Email to Mayor Watson and all Councillors

7 May 2012

Dear Mayor Watson,

The Emerald Ash Borer infestation will have an impact on Ottawa like none other this City has faced before.

The Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital has put together a Working Group that is finalizing a Position Paper to further a productive discussion with City staff and others and to help enlist public support to respond to this unprecedented challenge.

I wrote today to David Barkley, Manager of Forestry Services, asking him to provide us with additional information prior to meeting with him and Councillor McRae in the near future so that we may discuss our Position Paper with them. We would then like a follow-up meeting with you at the earliest opportunity to present to you our approach based on our economic analysis and the latest scientific evidence we have collated and to answer any questions you may have.

Residents, once they become aware of the full impact, will be extremely concerned about the loss of one-quarter of Ottawa’s municipal tree canopy as well as the huge cost that will fall to ratepayers to remove, dispose of and replace these trees over the next number of years. This does not include the significant cost to homeowners where the loss of mature trees will result in increased air conditioning costs, and reduced property values. Furthermore, it does not include health costs from poorer air quality, or costs of reduced water retention on the landscape.

With so much at stake, we feel that an adaptive management approach needs to be implemented that is in line with the most current science, as well as to learn from the experience of other communities. Cities such as Burlington and Hamilton are significantly revising their approach based on current science, and the severe potential consequences of doing little or nothing to save their Ash trees. Ottawa too must address this emergency. Ottawa’s situation is indeed more dire, in that Ash trees represent only 10% of these cities’ urban tree cover while in Ottawa, Ashes represent 25%.

As you may by now be aware, the City’s Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee recently passed a set of resolutions that included requesting Council to immediately shift its priority policy response to EAB, to a proactive approach of treating trees with TreeAzin. Should council agree, and we very much hope they will, this could have serious implications regarding the City’s tender on Ash Wood Sorting and Processing which has a May 7th closing date. We see as highly problematic any contractual obligations to supply large quantities of ash wood in ever increasing volume over a four year period; particularly live trees, the most economically valuable. We are therefore asking the City to defer making any formal decision or commitment on a contract until we have had an opportunity to meet.

We hope to hear from you in the very near future as there is considerable urgency in meeting with you since the window of opportunity to significantly increase the number of trees treated is soon closing. We can assure you that we very much want to work with the City on this critical issue.

Sol Shuster

Chair, Greenspace Alliance EAB Working Group

Councillor Maria McRae’s response

10 May 2012

Mr. Shuster:

Thanks for your continued interest in this issue. Mr. Barkley will make himself available for a short meeting with you, as he has done with many other groups and individuals.

In 2008, City Council approved a high level approach (report ACS2008-COS-SOP-0012) to address the Emerald Ash Borer (“EAB”) issue. It was laid out in 5 steps:

· Regulation of wood movement and disposal;

· Tree removal;

· Selective tree injections;

· Proactive tree planting and replacement tree planting; and,

· Public Consultation/Outreach.

Each year since, staff have updated City Council on their progress and have provided Council with a rationale regarding any changes to their approach.

There are a couple of factors to consider when examining the next steps about EAB:

1. The actual location of populations of the insect and,

2. Trends for the spread.

When this insect first made entrance into the USA and Canada in ~2003, there were 2 research papers on EAB in its home territory in Asia. 5 years later, when it first reached Ottawa in 2008, and to date, the research is not complete.

TreeAzin Injections

One element of the City’s EAB strategy includes tree injection as a mitigation measure to minimize the impact on the forest cover. Since 2009, the City has worked on a Pilot Project with a tree injection called TreeAzin. It is a trial product, that does not have full registration in Canada, but shows excellent results if the tree is a good candidate for treatment.

Ash trees located on City property are thoroughly assessed to determine if they will respond well to TreeAzin. Some trees may be too infected to be treated, in poor condition due to other health factors, or simply in a poor location. Staff have found a large number of Ash trees in poor condition (think back to the 1998 ice storm) and in bad locations (e.g. under hydro wires). To date, the City has injected over or 750 Ash trees (20,000 cm) with TreeAzin and the program will be expanded this spring to 1500 Ash trees (55,000 cm).

The cost of the TreeAzin treatment is directly related to the size of the tree. For example, for an average sized 40 cm diameter tree, the City’s cost is ~$6.00 per centimetre or $240 and the private commercial cost is estimated as high as $10 per centimetre or ~$400. The injection needs to be done every other year and the duration of efficacy is not known at this time. An interesting fact – to this day, the City is injecting the remaining American Elm trees from the 1960’s and 1970’s injection program.

Our residents have the option to inject City-owned trees located on their property, at their own cost, if it is deemed reasonable to do so. If residents have questions, they can call 3-1-1 and speak to City staff for advice on whether the tree may be a candidate for injection and how to proceed before engaging a qualified contractor. TreeAzin injections should only be performed by a qualified professional and trees must be re-injected every two years, potentially for the life of the tree.

Broad Consultation

Forestry Services has actively consulted with many groups, both internal and external. It was recognized that a “Made in Eastern Ontario Solution” was needed and this was addressed through the formation of a Regional Forest Health Working Group.

