You have 30 seconds.
Evidence of meeting #113 for Natural Resources in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was trees.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #113 for Natural Resources in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was trees.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:50 p.m.
NDP
October 18th, 2018 / 12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Geng Tan Liberal Don Valley North, ON
Thank you, Chair.
To the City of Toronto, a former witness told the committee that in some cases it can cost roughly $400 to try to save a single tree in Toronto from an invasive bug. In your opinion, what is the highest dollar amount that can be reached in an effort to save one urban tree? Just take a guess.
12:50 p.m.
Manager Forest and Natural Area Management, Urban Forestry, City of Toronto
That's a hard question to answer. Trees are all different. Size and location may make one tree much more valuable. The Coral Gable tree is an example of where there has been a tremendous effort to save a historic tree. I tend to want to save the forest as opposed to individual trees.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
Geng Tan Liberal Don Valley North, ON
In urban forestry, I guess you can't use a method like a controlled burn to manage the pests. Are there any other means you can use to control pests once the damage has been done?
12:55 p.m.
Manager Forest and Natural Area Management, Urban Forestry, City of Toronto
In the city of Toronto we don't use prescribed burns to control pests. We use it to help regenerate the oaks in High Park. Where you have all the urban values around trees, generally the pests.... When a tree dies, we need to do removal operations, and it has to be strategic to not damage any of the infrastructure around. We do use sprays and injections to control pests before trees die.
12:55 p.m.
Supervisor Forest Health Care, Urban Forestry, City of Toronto
We use integrated pest management in general, which is a set of tools from doing nothing, to creating awareness, to managing the pests with pesticide or eradication efforts by removing infested trees. There's quite a variety
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
Geng Tan Liberal Don Valley North, ON
But before the tree dies, you will do whatever you can to save the tree.
12:55 p.m.
Supervisor Forest Health Care, Urban Forestry, City of Toronto
Generally, yes. That's right—not just individual trees, but in the scope of the environment.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
Geng Tan Liberal Don Valley North, ON
In your opinion, to what extent does the City of Toronto engage in knowledge sharing with other major cities in Canada, when it comes to invasive species management? Are there any lessons learned that you can share on a regular basis with other cities?
12:55 p.m.
Supervisor Forest Health Care, Urban Forestry, City of Toronto
We do co-operate with other cities. The City of Toronto is part of the greater Toronto area where we have similar problems. Just recently, we co-operated on gypsy moth treatment programs. The emerald ash borer is a threat to the entire area. It's passing into Nova Scotia now. The Asian long-horned beetle is in Mississauga and Toronto, and we have co-operated with them quite intensively.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
Geng Tan Liberal Don Valley North, ON
Mr. Tanguy and the GOC, we know that sometimes we have used controlled burns to destroy or control pests in forestry. What if the controlled burn gets out of control because of flawed or bad planning, or even if there's a sudden change in wind direction or whatever? To what extent do you work with stakeholders in advance to prevent this kind of situation? What contingency plans have to be in place before they are allowed to initiate this kind of fire?
12:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Emergency Management and Programs, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Thank you for the questions.
I would like to highlight that we at Public Safety are really involved in how we're responding to events. When it comes to that planning exercise, I remember having had many discussions with colleagues from the Canadian Forest Service, for instance. Really they're going to be more aware about what is to be done in that situation. At Public Safety Canada we're more in the mode of responding to it.
When it comes to the planning, it's the planning to actually have the assets in place in case we're responding to that. I don't think I have a good answer for you, but I can undertake to actually get back to the committee on this.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Mr. Tan, we're out of time.
I know Mr. Serré has something he wants to say.
I have a very quick question for the City of Toronto. I live in Etobicoke. Can I anticipate the gypsy moth disappearing anytime soon? It's a yes or no question.
1 p.m.
Supervisor Forest Health Care, Urban Forestry, City of Toronto
No, it's not going to disappear.
1 p.m.
Supervisor Forest Health Care, Urban Forestry, City of Toronto
Eradication is not possible, unfortunately. The control program is a suppression program. We try to bring it down to a tolerable level, tolerable to residents and tolerable to the environment.
1 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Thank you to both of our groups of witnesses. We appreciate your taking the time and your contribution to our study.
Mr. Serré, you had one piece of business before we adjourn.
1 p.m.
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
Next week we have the President of the Netherlands here on Thursday.
I'm going to read a motion to cancel the committee meeting: "That, notwithstanding any usual practice, the Committee not meet on Thursday, October 25, 2018."
There would be no meeting. I'm asking if all members are in agreement.
