Motion on cetaceans in captivity at Vancouver Aquarium deferred by Park Board

UPDATE: The Park Board was supposed to vote on a motion Monday, but commissioners deferred the decision to a future meeting.

Vancouver residents could have a say on the future of cetaceans in captivity.

The Park Board will review a motion today that could lead to a public vote on whether the Vancouver Aquarium should keep whales and dolphins in captivity.

If the motion passes officials would recommend a question be asked on the ballot for the 2018 municipal election.

This follows two high-profile whale deaths at the aquarium.

The motion also proposes that no more whales be brought in until the results of the vote are revealed.

1:56 Possible public vote to keep whales at Vancouver Aquarium

“I think it’s important for all residents to have an opportunity to voice their opinion. Sometimes we have people come down to Park Board meetings and they have a chance to speak but we don’t hear from all residents and this is a chance for us to really gauge how citizens are feeling across the city about having cetaceans at the aquarium.”

This isn’t the first time there has been talk of banning captive cetaceans. A Vancouver city councillor tried to get a plebiscite on the ballot for the 2014 civic election, but council rejected it saying it was a park board issue.

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-With files from Jon Azpiri