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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016
VOL. 27, NO. 76
SPCA advocates for cat controls I GROUPS LOOK to Victoria’s noroaming bylaws.
BY TAMARA CUNNINGHAM
Malcolmson outlines priorities during first speech in Parliament BY GREG SAKAKI THE NEWS BULLETIN
THE NEWS BULLETIN
Nanaimo SPCA branch manager Leon Davis is continuing to call for cat controls, including a potential no-roaming bylaw. Davis plans to approach council with a third appeal to look at cat legislation to address an overpopulation of feral felines. Last year, Nanaimo city politicians directed staff members to work with the B.C. SPCA to create cat regulations and licensing with the potential for a new bylaw. Work seems to have stalled, according to Davis, who met with the city but isn’t sure if recommendations will officially go forward to Nanaimo council. He wants to approach council again about cat legislation, this time with requests for politicians to get a report from the city’s new animal control provider, Nanaimo Animal Control Services, which has experience with a noroaming bylaw in Victoria. There is an overpopulation of semi-feral and feral felines in the city and the problem starts with domestic cats who are breeding unchecked, said Davis. He also proposes incentives to spay and neuter through an impound fee, which could be waived if the pets get
Nanaimo’s new member of Parliament is getting ample opportunity to take a stand in the House of Commons. Sheila Malcolmson, Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP, made her first full speech in the House last week. She critiqued the Speech from the Throne, touching on First Nations issues, public transit, ferries, violence against women, climate change and health care. “It really was very much meant to be highlighting some of the Liberals’ priorities and where they would resonate in our riding and where we need to see results,” Malcolmson said in an interview last week. She called for the federal government to be a partner in public transit, lamenting, for example, the lack of service between Nanaimo and LadySHEILA MALCOLMSON smith. of the NDP was “The planning and chosen by voters to the actual proposal represent the newly would have to come created riding of from the regional govNanaimo-Ladysmith ernments and I know in November’s they are working on federal election. this,” she said. “I’m just signalling that as a federal government partner, the adjustments and the investments that they identify, I think it’s really important for me to champion those.” Regarding B.C. Ferries, Malcolmson reiterated NDP policy, asking that the corporation be eligible for infrastructure funding. She said the ferry system currently favours a user-pay model that leaves ferry riders on the hook not only for day-to-day operating costs, but also for vessel replacements and terminal upgrades. Generally, Malcolmson said she’s trying to bring a respectful and constructive tone, but also a strong voice.
Quickfacts
CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
Leon Davis, B.C. SPCA Nanaimo branch manager, takes a moment to gain a little insight into how Bullet, a stray cat from Port Hardy, feels while recovering from ear surgery to treat a massive ear infection. Uncared for strays suffer and Davis is advocating for a bylaw to help prevent cats from becoming strays.
the surgery. The SPCA has a city-funded, low-income spay and neuter program called SNIP that could help if people can’t afford the cost. “It’s a community solution then, which is more than just throwing money at it,” he said. Carley Colclough, pound coordinator with Nanaimo Animal Control Services, said the city has a bylaw that prohibits dogs, livestock and poultry from
being at large, but it doesn’t address cats. Victoria has had a cat-at-large bylaw for seven or eight years, which means cats can’t be out in public unattended or trespass onto other people’s property. It’s worked well and it’s all about how it’s enforced, she said. “The idea is not to be taking enforcement action on people whose happy, healthy cats like to go out on the sidewalk or go over to the neighbour’s house
and the neighbour is good with that,” said Colclough, adding it allows the company to address cats that might be stray or lost. Enforcement officers also ask residents to take steps, like putting up posters, before picking up the cats. Toby Seward, the city’s senior director of strategic operations, said work has not moved ahead on cat legislation as a result of the city’s core review. news@nanaimobulletin.com
See ‘MALCOLMSON’ /4