Council Could Make a New Elephant Decision in Next Month

The following are excerpts from Toronto Star. The excerpts are with regards to Toronto City Council's 24-Oct-2011 decision to send the elephants to PAWS.

Toronto Star (18-Oct-2012):
Council Could Make a New Elephant Decision in Next Month

When Toronto City Council meets in two weeks, more than a year will have passed since the 31-4 vote to send the Toronto Zoo’s three elephants to a sanctuary in California. That means the controversial decision could be reversed with only a simple majority vote, not a two-thirds supermajority. ...

In September, the zoo’s senior veterinarian, Graham Crawshaw, told reporters he is concerned about active cases of tuberculosis at the California sanctuary, known as the Performing Animal Welfare Society, or PAWS. The zoo, Crawshaw said, was continuing its “due diligence” probe of PAWS. ...

The zoo board voted at its September meeting to send a report on the status of the transfer to Mayor Rob Ford’s executive committee meeting and then on to council. Councillors may prefer to wait until the report is brought forward in November before they undertake any new vote.

See also: Toronto Zoo Releases Documents About Elephant Issues
See also: City Council to be Asked to Cancel Elephant Move to PAWS
See also: Zoo's Senior Vet Speaks to CBC Metro Morning about Tuberculosis at PAWS

Executive Committee to Receive Elephant Transfer Status Report

At the 25-Sep-2012 meeting of the Board of Management of the Toronto Zoo, the zoo's CEO John Tracogna and the zoo's senior veterinarian Dr. Graham Crawshaw presented the Elephant Transfer Status report in which four major issues were identified: 1. Permits, 2. Final Transportation Plan, 3. Crates and Training, and 4. Medical and Health Records.

Prior to the presentation, the public gave input.

After lengthy discussion, the Zoo Board passed a motion "That the Board direct the Chief Executive Officer to forward the (September 25, 2012) memorandum on the elephant transfer status to the Executive Committee, for its meeting on October 9, 2012, and thereon to City Council for consideration." See: 2012-09-25 Minutes - Board of Management of the Toronto Zoo.

However, the agenda of the 9-Oct-2012 Executive Committee meeting does not have an item regarding the report. So, it may be at the 5-Nov-2012 meeting when the report is considered.

See also: City Council to be Asked to Cancel Elephant Move to PAWS
See also: Toronto Zoo Releases Documents About Elephant Issues