Evidence of meeting #146 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was tree.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chair, Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital
Our request is that we wait until leaf out to really see if the tree has survived the winter, how well it has survived the winter, and then do proper investigation of its health so there is complete, conclusive, non-controversial information about that topic.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Right. If it's possible to get a re-evaluation of the visitor centre, then the groups that you represent would be supportive of not waiting until we finish the renovation to replant that site, but to replant that site immediately.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Johanis, for being with us today. I appreciate the information you have provided and the questions from my colleagues.
From what I understand, the tree is about 100 years old. Is that correct?
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Our analyst said earlier that American elms can live 100 to 300 years, or more. You say you got this information from the United States, but are you also considering information that is relevant to Canada? Our climate is more northern.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
We are still further north. Do you think that has an impact?
Committee Researcher
I don't know precisely for these trees, but I could do some research and then forward you the information.
Liberal
Chair, Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital
Yes. Allow me to make a comment.
In the city of Aylmer, just outside Ottawa, there is an American elm tree like the one on the Hill. This elm tree must be at least 200 years old. The tree on the Hill has a diameter of 84 centimetres, and the diameter of the elm in Aylmer must be double that. It's a giant elm tree. In Canada, and even in our region, in Aylmer, elm trees can live a very long time.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
It is certainly sad to learn that the elm tree has a disease. You mentioned the one in Aylmer, but are there several American elms in the area?
Chair, Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital
In 1979, the National Capital Commission, or NCC, took action to combat Dutch elm disease. It decided to protect the 2,000 elm trees on its lands, and probably the one on the Hill. There was a fumigation program, then an inoculation program for these 2,000 elms.
We don't know how many of these elm trees have survived to date. Several have probably died since then. Perhaps the NCC has this information and should be asked for it. It's a question that we're asking ourselves. We're told that it's the only one to have survived, but is it one of 1,500 or one of 20?
Liberal
Chair, Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital
They were located throughout the National Capital Region.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Does that include the region on the other side of the Ottawa River?
Chair, Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital
Yes, because the NCC still has land on this side of the National Capital Region.
Liberal
Chair, Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital
We don't think it's the only one to have survived, but are there 20 or 200 remaining? We don't know.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Speaking of the 2,000 elms, I suppose that others have grown since 1979, haven't they?
Chair, Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital
Several elms have succumbed to this disease, but they have been replaced by hybrid elms, which means that they have been crossed with species that have a capacity to resist this inherited disease. The elm tree we are talking about today is a native elm, so it has not been crossed with other species.
Liberal
Chair, Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital
…able to withstand the disease.
