Item - 2022.EC28.10
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on April 6, 2022 with amendments.
- This item was considered by Economic and Community Development Committee on March 24, 2022 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on April 6, 2022.
- See also EC1.7
- See also EC3.4
- See also By-law 255-2022
EC28.10 - Final Recommendations on the UrbanHensTO Backyard Hens Pilot Program
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on April 6 and 7, 2022 adopted the following:
1. City Council direct that the current pilot project in Chapter 349, Animals, Section 349-4.1, Hens Pilot program, be extended until March 31, 2023, and that Wards 9, 10, 11 and the entirety of Wards 4 and 19 be included as permitted zones in the UrbanHensTO Pilot Program.
2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to conduct further consultation on the proposed changes for a permanent program outlined in Recommendations 1 to 3 in the report (March 10, 2022) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and to report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in January 2023.
Public Notice Given
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-222783.pdf
Attachment 1 - UrbanHensTO Pilot Program Terms and Conditions
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-222784.pdf
Attachment 2 - UrbanHensTO Public Opinion Research Final Report
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-222785.pdf
Attachment 3 - Summary of UrbanHensTO Review Research and Consultations
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-222786.pdf
Public Notice
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-223028.pdf
Communications (Committee)
(March 21, 2022) E-mail from Rachel Yanchyshyn (EC.Supp)
(March 22, 2022) E-mail from Kathy Bocsi (EC.Supp)
(March 23, 2022) E-mail from Kaila Newby (EC.Supp)
(March 23, 2022) Letter from Liz White, Director, Animal Alliance of Canada (EC.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ec/comm/communicationfile-146539.pdf
(March 23, 2022) E-mail from Hella Comat (EC.New)
Communications (City Council)
(April 3, 2022) Submission from Sarah Doucette (CC.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/cc/comm/communicationfile-147989.pdf
(April 3, 2022) E-mail from Evelyn Lurz (CC.Supp)
(April 3, 2022) E-mail from Jessica Lyons (CC.Supp)
(April 4, 2022) E-mail from Meghan M. Hull Jacquin (CC.Supp)
(April 4, 2022) E-mail from Lynden Fedak (CC.Supp)
(April 4, 2022) E-mail from Ken Yu (CC.Supp)
(April 5, 2022) E-mail from Eva Wiseman (CC.Supp)
(April 5, 2022) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (CC.Supp)
(April 4, 2022) E-mail from Robert A Wiseman (CC.New)
(April 4, 2022) Submission from Daniela Deus (CC.New)
(April 5, 2022) Letter from A. Pope (CC.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/cc/comm/communicationfile-148495.pdf
(April 5, 2022) E-mail from Fereshteh Hashemi (CC.New)
Motions (City Council)
That City Council amend Economic and Community Development Committee Recommendation 1 by including Wards 9, 10, 11 and the entirety of Wards 4 and 19 as permitted zones in the UrbanHensTO Pilot Program.
Vote (Amend Item) Apr-07-2022 11:33 AM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - EC28.10 - Layton - motion 1 |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 20 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Joe Cressy, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Mark Grimes, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Nick Mantas, Jennifer McKelvie, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 6 | Members that voted No are Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, Stephen Holyday, Josh Matlow, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson |
Total members that were Absent: 0 | Members that were absent are |
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Apr-07-2022 11:34 AM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - EC28.10 - Adopt the Item as amended |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 19 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Joe Cressy, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Mark Grimes, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Nick Mantas, Jennifer McKelvie, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 7 | Members that voted No are Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, Stephen Holyday, Josh Matlow, Denzil Minnan-Wong, James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza |
Total members that were Absent: 0 | Members that were absent are |
Councillor Carroll, on a Point of Privilege, stated that she cannot hear on-line participants and asked if there can be quiet in the Chamber.
Councillor Carroll, on a Point of Privilege, stated that Councillor Perruzza is heckling and asked if the Speaker could mute Councillor Perruzza if he cannot wait for his turn to speak.
Councillor Holyday, on a Point of Privilege, stated that he hoped that Councillor Carroll, in her remarks, was not referring to Members as numbskulls.
Councillor Carroll, on a Point of Privilege, stated that she did not call anyone a numbskull but called a certain notion a numbskull notion, and that she was very careful in her remarks.
