'Enough is enough': Winnipeg neighbourhood groups demand guidelines from Manitoba Hydro after clear-cutting in parks
Recent clear-cutting in two Winnipeg parks by Manitoba Hydro has residents demanding guidelines and increased community consultation.
A letter, signed by four residents’ associations and Trees Please Winnipeg, is calling on Manitoba Hydro to immediately develop policies regarding the maintenance, pruning and removal of existing trees in Winnipeg.
The letter to Manitoba Hydro was also sent to the city and provincial representatives including Mayor Brian Bowman and Jeff Wharton, the province’s Minister of Crown Services.
Robert Orr, president of Kingston Crescent Residents’ Association, said they want the city and province to be “keenly aware” citizens are voicing their displeasure with how Manitoba Hydro goes about its business.
“[We want] to start getting some straight answers from Manitoba Hydro going forward about how they are going to approach the whole forestry infrastructure in the city,” Orr said. “And if they can do so in a more respectful and collaborative manner with the communities that they serve.”
In March, Manitoba Hydro authorized the clear-cutting of 200 mature trees in Wolseley’s Omand Park. The letter said the felled trees could have been pruned instead.
Last week, at Sandra Crowson Bay Park in East Fort Garry, Manitoba Hydro cut down trees near power lines.
“I think that was, kind of, the last straw,” Orr said.
Orr said they penned the letter not only to demand action, but to get several neighbourhood committees involved.
“Enough is enough.”
According to the residents’ letter, the loss of trees disrupts urban ecosystems and negatively impacts animals living there.
The letter said Manitoba Hydro’s response to concerned citizens has been inadequate. The letter calls Hydro’s decisions on where and what trees to cut down appears “ad hoc and inscrutable.”
The residents expect Hydro to develop a clear and transparent policy on when trees should be pruned as opposed to removed. The letter also calls for meaningful public engagement to clearly communicate with neighbourhoods prior to cutting.
In a statement to CTV News, the Crown corporation said, “nobody, including Manitoba Hydro, wants to see trees removed unnecessarily. Unfortunately, in some instances – usually when self-seeding, fast-growing trees that were not present when lines were initially built are involved – removing the trees in the entirety may be the only way we can safely ensure we protect against the risks of prolonged outages, damage to infrastructure, and fires.”
The statement also said Manitoba Hydro only removes trees when it’s absolutely necessary, preferring to prune back what is required to maintain safe clearance.
Manitoba Hydro said it is looking to make improvements in how it notifies communities of tree management.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What's a Barnacle? It's yellow, sticks and screams if you try to pry it off your car
Barnacles, bright yellow devices used to make sure parking scofflaws pay their tickets, could soon be making their way to cities across Canada.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
A Nigerian chess champion plays the royal game for 60 hours - a new global chess record
A Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate played chess nonstop for 60 hours in New York City's Times Square to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.