qathet Regional District (qRD) directors have received an informative staff report into dog control issues.
At the May 22 committee of the whole meeting, Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne thanked staff for the report they had prepared concerning dangerous dogs and said it helped outline all the legislation the regional district runs into in rural areas in relation to dogs.
“It’s not just one piece of legislation,” said Gisborne. “You’ve got the Community Charter, you’ve got the Local Government Act, you have the Livestock Act. The staff have put together a really good, comprehensive report. This report could even be sent to the RCMP so they can have an understanding of what the legislation is that empowers them.”
Gisborne said section 49 of the Community Charter, which is the special powers in relation to dangerous dogs, allows local governments to have bylaws and bylaw control officers. He said, however, that section 322 of the Local Government Act indicates that a peace officer may exercise authority under section 49 within the boundaries of the regional district.
“What that is saying is whether we have a bylaw or not, the RCMP have the authority of the jurisdiction to do whatever it is the regional district would want to take on,” said Gisborne. “The RCMP has jurisdiction, but of course they are used to dealing with the Criminal Code of Canada. If we send this staff report over to the RCMP, it can help them with their education.”
The committee voted that it recommend to the regional board that the board enter into the minutes and file the report titled qathet Regional District Approach to Dog Control Issues.
According to the staff report, since April 2020, qRD has received 19 inquiries concerning aggressive off-leash dogs, attacks, roaming, barking and refuse, qRD does not have a service or bylaw related to animal control and the RCMP should be contacted in relation to dangerous dogs. Establishment of a qRD service would result in increased fiscal and administrative requirements for the regional district.
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