[Eug]

City councillors want to ban shark fin soup

Councillors back proposal to ban shark-fin soup in Toronto

A broad coalition of politicians and activists has launched a campaign to ban the sale and consumption of shark fins within Toronto, a feat they hope will trigger a legislative domino effect across North America.

The fins are used in several Chinese delicacies available at restaurants throughout Greater Toronto, but the often cruel methods used to harvest sharks have prompted conservation groups and politicians around the world to call for an end to their consumption.

I've had shark fin soup before and it ranges from bleah to extremely tasty, depending upon the quality of the shark fin and the restaurant serving it.

However, since the collection of shark fin is often wasteful and inhumane (insharkane?) then I'm fine with a ban, but I don't think it should be a city-based ban. These things should be federal, not up to a bunch of city councillors IMO. Yeah, these things need to start somewhere, but nonetheless I am uncomfortable with having city council doing this sort of stuff. Furthermore, it seems to be an extremely selective proposed ban, leaving stuff like fois gras on the menu.

A couple of the comments on the article summed it up quite nicely:

Whither Canada: Can I PLEASE just get my potholes fixed?

Kanada-USA: fill them with shark fins.
But seriously, in Chinatown, I've seen folks fixing their own potholes with asphalt.

 

[MapleLeafs]

What an utter waste of time and money.

So let me get this straight... these shark fins are still legal in Vaughan? in Mississauga? in Oakville? in Burlington? in Markham? Now, if I really had a craving for this, could I not just drive 30 minutes and buy some?

If these city councilors feel so compelled to ban this product, perhaps they should get in touch with some colleagues in the provincial or federal parliament and work towards that goal. The city has more important things to be focusing on right now.

 

[jn_12]

What an utter waste of time and money.

So let me get this straight... these shark fins are still legal in Vaughan? in Mississauga? in Oakville? in Burlington? in Markham? Now, if I really had a craving for this, could I not just drive 30 minutes and buy some?

If these city councilors feel so compelled to ban this product, perhaps they should get in touch with some colleagues in the provincial or federal parliament and work towards that goal. The city has more important things to be focusing on right now.

What part of "a feat they hope will trigger a legislative domino effect across North America" didn't you understand?

I think it's absolutely important that our city takes a stand, particularly in areas that are of environmental and biological concern. Similarly, there have been bans on Foie Gras around the world. Sure, you could make an argument that all sorts of animals are treated poorly for our sake (the fast food industry is a big culprit) and that it's unfair to only attack the aforementioned niche foods, (and if that was your issue, I'd agree with you), but the idea that that we shouldn't be tackling these issues at the municipal level is wrong in my opinion. Toronto wields a lot of power, and if it means we can help tackle global issues with that power then we have a responsibility to do so.

 

[Eug]

I don't think city council has to mandate for this, nor should it.

If they want to campaign for the ban, I would hope they did it on their time please, and petition their MPs in Ottawa.

 

[RC8]

I know several Chinese people who boycott places that serve shark fin. I think banning it is the right thing to do, even if just to raise awareness. Banning child pornography in a city probably won't have any discernible effect on it, but it's the right thing to do. Unless less than intelligent people oppose the measure it should sail smoothly and not cost anyone a lot of money.

 

[Eug]

I know several Chinese people who boycott places that serve shark fin. I think banning it is the right thing to do, even if just to raise awareness. Banning child pornography in a city probably won't have any discernible effect on it, but it's the right thing to do. Unless less than intelligent people oppose the measure it should sail smoothly and not cost anyone a lot of money.

IMO, shark fin and child porn bans are not in the same category.

And anyway, child porn bans are national law as they should be.

 

[RC8]

The fact is that there is a case to ban it, and I'm yet to hear a good reason not to other than 'we do other terrible things so why stop doing this one?' which doesn't cut it for me. It's like people who say they don't recycle because 'a lot of stuff is going to end up as waste anyway'. Wrong attitude in my opinion.

 

[Eug]

The fact is that there is a case to ban it, and I'm yet to hear a good reason not to other than 'we do other terrible things so why stop doing this one?' which doesn't cut it for me. It's like people who say they don't recycle because 'a lot of stuff is going to end up as waste anyway'. Wrong attitude in my opinion.

My argument is that Toronto City Hall is bloated enough already as it is. I don't think it's the right practice to encourage pet projects of specific individuals when they really aren't part of the mandate of the city.

I encourage those councillors to pursue this... on their own time with the appropriate authorities. I'd rather see the Canadian Food Inspection Agency handle this, and if they deem a ban as appropriate, then I would support it.

