On July 14th 1966, the executive council of the city of Montreal, presided by mayor Jean Drapeau, decided to forbid the butchering, slaughtering, breeding, fattening, raising and the selling of poultry and game on its territory. After a meeting of the municipal council, this decision became law on October 5th of the same year, on the eve of the World Fair of 1967, and would forever alter Quebec’s food and cultural practices. Five years later, we would also forbid the practice in the cities public markets.
Some people would claim victory for social progress translating in the exodus of "farm animals" to the country. Others would be relieved by the improvement in sanitary conditions downtown, eliminating droppings from the urban landscape. While others would denounce the loss to food autonomy, an interference in individual and collective freedoms and a blind generalization of the relationship between humans and animals in an urban setting.
It is therefore that in 2010, multiple large north-American cities, after public consultation reuniting citizens, experts, scientists and elected officials, have reintegrated certain animals such as laying hens into their city limits (Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, New York and Chicago). Ottawa, Toronto and Gatineau are not to be left out and will start public consultations in the near future.
Considering that we have a legitimate and democratic right for collective decisions regarding actual and future societal issues, the signatories of this letter call on the executive council of the City of Montreal to mandate, and in the shortest of delays, the Montreal Public Consultation office to hold a public consultation on the future of urban agriculture in montreal, most notably on the potential for reintergrating laying hens into our urban landscape.
It is noted that the Montreal Public Consultation office was instituted in 2002 by article 75 in the City of Montreal Charter and that no public consultation was held in 1966 to forbid the butchering, slaughtering, breeding, fattening, raising and the selling of poultry and game within the Montreal city limits.
Research Collective in Sustainable Landscaping and Urban AgricultureCollectif de Recherche en Aménagement Paysager et en Agriculture Urbaine Durable
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
August 18, 2010
6 Comments
LET US HAVE HENS. Its my backyard not the city's.
Ridiculous that u can have a dog but not a couple chickens. They are quiet and give eggs. Times have changed, catch up Montreal!
It is so hard to find local food these days. Let us keep a few hens it is not that big of a deal.
So many other cities allow this now without issues. Montreal is living in the past with this law. Really hope to see this change soon.
Fresh eggs in the city is the way to go. Cities like Toronto are doing it why are we so behind?
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
On July 14th 1966, the executive council of the city of Montreal, presided by mayor Jean Drapeau, decided to forbid the butchering, slaughtering, breeding, fattening, raising and the selling of poultry and game on its territory. After a meeting of the municipal council, this decision became law on October 5th of the same year, on the eve of the World Fair of 1967, and would forever alter Quebec’s food and cultural practices. Five years later, we would also forbid the practice in the cities public markets.
Some people would claim victory for social progress translating in the exodus of "farm animals" to the country. Others would be relieved by the improvement in sanitary conditions downtown, eliminating droppings from the urban landscape. While others would denounce the loss to food autonomy, an interference in individual and collective freedoms and a blind generalization of the relationship between humans and animals in an urban setting.
It is therefore that in 2010, multiple large north-American cities, after public consultation reuniting citizens, experts, scientists and elected officials, have reintegrated certain animals such as laying hens into their city limits (Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, New York and Chicago). Ottawa, Toronto and Gatineau are not to be left out and will start public consultations in the near future.
Considering that we have a legitimate and democratic right for collective decisions regarding actual and future societal issues, the signatories of this letter call on the executive council of the City of Montreal to mandate, and in the shortest of delays, the Montreal Public Consultation office to hold a public consultation on the future of urban agriculture in montreal, most notably on the potential for reintergrating laying hens into our urban landscape.
It is noted that the Montreal Public Consultation office was instituted in 2002 by article 75 in the City of Montreal Charter and that no public consultation was held in 1966 to forbid the butchering, slaughtering, breeding, fattening, raising and the selling of poultry and game within the Montreal city limits.
Research Collective in Sustainable Landscaping and Urban AgricultureCollectif de Recherche en Aménagement Paysager et en Agriculture Urbaine Durable
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
August 18, 2010
6 Comments
I want to teach my kids where food comes from. Backyard hens are a great way to do that. Stop these old 1966 rules!!
LET US HAVE HENS. Its my backyard not the city's.
Ridiculous that u can have a dog but not a couple chickens. They are quiet and give eggs. Times have changed, catch up Montreal!
It is so hard to find local food these days. Let us keep a few hens it is not that big of a deal.
So many other cities allow this now without issues. Montreal is living in the past with this law. Really hope to see this change soon.
Fresh eggs in the city is the way to go. Cities like Toronto are doing it why are we so behind?
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 250 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
I want to teach my kids where food comes from. Backyard hens are a great way to do that. Stop these old 1966 rules!!