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Petition to greet council when Ash Borer topic returns

THUNDER BAY – City administration’s deferred multi-million-dollar plan to confront the invasive emerald ash borer over the next decade will return to city council on Sept. 12.
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Kyle Jessiman

THUNDER BAY – City administration’s deferred multi-million-dollar plan to confront the invasive emerald ash borer over the next decade will return to city council on Sept. 12.

When it does, Kyle Jessiman wants council to know the plan has the public’s support.

Jessiman’s online petition, Save Thunder Bay’s Urban Forest from EAB garnered nearly 240 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon.

The petition calls for citizens to support administration’s plan to remove and replace half of the city’s ash trees by 2027 while it inoculates the other 50 per cent. It also warned of costly consequences if the emerald ash borer is allowed to decimate the city's ash trees, which make up a quarter of the entire urban canopy.

“Starting this petition was really just to encourage the city to take the advice they’ve been given by the administration,” Jessiman said.

“The city’s really behind this. I hope city council makes a choice to make the right investments they know can benefit the urban forests in the city.”

On July 17, the plan’s long-term, $6.3 million to $7.6 million price tag caused a majority of councillors to defer committing to $550,000 in emerald ash borer control from its 2017 fiscal budget.

It instead asked administration to consider managing as much of its approach to the invasive species internally, rather than tendering a contract next year.

“At least half the council does support it,” Jessiman said, having lobbied councilors on the subject personally.

“When I contacted some of them, they seemed to just bring up that cost, that it would determine what they’re going to do, but I don’t think that should be the only option to look at because the benefits of having a good urban forest is equally important for future generations and for now.”

Jessiman also sits on the EarthCare Community Greening working group, the board aiming to maintain and improve Thunder Bay’s green infrastructure.

EarthCare presented a letter to city councillors endorsing the administration’s plan prior it airing at the July public meeting.

EarthCare chairman and Coun. Andrew Foulds said that letter did not originate with the Community Greening working group, adding he supports Jessiman’s right to exercise different avenues for his political engagement.

“We are not involved in the petition,” Foulds said.

“Any member of the community that feels passionately about a particular issue and would like to advocate for it, I think that’s how people participate in our democracy.”





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