? they don't. And further they will never be sufifcent for those who will misues this opportunity and then the rest have to pick up afterwards. Not me thanks.
By Duke of Earl (anonymous) | Posted December 23, 2012 at 08:55:41
Wow! A situation of grave importance to our city has arisen.Oh no, its not the backyard chicken thing,its more of another misdirection and an opportunity to get another case of selective amnesia about the real issues while they play at pat the monkey and choke the chicken .What a fowl bunch. MerryXmas to all
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