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Canada: Burnaby staff seeking approval to study backyard chicken regulations

The BC Centre for Disease Control estimates 12.7% of British Columbians don’t have adequate access to food.

By Dustin Godfrey
Burnaby Now
Nov 19, 2020

Excerpt:

“Food security is a very important issue, as we have seen interruptions in our food supply chain during the COVID pandemic. I believe our council has to take this very seriously and take a look at food security from all angles,” Keithley said in a May council meeting.

According to the staff report to the social planning committee, the BC Centre for Disease Control estimates 12.7% of British Columbians don’t have adequate access to food.

“This experience has become more acute as a result of the COVlD-19 pandemic. In Burnaby approximately 3,200 people a week are seeking support via the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and their community affiliates,” staff wrote in the report.

In 2010, staff recommended the city ban backyard chickens, citing concerns around noise and the potential for spreading disease or attracting pests. Since then, however, several urban municipalities in B.C. have adopted regulations that allow chickens on residential properties, with some limits.

That includes North Vancouver (city and district), New Westminster, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria.

Citing the “evolving landscape and a growing interest by Burnaby residents to keep chickens,” staff suggested the city should have another look at the issue. If this is approved, staff would look into the experiences of other municipalities with backyard chickens and best practices for keeping chickens.

Staff further suggested the city could look at expanding the number of community gardens in the community. Currently there are two on city property (the Heights Community Garden and the Burnaby and Region Allotment Garden) and 11 on elementary and secondary school properties, although these mostly function as “learning gardens.”

Read the complete article here.