MONTREAL – There won’t be any calèches in Montreal for the next year, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre announced Wednesday morning.
READ MORE: Mayor to require mandatory vet checks after horse falls in downtown Montreal
The aim is to give city officials the chance to debate whether the horse-drawn carriage industry has a place in Montreal.
READ MORE: Should Montreal ban horse-drawn carriages?
This comes after several incidents over the past year that showed the animals working in sweltering conditions during the summer.
There were also three accidents: one where a horse collapsed after tripping on a metal plate on Peel and Notre-Dame streets, another when a mare was spooked and got caught as it tried to jump over a bench in the Old Port, and most recently, a horse was hit by a car in Griffintown.
READ MORE: Calèche horse, car collide in Griffintown, sparking debate over safety
Animal lovers have often questioned whether calèches are safe for horses, arguing the job of dragging tourists through streets full of traffic and cars is inhumane.
“Horse-drawn carriages are not a charming way for tourists to discover Old Montreal,” said Nicholas Gilman, Executive Director of the Montreal SPCA.
“They are a subsidized form of animal cruelty, attracting negative reviews regarding our beautiful city.”
Officials announced carriage drivers who bought permits for this year will be reimbursed.
READ MORE: Calèche horses in good health, says report
Opposition party Projet Montreal has long insisted calèches belong in stables, not on the streets, and has pushed the municipal government to do something about the controversial industry.
The ban will come into effect next Tuesday.
Comments