Winnipeg putting 'its money where its mouth is' when it comes to tree canopy: Non-profit organization
One non-profit is applauding the city for giving Winnipeg’s tree canopy a boost in the 2024 budget.
“I think the budget was very positive when it comes to Winnipeg’s urban canopy,” said Christian Cassidy, executive director of Trees Winnipeg.
Cassidy’s comments come after the City of Winnipeg unveiled its proposed budget on Wednesday.
As part of the four-year budget, Winnipeg is looking to grow the urban forestry budget by 45 per cent in order to help the city reach its pruning goals quicker. In 2026 and 2027, more of the funding will be focused to support a faster planting strategy.
“City council has been willing to put its money where its mouth is,” Cassidy said in an interview on Saturday.
“There was the $5 million increase for trees this year. The new Urban Forest Strategy – a 20-year urban forest plan – that was passed by city council. Those are both huge, significant increases even before this budget.”
With the new budget, Cassidy explained the focus for the first few years will be on maintenance, including pruning, tree removal and taking care of damaged trees.
Then in 2026 and 2027, there will be multi-million dollar increases that target tree planting.
“Could there be more money? Sure, there always could be more money, but you know it’s a really tough situation that the city’s been in this year in terms of revenues,” he said.
“There’s a lot of other services fighting for extra money or fighting for any money and so we’re really happy that they’ve put their money where their mouth is.”
More information about Winnipeg’s proposed budget can be found online.
- With files from CTV’s Daniel Halmarson, Devon McKendrick and Jeff Keele.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Norovirus spreading at 'higher frequency' than expected in Canada
Norovirus is spreading at a 'higher frequency' than expected in Canada, specifically, in Ontario and Alberta, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Weather system that caused deadly U.S. tornadoes heads north to Canada, bringing rain and snow
The same storm system that brought deadly tornadoes to parts of the U.S. is heading north, hammering some Canadian provinces with rain and snow, according to latest forecasts.
Gold watch worn by richest passenger aboard Titanic sells for record-breaking US$1.5 million
A gold watch worn by John Jacob Astor IV, a member of the wealthy Astor family and the richest man aboard the Titanic, sold for a record-breaking US$1.485 million at auction on Saturday.
Anne Hathaway reveals she's now five years sober
Anne Hathaway first shared she lost interest in drinking after a bad hangover in 2018. She’s now five years sober.
'Deeply unhappy' grocery shoppers plan to boycott Loblaw-owned stores in May
A boycott targeting Loblaw is gaining momentum online, with what could be thousands of shoppers taking their money elsewhere in May.
French actor Gerard Depardieu in police custody, legal team says
French actor Gérard Depardieu has been taken into police custody in Paris to face questioning, his lawyer told CNN Monday.
McGill University says pro-Palestinian demonstrators 'refuse' to collaborate, encampment violates policies
McGill University says the growing encampment on its lower field in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza violates its policies.
Trial for man accused of killing 4 Indigenous women in Winnipeg begins
The trial for the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg is set to begin on Monday.
These two chemists were friends for decades. A DNA test revealed they were actually cousins
Jim Arner was always interested in genealogy and discovering more about his ancestry. But after submitting his own DNA test, he learned an old work colleague was actually a distant cousin.