Local advocates celebrated a small win as public outcry led to the mayor’s decision to maintain the urban forestry budget and reverse the proposal to chop funding.
“I am very happy to see that. I think it was the wrong decision in the first place,” said Christian Cassidy, the executive director of Trees Winnipeg.
Thursday afternoon, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham announced he is bringing forward a proposal to city council to maintain full funding for tree planting in the 2026 urban forest renewal program.
In a statement, he said Winnipeggers deeply care about our urban forest and that he’s heard that clearly. It goes on to say the public wants this tree planting funding protected, and he agreed to bring forward the plan to council next week.
“Congratulations to the people who contacted their city councillors and the mayor’s office. Advocacy works; the city hall listens sometimes,” said Cassidy.
Earlier this week, the City’s executive policy committee voted to chop $1.2 million from the tree planting program. The proposal was a response to the province’s mandate to allocate funds to the Assiniboine Park Conservatories “Journey to Churchill exhibit”.
Urban forestry was adopted by the city in 2023, with its budget continuously increasing year over year.
“A couple years into it to use it as a slush fund for infrastructure projects that fell short, we just felt that it would be a bad precedent to set,” said Cassidy.
Local advocates were calling on the City to maintain the funding in order to save Winnipeg’s tree canopy, as Cassidy says many trees in the city are subject to diseases or can be damaged by extreme weather.
“You don’t necessarily plant trees today for today; you plant them for what’s going to happen in 20, 30, 40 years ahead,” said Cassidy.
Gillngham said the proposal will be brought forward for council’s consideration on July 16th.
30 km/h speed limit sign on a Winnipeg street. (Photo Credit: Google Maps)
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