MONTREAL, February 23, 2017: Last week Ville-Marie Borough and the Old Montreal Business Development Corporation reached a one year agreement of $45,000 for caléche driver training with the Institut de tourisme et l’hôtellerie du Québec.
The City will also be providing the drivers with uniforms. This is all part of the $500,000 investment the city announced last December.
“Why would the City invest thousands of dollars in uniforms and training when it already requires the drivers to follow a dress code and receive training,” asked Georges Dupras, Director, Animal Alliance of Canada. “It would appear that the City is prepared to dress up the caléche industry without addressing the cruelty.”
“The City initiatives are designed to deflect the real issue – the cruelty to the horses,” said Mirella Colalillo, spokesperson, Anti-caléche Defence Coalition. “The agreement is window dressing and does not even address the key issue – the cruelty of the caléche industry. We call upon Mayor Coderre to do what is right – save tax dollars – save the horses – and end the caleche industry in Montreal”
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Contact:
Mirella Colalillo: acdc.montreal@gmail.com
Georges Dupras: georges@animalalliance.ca