ACTION NEEDED BY SAULT STE MARIE RESIDENTS The new Animal Care and Control Bylaw discussion and the issue of the animals at Spruce Haven Zoo has not been settled yet, so there is still an opportunity to help the animals. You may already know that on February 20th, Sault Ste Marie City Council voted 6 - 4 in favour of a motion put forward by Councillors Steve Butland and Susan Myers that would allow Spruce Haven Zoo to operate however they want without having to satisfy any municipal bylaw requirements for animal care and with no chance of ever being found in violation of the bylaw. The Butland/Myers motion contained the clause "therefore be it resolved that City Council direct the Solicitor to include in the proposed new [Animal Care and Control] bylaw wording such that would exempt or grandfather Spruce Haven Nature Park from complying with any sections of the proposed new bylaw that would otherwise cause the operation to be in a state of non-compliance." If adopted, this clause means that the Spruce Haven Zoo would not have to satisfy even the general animal care clauses in the bylaw and that the animals, like Ben the bear, could remain in their current conditions for the rest of their lives. But that doesn’t have to happen because Council hasn’t voted on the final wording of the new bylaw yet. At the February 20th meeting the proposed Animal Care and Control Bylaw was sent back to staff for redrafting because the Butland/Myers motion was passed. That means that at the next Council meeting, the bylaw can be sent back to staff again for more changes or new motions to amend the bylaw to address animal welfare and public safety issues or to remove the proposed exemption for Spruce Haven Zoo can be put forward for a vote. Of course, it also means that Council could just vote and pass the new bylaw with the total exemption for Spruce Haven Zoo intact and no new amendments at all. If you live in Sault Ste Marie or have visited the City or the Spruce Haven Zoo please send an email to the City of Sault Ste. Marie Mayor and Members of Council urging them not to include a clause that exempts or grandfathers the Spruce Haven Zoo. Mayor and Members of Sault Ste Marie City Council at cityclerk@cityssm.on.ca ----------------------------------- COUNCILLORS SAY THEY HAVEN'T HEARD FROM RESIDENTS: Some Sault Ste Marie City councilors said they have not been contacted by any local residents about the Spruce Haven Zoo issue. If you live in Sault Ste Marie and want to help, it is extremely important that you email the Mayor and Members of Council on this issue. Hundreds of Sault Ste Marie residents have signed this petition, so we know there is a lot of concern. Please contact your elected officials to let them know that Spruce Haven Zoo should not be exempted from the City’s Animal Care and Control Bylaw. Even a one sentence email would be helpful. Mayor and Members of Sault Ste Marie City Council at cityclerk@cityssm.on.ca