Another call for vote on whales in captivity in Vancouver

(VANCOUVER) - NEWS1130) - A Vancouver Park Board commissioner wants to gauge public opinion on whether the Vancouver Aquarium should be displaying whales and dolphins.

Green Party member Stuart Mackinnon has put forward a motion to ask for a non-binding referendum, which would be held during the next municipal election in 2011. "It's in people's minds now. We just had the death at the aquarium of another beluga calf in June."

Mackinnon says changes to election rules make now an important time to put the issue to the people. "In 2011, the people who get elected then are in for four years and so that will be the last opportunity that we have to have a plebiscite before the bylaw will be reviewed." Mackinnon says Vancouver was the first place to display whales and dolphins and it would be fitting if the city was the first to officially end the practice.

The Vancouver Aquarium says it does not support the motion and will be at Monday's Park Board meeting to discuss it.