Winnipeg Mayor Refuses Pledge for Private Tree Protection Bylaw
Trees Please Winnipeg is lobbying municipal candidates to restrict the removal of private trees, though Mayor Scott Gillingham has declined to commit to the proposal.
The advocacy group Trees Please Winnipeg is campaigning for a municipal bylaw to regulate the removal of trees on private property during the current municipal election. The group is urging candidates to sign a pledge committing to a law that would control the cutting of any tree with a diameter exceeding 15 centimeters.
Approximately 75 percent of candidates have signed the pledge, but incumbent Mayor Scott Gillingham has declined to commit to passing the law. He stated that the city council should discuss the matter and its nuances before making a decision.
Supporters argue that protecting the urban canopy is essential for air quality, rainwater control, and heat wave mitigation. Advocates point to similar protections already in place in other Canadian cities, including Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa. Conversely, critics and some property owners express concerns over private property rights and the potential for bureaucratic hurdles when removing diseased trees or addressing security issues.
