WINNIPEG – For decades the circus has attracted more 30,000 Winnipeggers every year, but now city hall is one step closer to bringing down the curtain.
Wednesday, the mayor’s powerful Executive Policy Committee voted to ban circuses that use exotic animals like elephants and tigers. The ban still needs to pass a city council vote.
The ban is part of the revised Responsible Pet Ownership bylaw that also bans backyard chickens and introduces cat licensing.
If the bylaw is approved in a city council vote, Larry Solheim, with TZ Productions, which represents several circus shows, threatened to take the city to court.
“We feel it’s wrongly singling out the circus industry based on a great deal of misinformation and questionable allegations,” said Solheim.
Solheim said the shows don’t mistreat their animals and the audience is never at risk.
“The allegations of abuse and mistreatment of circus animals is just that, allegations,” said Solheim.
“Anybody is entitled to a legal challenge and if it comes, it comes,” said Mayor Sam Katz.
The Winnipeg Humane Society calls the vote a victory.
“The confinement of wild animals, the stress, the lack of normal behaviour for circus animal just can’t continue,” said Humane Society executive director Bill McDonald.
While Winnipeggers Global News spoke to are against mistreatment, many say the ban is not necessary.
“My daughter and I have gone, she really enjoyed it,” said one woman. “I know I do want the animals to be looked after properly,”
“I think that’s wrong,” said another man. “We all grew up with the circus and we all turned out all right.”
Last spring, a Global News camera was rolling when a baboon escaped from its cage at the MTS Centre, meandered through the seating area during a media photo op, and was eventually recaptured.
City councillors will vote on the ban next Wednesday.
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