Come to the council meeting February 23 7:00pm EST!

As a resident of Beaconsfield, Quebec, I am deeply concerned about the recent updates to the town's bylaws on the sanitation of buildings. These changes, unfortunately, label wildlife as 'vermin' – a term that lacks a clear legal definition. This designation unjustly casts a negative light on many animals, including rodents and other creatures that play crucial roles in our ecosystem.  https://www.beaconsfield.ca/storage/app/media/ma-ville/votre-conseil/seances-du-conseil-et-proces-verbaux/Projets%20de%20règlements%20et%20autres%20documents/2026/BEAC_175_sanitation.pdf

While the separate animal bylaw commendably place a ban on outdoor use of traps and poison, there's a troubling omission in the building bylaw. No provisions exist for the mandatory use of humane, non-lethal control methods when handling wildlife within buildings. Instead, pest control and exterminators are referenced without a requirement to prioritize humane animal removal techniques.

The current approach fails to recognize that humane methods are not only more ethical but are often more effective in the long term. Non-lethal methods and safe removal practices help maintain ecological balance, preventing potential environmental consequences arising from the loss of wildlife species from their natural habitats.

Beaconsfield claims to be a town committed to protecting its natural environment, yet it allows its building regulations to contradict its separate animal protection bylaws. These protective bylaws clearly ban the use of traps and poison outdoors for animal safety, so why is this protection not extended indoors? It is time to bridge this gap and ensure consistent regulations that protect all animals, inside and out.

There are no requirements to make the buildings safe from bird strikes either, a glaring omission.  The only mention of birds is a requirement to keep them from entering the building.  

I call on Beaconsfield authorities to revise the new sanitation bylaw to include:
1. A legal definition of wildlife that encompasses all animals, including rodents.
2. A ban on the indoor use of traps and poisons, consistent with outdoor standards.
3. A requirement that all methods of animal removal, including rodent control, are conducted in a humane manner that avoids harm and death.
4. The elimination of the term ‘vermin’ from the bylaw language.
5. A mandate to reduce and hopefully eliminate bird window strikes.  

By supporting this petition, we can help ensure the humane treatment and protection of all wildlife within Beaconsfield’s jurisdiction. Sign this petition to stand up for a compassionate and environmentally respectful approach in our community’s regulations.