New Iqaluit dog control bylaw delayed again

MICHAELA RODRIGUE

IQALUIT — New rules restricting Iqaluit sled dogs have hit another road block.

Iqaluit town councillor Lynda Gunn said early last week that she would present at least one draft dog control bylaw to the municipality’s development, works and public safety (DWPS) committee meeting on Feb. 2.

But three days later she told council that she wants to meet one more time with members of an ad hoc dog control committee before she presents a new bylaw.

That meeting is scheduled to take place on Jan. 24.

If members of the dog ad hoc committee come back with new recommendations, Gunn said she will need more legal advice.

“Is there going to be anything new to present to lawyers? If there is, I don’t think it will give the lawyer enough time,” she said.

That may leave enough time to bring a draft bylaw to the (DWPS) committee next month, but Gunn isn’t hopeful.

“More than likely there will be no draft bylaw for the February meeting. I will advise [Iqaluit’s town manager] Paul Fraser on whether we can,” Gunn told assembled councillors last week.

The ad hoc committee, made up of concerned parents and dog team owners, was struck after six-year-old Leah Tikivik was killed by a pack of sled dogs staked to the sea ice.

But almost two years since Tikivik’s death, the ad hoc committee’s work has been stymied by disagreement about how dogs should be regulated.

Dog team owners say that teams should be close to their masters to become socialized with people. Others suggest restricting dog teams to locations far removed from the community or to specified districts of town.

Gunn later conducted her own research and spoke to elders, community officials and a veterinarian who works for Greenland’s home rule government. She was to present an amended bylaw for debate based on her research.

But Gunn has since decided to take one more kick at the can and reconvene the committee.

Gunn said she wants to ease any fears that she will dictate how council should proceed.

“I want to allay concerns as expressed by members of the committee on council,” Gunn said.

Gunn will present recommendations from both dog owners and other citizens. She will also recommend which proposals she thinks council should put into effect.

“I’m going have to rationalize which ones work and won’t work — which ones seem most plausible,” Gunn said.