Help for people who would like to keep chickens in Toronto

Press Release

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 17:39:12 -0500

Toronto Chickens Supports Charter Challenge in Upcoming Court Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The working group of backyard chicken owners in Toronto, Toronto Chickens, fully endorses the upcoming Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge that has been undertaken by Calgarian Paul Hughes.

Mr. Hughes’ court case is set for March 5, 2012 and will be a game changer for those in the urban food movement. He is challenging his city’s bylaws that disallow the possession of urban chickens in Calgary. As a group that is working to change Toronto's bylaw so that urban hens will be allowed again in the city, Toronto Chickens will monitor the course of this upcoming trial very closely.

We call upon Toronto city councilors and city bylaw officers to suspend enforcement of the chicken bylaw until the results of this case are determined. This court trial challenges the federal Charter of Human Rights and therefore will impact all Canadians and override any municipal rulings.

For further information contact: TorontoChickens@gmail.com

It’s Not a Crime!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:33:02 -0500

After the very disappointing day at city hall last week, we are asking that you help out in any way you can:
1. Contact each of the committee members via email (copy: torontochickens@gmail.com) expressing your disappointment in the fact that they were not even willing to read the report on backyard hens.
2. Email your city councillor (copy: torontochickens.com)
3. Send supporters the link to this website and ask them to sign the online petition.
4. Print and distribute copies of the attachment below.
NotaCrime.pdf

A Day at City Hall

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:42:26 -0500

Today, the motion was put before the Licensing & Standards Committee to investigate the feasibility of allowing backyard hens in Toronto. Present at the committee were 5 of the 6 members, including the Chair Cesar Palacio.

There were a number of debutants, including chicken-keepers, author Lorraine Johnson, Assistant Professor of Public Health Policy Catherine Mah, high school students, grade school students, animal alliance. In total, there were 14 speakers. Out of the 14 speakers, 13 speakers requested the committee to vote to read the reports (which had already been completed). That’s 93%. After listening to 93% of the people offering fact-based reasons to at least read the report, all 5 committee members voted to defer the item indefinitely.

We were shocked, to say the least. We were also extremely confused. The committee members told us that they would defer making a decision until after the meeting. Then, when provided with an abundance of support to move forward with the report, they all voted against it. Is this how municipal politics works?
MeetingMinutes.pdf

Licensing and Standards Committee

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Yesterday, Councillor Joe Mihevc moved that City Council direct staff to prepare a report outlining a strategy that will allow residents to keep backyard hens in a safe and appropriate manner. The motion was seconded by Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon.

The next step in the process happens on February 24, 2012 at the Licensing & Standards Committee meeting. It is at this meeting that a decision will be made to take the issue to City Council. We would like to meet with each of the Committee members to provide information on the responsible keeping of backyard hens. If your Councillor is on the committee, one of our core members would love to accompany you on a meeting within the next couple of months.

Please let us know if one of these 6 members of the Committee is your Councillor:
• Glenn De Baeremaeker
• Chin Lee (Vice Chair)
• Gloria Lindsay Luby
• Frances Nunziata
• Cesar Palacio (Chair)
• Anthony Perruzza

Not sure who your Councillor is? Just just check here: http://app.toronto.ca/im/council/councillors.jsp

Finally, here is a copy of Member Motion 14.8:
MM14.8.pdf

Next Step in the Legal Process

Sun, 15 May 2011 21:54:19 -0400

We are hoping that this issue will be part of the agenda next month. At that meeting, there will be a vote to determine if this issue will you go Council. The is an open meeting, which we could ask to attend, and make deputations (5 minutes maximum). The Committee will debate, ask questions and discuss. At the end of the meeting, they will either:
a) Adopt the recommendation
b) Amend the recommendation
c) Ask for new motions - refer back to Staff
You could email clerk@toronto.ca to receive updates and have your name added to the attendance list. We should know by June 15th if we will be on the agenda. Please check back here for details.

If the decision is made to take it to Council, it will likely come up either in the July or October meeting. At that meeting, we could observe only.

Our Civic Duty

Sun, 15 May 2011 19:55:33 -0400

Backyard chickens were strongly encouraged during World War I, and this poster was widely distributed during 1917 and 1918.

It is interesting to note that during World War II, both Victory Gardens and Victory Flocks were encouraged by the US government, with Victory Gardens supplying up to 40% of the produce consumed by Americans. Gardens and Chickens - two of the very basics in Food Security!
2 Hens for Each Person in the House - hmmm...

