![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Speed-Limit-sign-Winnipeg-e1677865001179-1024x576.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nLocal advocates celebrated a small win as public outcry led to the mayor\u2019s decision to maintain the urban forestry budget and reverse the proposal to chop funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very happy to see that. I think it was the wrong decision in the first place,\u201d said Christian Cassidy, the executive director of Trees Winnipeg.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
In a statement, he said Winnipeggers deeply care about our urban forest and that he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations to the people who contacted their city councillors and the mayor\u2019s office. Advocacy works; the city hall listens sometimes,\u201d said Cassidy.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, the City\u2019s executive policy committee voted to chop $1.2 million from the tree planting program. The proposal was a response to the province\u2019s mandate to allocate funds to the Assiniboine Park Conservatories \u201cJourney to Churchill exhibit\u201d.<\/p>\n
Urban forestry was adopted by the city in 2023, with its budget continuously increasing year over year.<\/p>\n
\u201cA 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,\u201d said Cassidy.<\/p>\n
Local advocates were calling on the City to maintain the funding in order to save Winnipeg\u2019s tree canopy, as Cassidy says many trees in the city are subject to diseases or can be damaged by extreme weather.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t necessarily plant trees today for today; you plant them for what\u2019s going to happen in 20, 30, 40 years ahead,\u201d said Cassidy.<\/p>\n
Gillngham said the proposal will be brought forward for council\u2019s consideration on July 16th.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\t30 km\/h speed limit sign on a Winnipeg street. (Photo Credit: Google Maps) <\/p>\n
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