Windsor City Council Think Urban Chickens Are A Joke
The other night I had an opportunity to speak with an acting member of Windsor City Council and the topic of urban chickens was brought up.
As mentioned by Steve Green of Windsor Essex Community Supported Agriculture, council has been dragging their feet in setting up a working committee. The comments made by this councillor indicated why, as it was mentioned, that the majority of Windsor city councillors look at the topic of urban chickens as a joke behind closed doors and laugh it off.
Whether you agree with the idea of urban chickens or not, the possibility of improving the sustainability of Windsorites lifestyles and even providing at least one small tool in the fight against poverty should at the very least be looked at.
Please take the WECSA poll, contact your city councillors and urge them to get the working committee started to see if urban chickens in Windsor is feasible. Steve Green has offered to pretty much do most of the legwork, so there really is nothing to lose.
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That’s why I’m glad there’s an election this year. Things shouldn’t be discounted merely because they are not understood or not what that person wants. Our city should explore every idea that comes forward fairly…it could be the idea that brings one more family into the city or grabs a businesses attention.
Hey Victoria,
Which is exactly the reason I made this post. After I heard this, I just had to let others know.
If citizens who are very knowledgeable on this topic are willing to invest their own time to investigate its feasibility and other communities across Canada are realizing the significance of this, then what harm could be done in investigating it further?
It is time to be proactive instead of reactive.
There was a comment made by Josh Biggley in a different urban chicken post that I thought should be shared here as well. Here it is:
“My opinion is civil disobedience, with emphasis on civil. Of course, this requires the will to challenge the city in court. Basically, bring chickens into your yard, wait for the by-law officer to show up, and then challenge the by-law in court.
Charlottetown, so far, has been willing to let us experiment with chickens in our yard without interference. Of course, we have been known to bribe our neighbours with a dozen fresh brown, white and blue eggs.
Heck, just for fun, threaten to push the envelope by bringing a mini-goat into your yard. I don’t know how the laws are written, but I if it ‘farm fowl’ only there is nothing preventing you from having a mini-goat.
Fight the good fight, or move to PEI — whichever strikes your fancy”
I agree completely. When the story was first aired in the media, Fulvio Valentinis made some rather disparaging remarks on the TV segment I saw. Alan Halberstadt and Caroline Postma both appeared more supportive – I do hope they weren`t the ones laughing behind closed doors.
The financial situation in Windsor arguably puts as in the top for Canadian cities as regards food security concerns. Our higher than average obesity levels only add to that concern. If any Canadian city would benefit from a council that actively promoted its citizens` ability to produce their own food in their own community, it would be Windsor.
If our councillors don`t see this as a priority, the residents should vote them out.