Whistler says no to eggs from caged hens
Publication Date:
September 5, 2007
Following the lead of the Cities of Richmond and Vancouver, councillors of the Resort Municipality of Whistler passed a resolution requesting all operators and caterers of municipally-run facilities remove eggs from caged hens from municipal operations. Council also resolved to encourage residents:
- as restaurants and caterers in both private and municipal operations, to highlight the support for and availability of certified organic, free-range chicken eggs on their menus;
- as consumers, to request the option of purchasing certified organic, free-range chicken eggs at retail food outlets and restaurants and, where available, choose the certified organic, free-range option;
- as wholesalers, to highlight the preference for and availability of certified organic, free-range chicken eggs in their food supply inventories; and
- as retailers, to highlight the preference for and availability of certified organic, free-range chicken eggs in their food stores
“With Whistler being a host city for the 2010 Olympics, this progressive motion by council will demonstrate to the world that egg-laying hens should not be kept in cages,” said Bruce Passmore, Farm Animal Welfare Project Coordinator for the Vancouver Humane Society. “Hens suffer in cages. Congratulations to council for doing their part to end one of the most ubiquitous and egregious forms of animal suffering.”
Whistler has gone one step further than any other city by writing a letter to the Union of BC Municipalities recommending all cities in the Province of BC follow their lead and adopt a similar policy.
“We hope every city in BC will follow Whistler’s lead, demonstrating to Canadians that BC is the most compassionate province in the country, particularly towards farm animals,” said Passmore.
For more on this story and many other, visit www.chickenout.ca.