Ban dihydrogen monoxide!

 

[Eug]

Well, whaddya know. According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Animals Committee, the vast majority of shark fins are taken from already dead sharks, and there is no justification for a ban on shark fin soup.

The committee member, who is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons of England, states live finning of sharks is deplorable and there are already bans on that practice. However, he also states the vast majority of shark fins are not from live finning, and that shark fins not derived from live finning is fine as long as they're not from potentially endangered shark species. There are three shark species, out of over 400 species, which require control.

So, even I, one of the skeptics in this thread, was fooled. I had believed that live finning was much more rampant than the CITES Animals Committee thinks it is. I suspect this is what happened with those city councillors. This is why I think it's inappropriate for local councillors with little real insight in these matters should be pushing these pet projects of theirs on us.

 

[cdr108]

^ ^ ^

that should put an end to this waste of time and tax payers money.

city councillors should be doing more productive things ...
pet projects like this only fuel the Ford bros 'gravy train' notion.

btw, where is all the 'gravy' Rob campaigned about?

he said he knew where it was but wouldn't disclose it until after the election.
now that he's been elected, council appointed, and been in charge for better part of 1/2 year ... where's the GRAVY ?!?
and don't bring up TCHC b/c that was after the fact and not something even on RF's lips until the auditor's report.

 

[Eug]

He got rid of coffee and sammiches!

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

See "Sharkwater", a documentary by Toronto filmmaker Rob Stewart or "Shark Week" when it airs next. I caught Sharkwater by accident a few years ago, I had never heard of this cruel practice - and it's being sold openly not only in Toronto markets but markets worldwide. It should be a Federal matter, but banning shark fin sales in Toronto is a good start and sends a strong message. Sharks are top predators, without sharks roaming the oceans we're in big trouble. As China's wealth increases the demand for this product increases exponentially and the strangest thing of all is, shark fin has no flavour.

 

[Eug]

See "Sharkwater", a documentary by Toronto filmmaker Rob Stewart or "Shark Week" when it airs next. I caught Sharkwater by accident a few years ago, I had never heard of this cruel practice - and it's being sold openly not only in Toronto markets but markets worldwide. It should be a Federal matter, but banning shark fin sales in Toronto is a good start and sends a strong message. Sharks are top predators, without sharks roaming the oceans we're in big trouble.

Documentaries on environmental issues are often very one-sided, so I wouldn't necessarily just believe that one point of view. That's like suggesting only Michael Moore's documentaries are what we should watch to get a good picture of all the topics he likes to talk about. I like some of Michael Moore's documentaries, but I definitely watch them with a huge grain of salt. I will also watch Sharkwater with a big grain of salt... or chicken stock as it were.

the strangest thing of all is, shark fin has no flavour.

That's a really dumb argument, quite frankly. The point of shark fin is the texture. The flavour comes from the rest of the soup. It's just like a lot of other dishes out there. Chinese don't eat tofu because it's a cornucopia of flavours either. However, it meshes well with a lot of other ingredients and it's nutritionally sound, and people love it. (Well, at least some people do. ) The truth is that shark fin soup is absolutely delicious (for some) if made correctly. I tried it in China when I was on vacation there, and instantly loved it. Mind you I tried it a couple of times in Chinatown here and thought it was terrible.

If we're going to ban food on the basis of taste, I would vote that we ban Ragu spaghetti sauce instead. Sickly sweet ickiness.

 

[js97]

NDP campaign playbook #24 - make 'feel good' policy statements that are ineffective, but gets your 'name' recognized and imprinted in your constituents mind for future campaign purposes. It's self-serving, and quite frankly a waste of their time. There are far more pressing issues within the city that need their attention.


Furthermore, this is a bit of a slippery slope when a local government, elected to run municipal affairs, tries to stipulate what a constituent can or cannot eat.

If they really had 'good' intentions, they would ban steakhouses and the like. The consumption of heavy greenhouse gas procuding beef industry trumps any footprint a few dead sharks can have.

Suprised Olivia Chow hasn't gotten her name in the mix. She's generally good at blurring government levels by getting involved with local, municipal affairs and tagging her name on it: The amount of flyers I've received regarding the now non-existent 'Fort York' bridge is upsurd.

 

[ReThink]

My argument is that Toronto City Hall is bloated enough already as it is. I don't think it's the right practice to encourage pet projects of specific individuals when they really aren't part of the mandate of the city.

Indeed. Forget personal pet projects, our Councillors and Mayor should be concerned about more pressing items like getting an NFL Team. Oh wait...