EC28.10 - Final Recommendations on the UrbanHensTO Backyard Hens Pilot Program
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Public Notice Given
Committee Recommendations
Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:
1. City Council direct that the current pilot project in Chapter 349, Animals, Section 349-4.1, Hens pilot program, be extended until March 31, 2023.
2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to conduct further consultation on the proposed changes for a permanent program outlined in Recommendations 1 to 3 in the report (March 10, 2022) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and to report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in January 2023.
Origin
Summary
This report outlines findings from a final review of the UrbanHensTO backyard hens pilot program. The report recommends that the program be made permanent and expanded city-wide based on the successful results of the pilot. Overall, there have been no significant issues with the pilot program and complaints related to the pilot and hen keeping city-wide have been low. The program has provided benefits to participants such as access to fresh local eggs, educational opportunities related to food systems and urban agriculture, and has supported mental health, as noted by program participants.
There is public support for hen keeping among Toronto residents and the majority of stakeholders consulted support program expansion. Additional resources and enhanced registration requirements for hen owners (for example, annual flock registration and cost recovery fees, a pro-active site inspection, and required education) are recommended in this report. It is anticipated that the proposed additional requirements, in addition to the existing terms and conditions of the pilot program, will mitigate nuisance, public health, and animal welfare concerns related to expansion.
Expanding the program city-wide will increase equitable geographic access and allow more diverse neighbourhoods to participate. To further improve equitable access, staff are also recommending community hen keeping projects be considered on a case-by-case basis, in partnership with other City divisions and community organizations to help address individual cost barriers and allow residents without sufficient private outdoor space to participate in the program.
Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 349, Animals, currently prohibits animals in the order Galliformes (which includes hens), with the exception of hens registered under the UrbanHensTO pilot program. The UrbanHensTO pilot program began on March 2, 2018 and allows registered households to have up to four hens for the purposes of enjoyment and personal egg production; roosters are prohibited and hens cannot be raised as livestock to eat. The pilot program applies to four former City of Toronto wards (Wards 5, 13, 21, and 32). As a result of ward changes in 2018, the program currently applies to some parts of Wards 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 14, and 19. Following City Council's decision in December 2020 to extend the pilot for one additional year, the pilot will expire on March 31, 2022.
City staff undertook a final review of the pilot program beginning in late fall 2021. The review included consultations with various City divisions as well as food policy and animal health and welfare stakeholders. Public opinion research and a public survey to solicit feedback on the future of the program were also conducted. Key considerations during the review included impacts on food security and food sovereignty, access to veterinary care, animal health and welfare, public health and nuisance, and equity impacts.
Staff recommend that bylaw amendments come into effect as of April 1, 2023 to implement the city-wide permanent backyard hen-keeping program, and that the current pilot program be extended until this date.
This report was developed in consultation with Toronto Public Health.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-222783.pdf
Attachment 1 - UrbanHensTO Pilot Program Terms and Conditions
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-222784.pdf
Attachment 2 - UrbanHensTO Public Opinion Research Final Report
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-222785.pdf
Attachment 3 - Summary of UrbanHensTO Review Research and Consultations
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-222786.pdf
Public Notice
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-223028.pdf
Communications
(March 21, 2022) E-mail from Rachel Yanchyshyn (EC.Supp)
(March 22, 2022) E-mail from Kathy Bocsi (EC.Supp)
(March 23, 2022) E-mail from Kaila Newby (EC.Supp)
(March 23, 2022) Letter from Liz White, Director, Animal Alliance of Canada (EC.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/ec/comm/communicationfile-146539.pdf
(March 23, 2022) E-mail from Hella Comat (EC.New)
Speakers
Lorraine Johnson
Rhonda Teitel-Payne, Toronto Urban Growers
Liz White, Animal Alliance of Canada
Sarah Doucette
Motions
That Economic and Community Development Committee recommend that:
1. City Council direct that the current pilot project in Chapter 349, Animals, Section 349-4.1, Hens pilot program, be extended until March 31, 2023.
2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to conduct further consultation on the proposed changes for a permanent program outlined in Recommendations 1 to 3 in the report (March 10, 2022) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and to report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in January 2023.
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Mar-24-2022
Result: Carried | Majority Required - EC28.10 - Thompson - motion 1 |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 4 | Members that voted Yes are Shelley Carroll, Michael Ford, Cynthia Lai, Michael Thompson (Chair) |
Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are Joe Cressy |
Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Mark Grimes |