No vote on whales, dolphins |
18 October, 2005
CBC news
Activists have struck out in their efforts for a Vancouver referendum on whales and dolphins in captivity during next month's civic elections.
They've been pressuring the Vancouver Park Board to include a referendum question on the ballot on Nov. 19.
But the Park Board says the Aquarium's lease runs until 2015, so there will be no referendum until at least 2008.
Coalition for No Whales in Captivity spokesperson Robert Light says whales and dolphins should not be kept in captivity in a city with Vancouver's environmental reputation. And he says Park Board Commissioners will pay for their decision on election day.
"It's outrageous that they would turn their backs on us like this. They said in 2002 they would give us a referendum. Well, we waited three years for nothing. Are we going to wait another three years for nothing?"
But Vancouver Aquarium president John Nightingale is opposed to holding a vote on the issue.
"I don't think a referendum of any kind, is an accurate way of gauging public opinion."
The Coalition also alleges the Vancouver Aquarium has violated the terms of its lease with the city by purchasing two dolphins from Japan.
The bylaw prohibits acquiring any dolphin captured in the wild in the last nine years.
The Aquarium confirms one of the dolphins has been captured since then – but its injuries mean it can't be released in the wild. And that's an exception in the agreement.
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