Here’s the actual text:
Uncle Sam Expects You To Keep Hens and Raise Chickens

Two Hens in the Back Yard for Each Person in the House Will Keep a Family In Fresh Eggs

EVEN the smallest back yard has room for a flock large
enough to supply the house with eggs. The cost of main-
taining such a flock is small. Table and kitchen waste pro-
vide much of the feed for the hens. They require little attention—
only a few minutes a day.

An interested child, old enough to take a little responsibility,
can care for a few fowls as well as a grown person.

Every back yard in the United States should contribute its share to a bumper crop of poultry and eggs in 1918.

In Time of Peace a Profitable Recreation

In Time of War a Patriotic Duty

Update on Toronto Chicken Law

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:16:01 -0500

There is finally a feeling of optimism among chicken-keepers and chicken-supporters on the issue of legalizing backyard hens in the City of Toronto.

It is important to understand how the process of changing a bylaw works, and thus the chart. Right now the chicken file is in the Policy Development phase. The next step is a written report. Once the report is written, it will go to one of the Committees, likely the Licensing and Standards Committee. The Committee can then recommend, amend or reject the proposal (50% vote in favour is required).
If it is recommended, it will go to Council for vote (again 50% in favour required).
Finally, if Council votes in favour of it, the bylaw change will be implemented.

What can we do?
The public has input through this whole process. You can contact Councillors at any time, write letters and make deputations to the Committee. The Committee meeting is open to all, and a decision is made at the end of the meeting.
Letters can also be written for the full Council debate, but you cannot make a deputation at Council. Deputations must all be done at Committee.

So, please, if you haven’t already done so, write to your Councillor and copy me at TorontoChickens@gmail.com. Sign the petition in the link at the top of the page. And check back often to find out the date of the Committee meeting, where we could all go to support the girls!
Likely timing for Committee ----> Spring 2011.

Toronto Mayoral Race

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:01:58 -0400

So, I contacted each of the candidates and asked whether or not they support the responsible keeping of backyard chickens in Toronto.

Winner:
Joe Pantalone - He responded clearly supporting backyard chickens, ”with certain reasonable conditions and restrictions.”
It is interesting to note that he also received top grades from the Toronto Environmental Alliance’s survey. He received a grade of 100% - A+!

Rocco Rossi responded with a non-commitment to chickens, but rather positive on local food.

No response at all from the others.

If you have a moment, now would be a great time to contact your local candidates to find out about their positions on both backyard chickens and the environment.

Please post back here with the results.

Thank you!!!

Who wants chicks?

Mon, 10 May 2010 21:03:18 -0400

Since I’ve become a chicken-keeper 4 years ago, I’ve acquired only ‘point-of-lay’ hens. These hens are about 6 months old and are just about ready to lay eggs. Some have been more people-friendly than others, but they do tend to be rather skittish. I now have the opportunity to get ‘day-old’ chicks. Since we will be like their mamma, we should have more success with them being socialized to us.

One of our favourite breeds is the Barred Plymouth Rock. I am a big fan of getting chickens from a small farmer who has bred them onsite, and feel very fortunate to have connected with Brian who has Barred Rock fertilized eggs in his incubator as we speak. They should be hatching in about 2 1/2 weeks, after which time I could pick them up and raise them in a home-made corrugate box brooder. We will keep them toasty warm for about 6 weeks under a red light, and at 10 weeks we hope they will be ready to integrate with our flock of 3. Since the weather will be getting warmer, we’ll be able to take them outside on the grass during the day to get them used to their future home environment.

Brian has both Barred Rocks and Americaunas (blue egg-layers) available.

To contact him, email: brian.garcia@sympatico.ca

Changing the Law

Mon, 3 May 2010 13:11:53 -0400

The City of Toronto Municipal Code has a schedule of prohibited animals. In the mammal section, we see the following: Galliformes (such as pheasants, grouse, guineafowls, turkeys). While chickens are not specifically mentioned, they fall under the “Galliforme” category. Pigeons, however, not being Galliformes, are allowed.

Where are we in the process right now? The Parks & Environment Committee will be looking into this issue. They will be meeting on May 21st at which time we hope they will recommend a pilot project to be endorsed by City Council at the next meeting (June 7th or 8th). City staff will have to come up with guidelines for the pilot project.

It looks like its going to be long process, but we are optimistic that the pilot project will be a success, and ultimately the law will be changed. There are 44 city councillor and therefore 23 will have to vote in favour of the change. If you are able, please come out to the meeting on May 21st to show your support for backyard chickens in Toronto.