BANFF – The licence fee for a having a vicious animal is proposed to jump from $300 to $500.
Town of Banff officials say the 67 per cent increase in the licence fee aims to support the goals of the Bow Valley human-wildlife coexistence report to minimize interactions between pets and wildlife – and also aligns with Jasper’s fee.
“Even though we have a no off-leash policy, sometimes it’s not adhered to,” said Andrea Stuart, the Town of Banff’s finance manager, during the Nov. 23 governance and finance committee meeting.
“If people know that they have an animal that’s deemed a vicious animal because it’s had incidents with wildlife, that they had to be paying this $500 annual fee, rather than a $300 annual fee, it will be an incentive to be extra cautious with their interactions.”
The 2018 human-wildlife coexistence task force developed 28 recommendations to improve safety for people and wildlife in the Bow Valley, following the relocation and eventual death of female grizzly bear 148.
Key strategies centred on excluding wildlife from developed areas; improving habitat security in wildlife corridors; reducing human-caused mortality and and increasing capacity for enforcement, among others.
Meanwhile, the licence fee for any spayed female or neutered male dog over six months, and for any dog under six months of age, is proposed to go from $45 this year to $55 in 2021.
The $125 fee for any unaltered cat or dog over the age of six months stays the same, and the $20 fee for any spayed female cat or neutered male cat older than six months, or any cat under six months of age, remains unchanged.
The $10 replacement for a licence tag is also staying at $10 for next year.
However, housing, food and care for any lost or impounded animals would increase from $35 to $45 a day, which is aligned more closely with Canmore’s fees.
“The fees are based on a review of Jasper, Canmore and Calgary rates,” Stuart said.
On a 3-3 vote, Councillor Peter Poole was unsuccessful in his attempt to increase most of the animal service and licence fees by $5.
“I would suggest that we could easily tolerate – because we’re in national park and Canmore’s not – an increase in our licence fees of $5,” he said.
“We being in a national park have slightly higher standards… so I would like to increase these fees in a minor way.”
Coun. Poole also wanted additional information on the the Town of Banff’s fee for housing, food and care for lost or impounded pets compared to private facilities in town.
Mayor Karen Sorensen said she was happy to get that information.
“My immediate reaction is they are profitable businesses, and I expect their rates will be higher for that rationale,” she said, noting the municipality’s rates are likely based on cost recovery.
Council is expected to make a decision on the fees and charges bylaw on Monday, Dec. 7.