This group is comprised of representatives from the City of Ottawa, City of Gatineau, National Capital Commission (NCC), Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Canadian Forest Services, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), local Conservation Authorities, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Ontario Parks, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), and forest industry representatives, all who bring various backgrounds and expertise. Since 2008, all partners have reached out to educate the public, generate public input and work to mitigate the impact of EAB on Ottawa’s residents.

The City has also actively participated with EAB working groups across Canada and Ontario to provide advice and to seek expert advice from communities, such as those in southwestern Ontario who have dealt with the impacts of EAB longer than Ottawa. These communities have also seen EAB impacts in locations that Ottawa has not yet experienced, such as in forests and riparian areas.

In the last two years, outreach to the Ottawa Region Landlords Association (ORLA), the Building Owners and Managers Association of Ottawa (BOMA), Ottawa Community Housing, the Ottawa Hospital and universities took place to provide information about the challenges of being large land owners in the Ottawa area. This spring, the City hosted two citywide EAB sessions, at Ben Franklin Place and at the Jim Durrell Centre and City staff are attending local community meetings with Ward Councillors, including the following:

· Councillor/Community presentations – 2009 – 2012 approx.. 10 per year in focused areas in cooperation with Councillors offices

· Rural Fairs (4 locations) – 2009, 2010, 2011

· Ecofair – 2009, 2010, 2011

· Environment week – 2011

· Farmer’s Market (3 locations) – 2009

· Green Expo – 2011

· Jane’s walk – 2009 and 2010

In addition, Forestry Services has worked with the private sector on wood handling and wood processing pilot programs. A Request for Proposal for a competition will be let this spring to achieve two specific goals:

1. Value-added use of the Ash material produced because of EAB; and

2. Cost reduction for the disposal of Ash wood for both the City and private residents.

Information is also provided to developers when they are applying for approvals through the Planning and Growth Management Department on the proper handling and disposal of wood when working on sites in Ottawa.

Next Steps

The City estimates that there are 75,000 Ash trees on City streets. Thankfully, not all are infested at this time. For this reason, staff will continue to monitor, expand the injection program and expand the interplanting program to help ensure that the Ash tree is around for future generations in some form.

With regards,
Maria McRae
River Ward City Councillor
Conseillère, quartier Rivière
City of Ottawa/Ville d’Ottawa
110, avenue Laurier Avenue West/ouest
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1J1
Tel./tél.: (613) 580-2486
Fax/Téléc: (613) 580-2526
MariaMcRae.ca
Twitter: @CouncillorMcRae
River Ward – home to more than 49,000!
Quartier Rivière – Le choix de plus de 49 000 résidents!

 Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

Veuillez penser à l’environnement avant d’imprimer le présent du courriel.

Donna DuBreuil in the Kanata Kourier

17 May 2012

In response to a comment by Kanata North Councillor Marianne Wilkinson that the city was facing the loss of 65,000 Ash trees, Donna DuBreuil wrote to the Kanata Kourier — succinct and to the point!

Toronto is Working with the Community to Save Ash Trees

4 June 2012

Dear Mayor Watson,

As you will note in the message below from a Toronto City Councillor, the City and community organizations are working together to save Ash trees in Toronto. This is what is needed in Ottawa. It’s not too late for Ottawa, providing there is some real leadership from you, Councillor McRae and other members of Council.

We have received numerous queries recently from the public who are tired of getting the same defensive answers from members of Council and staff that don’t reflect the public’s realities on the ground and want positive action now. There is still time for the City to undertake a fundamental reassessment of its EAB strategy in collaboration with the public and interests groups before almost all of our Ash trees are gone, at great expense to the taxpayers.

Sol Shuster,
Chair, EAB Working Group
Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital

Received from a City of Toronto Councillor:

As an additional part of our Emerald Ash Borer Targeted Backyard Tree Planting and Community Outreach Program (supported by the Live Green Toronto Capital Projects Fund), LEAF is training residents across Toronto to become EAB Ambassadors to help us spread the word about the invasive insect pest, and to share information about treatment options for ash trees, replanting programs and more with their neighbours.

We are holding upcoming training sessions this summer that are free of charge and open to all members of the public who wish to get involved. We would greatly appreciate it if you could share information about these sessions with your constituents and encourage them to help us defend Toronto’s urban forest and strengthen it for future generations.

LEAF’s EAB Ambassador Training Sessions

It is critical that we act now to inform our friends and neighbours about the anticipated effects of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Toronto. LEAF is working hard to spread the word but we can’t do it alone – we need volunteers to become EAB ambassadors! Help us spread the word about treatment options for ash trees not yet infested, replanting programs and more.

Attend one our EAB Ambassador training sessions (free of charge and open to the public):

Saturday, June 16, 2012

10:00am to 2:00pm (bring your lunch)

Palmerston Library Theatre (downstairs), 560 Palmerston Ave, Toronto, M6G 2P7

Click <<here>> to register for the June 16th session at Palmerston Library

Saturday, July 28, 2012

10:00am to 2:00pm (bring your lunch)

Scarborough Civic Centre (committ ee room 1), 150 Borough Drive, Scarborough, M1P 4N7

Click <<here>> to register for the July 28th session at Scarborough Civic Centre

For more information, please visit http://www.yourleaf.org/become-eab-ambassador

Paul Ainslie, City Councillor
Ward 43 – Scarborough East
Chair, Scarborough Community Council
Chair, Government Management Committee
Tel: 416 392-4008
Fax: 416 392-4006