Innisfail's seemingly endless Great Chicken Flap has reached a critical point.
Last week's released stakeholder feedback survey showed overwhelming support to allow residents to have urban chickens as pets.
While the survey is not legally binding, and can't be claimed to have the highest scientific standards of accuracy, the effort put in by town staff to achieve an accurate snapshot of local public opinion on this controversial issue was admirable, and most importantly, fair. The month-long survey was available to every citizen both online and in print. Information on the public participation process and a print feedback survey was mailed to every home and business. Every citizen had a more than reasonable chance to participate.
The public response rate of 7.35 per cent has to be considered excellent, especially when a similar public participation process for legalized cannabis came in at only 4.27 per cent.
Last summer when the public was raging amongst themselves over the pet fowl issue council essentially threw up their arms and declared the public should decide. Yes, council did say that through Mayor Jim Romane, who under the recently passed Council Code of Conduct Bylaw is council's official spokesperson.
"It is an easy topic to take lightly, flippantly but (for) the end result we are going to have to take it to the community and say, ‘give us some direction here. What do you want?’ We have to have that public input,” said Romane following council's Aug. 20 Agenda and Priorities Meeting when administration was directed to develop a public consultation plan for urban chickens. “Quite frankly I’d let the community decide.”
At the same time Coun. Glen Carritt, who vehemently opposes having pet chickens in the community, said, "That’s my opinion but I am here for the citizens. If they say, ‘chickens’ we go to chickens.”
There is now a lot of wavering on council to honour the results of the survey. Only Coun. Jean Barclay is resolute that the majority decision by the people must absolutely be followed.
When it comes down to it the issue before council now is a lot more than just pet chickens. It is about whether town council, especially through the public statement by the mayor, will honour a commitment to the public, whether it's about pet chickens, a tax bylaw or any issue of import to citizens.
What's more, is that this council was elected in large part on a promise it would do things differently than the previous one, that they would listen to the people.
Now is the critical moment to stand by their word.
Johnnie Bachusky is the editor of the Innisfail Province.
