Jack Layton

Sign Jack Layton books of condolences at the following locations:

London City Hall
8:30 am - 4:30 pm until August 26th

The Royal Canadian Legion, Victory Branch
311 Oakland Ave
available until September 2, 2011

Irene Mathyssen constituency office at 1700-D Dundas Street
9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Susan Truppe, M.P constituency office located at 546 King Street (King and William) from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday to Friday.

Backyard Chicken Info & Resources

Backyard Chickens

Detailed website with lots of information, resources, discussion forum, etc

http://www.backyardchickens.com/

Backyard Chicken Laws

Mostly US but some Canadian as well.

http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/chickenlaws.html

Backyard Chickens in Toronto

Resources, blog, information about backyard chickens in the Toronto area

http://www.torontochickens.com/

Online Petition in Support of Back Yard Chickens for London, Ontario

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/backyardchickenslondonontario/signatures

Here are some titles from the London Public Library: The backyard poultry book : [everything the beginner needs to know about keeping chickens] by Andrew Singer.

Chickens in your backyard a beginner's guide by Luttmann, Rick.

Keep Chickens by Barbara Kilarski as well.

Chicken Librarian, Operation Chicken

Locally Organized Organic Knowledge

http://www.lookitsaparty.ca/

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday August 13, 2011
Queen's Park, Western Fairgrounds, London, Ontario
Dundas St. between Ontario and Egerton

The London Chapter of the Council of Canadians will have a table at this event.

Open Letter re Backyard Chickens in London, Ontario

Friday, August 5, 2011
Chair and Members
Community and Neighbourhoods Committee
The Corporation of the City of London

Re: Regulating the keeping of backyard laying hens.

POINTS OF INFORMATION:

The Animal Care and Control bylaw was changed under former Mayor Tom Gosnell in 1992/93 as part of the land annexation process.

Banning poultry that produce fresh eggs does nothing to promote ideas of self-reliance in uncertain economic times.

Rare Breeds Canada has expressed interest in working with parties in satisfaction of their mandate to inform and educate.

Randy Corey of the Trails End Small Animal Auction has expressed willingness to fulfill the role of a poultry supplier whom one can return poultry too if necessary.

REQUESTED ACTION

That London City Council give authentic consideration to the following items when either changing the bylaws to allow for keeping backyard laying hens within city limits or establishing a 'pilot project' within city limits.

1. Approval for keeping laying hens from a majority of property owners who abut a subject property. Property owners giving permission should be in residence at ground level and the party requesting
approval should be counted as one vote 'for'.

2. No Roosters.

3. Laying hens should be purchased from local Canadian suppliers at an age (usually 5 months) when the gender of the animal can be easily determined by a person competent to do so.

4. Coops, runs and animal husbandry practices should be appropriate for the humane and sanitary housing of laying hens and the health of the guardian while respecting the rights of neighbours to
enjoyment of private property.

5. Laying hens be limited to 6 in number where space allows with eggs being used for personal consumption.

6. Any immediate change to bylaws or the implementation of a pilot program should be scheduled for an autumn/fall season.

7. Suspend 'anonymous' complaints to bylaw enforcement for a period of 12 months in case of immediate change of bylaw or for the duration of any pilot study.

8. Establish license fees for laying hens at the same level as for dogs and cats while sharing the aim of achieving revenue neutrality in any future animal support programs as implemented by the City.

9. Encourage guardians of laying hens to take part in a return to supplier program as a matter of course. It being noted that the London Humane Society currently returns poultry to farms when they are in
receipt of them.

10. Direct staff to Ensure there is clear representation on the topic of laying hens in the staff report currently being produced by Jay Stanford for the September 13th 2011 Community and Neighbourhoods
Committee meeting relating to: "Expanding the scope of animal welfare initiatives as part of the city's animal services program".

11. Encourage the adoption of Canadian Rare Breed Poultry for the purpose of helping preserve breeds through use such as The Chantecler and The Albertan.
London would be the first city in Canada to help safeguard that shared Canadian heritage.

Some members of the Community and Neighbourhoods Task Force on Community Engagement have observed the handling of this issue so far.
Unfortunately it has brought into question the credibility of a few councillors who have recorded public statements on matters to do with authentic and meaningful engagement with the community.

I encourage you to respect those people who have taken the time to sign petitions indicating a wish to change the bylaw through making appropriate adjustments in a manner that honours the spirit of their wishes while accommodating informed, rational and evidence based concerns.

Respectfully submitted,

Oliver Hobson

Public Participation Meeting re Backyard Chickens in London

Notice of Public Participation Meeting - Raising Chickens in Poultry Pens Within Residential Zones
August 16, 2011, 7:00 p.m., Centennial Hall, 550 Wellington St.

The Community and Neighbourhoods Committee will hold a public participation meeting to receive delegations and their comments regarding the advantages and disadvantages of raising chickens in poultry pens within residential zones. Information regarding the above-noted matter will be posted on the City of London's website at www.london.ca.

Questions on this matter may be directed to Ron Oke, Animal Welfare Coordinator at roke@london.ca or 519-661-2500, ext. 7368.

Written submissions regarding the above-noted matter to be included on the Community and Neighbourhoods Committee agenda for the meeting should be submitted by no later than 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 8, 2011 either delivered or mailed to the City Clerk's Office, Room 308, 300 Dufferin Avenue, P.O. Box 5035, London, ON N6A 4L9. Submissions in accordance with the above-noted deadline may be e-mailed to lkucera@london.ca.

Personal information collected and recorded at the public participation meeting or submitted in writing on this subject is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001 and will be used by members of Council and City of London staff in their review of this matter.

The written submissions including names and contact information and the report of the meeting will be made available to the public. Questions about this collection or the proposed by-law amendment should be referred to Catharine Saunders, City Clerk, 519-661-2500 ext. 4937.

Glen Pearson to Speak at Our AGM in November!

http://londoncouncilofcanadians.ca/GlenPearsonAGMNov142011Poster.pdf