Advocates planting the seed of a tree protection law in Winnipeg’s election

Winnipeg residents are fighting to protect the remaining mature trees in the city from being cut down by property owners. Diane Poulin, an advocate with Trees Please Winnipeg, lost five mature elm trees that used to provide a beautiful canopy outside her home. These trees, along with the largest one in her backyard which was like the "grandfather of the neighbourhood," are all gone now.

The city's trees are facing threats from disease, pests and climate change, but there are limits on what can be done to protect them. That's why Poulin and her group are pushing for a bylaw to control the cutting of trees on private property. Trees provide many benefits to residents, such as shade, cleaner air, controlling rainwater, and beautification.

With over 80% of the city's trees on private property, there needs to be a way to preserve these trees as well. More than 75% of candidates in the municipal election have signed a pledge to enact a bylaw that would control the removal of trees more than 15 centimeters in diameter. However, some incumbents, like incumbent mayor Scott Gillingham, have not committed to passing the bylaw.

While such a bylaw could limit homeowners' rights to cut down trees, supporters argue that it's not much different from existing laws.