City of Winnipeg axes trees, program to fight Dutch elm disease

The City of Winnipeg's public works department is axing a program that proactively combats Dutch elm disease, and some worry the only thing that will grow as a result is the number of infected trees.

The city's 2015 budget cut a $1.1-million enhancement fund that would have supported work that goes into searching for infected elm trees and treating them. 

Brad Sacher, director of public works, says that cut could bring about more sick trees.

"We were starting to see it creep up and this program was to help again, be more proactive: Get out there and try and address the trees earlier," he said.

"So there is some risk of seeing increased infection rates."

Rather than taking that proactive approach, city crews are now cutting down trees they suspect may have the deadly fungus.

For Winnipegger Salena Buchan, that means no longer enjoying the shade and beauty of the elm tree on her front boulevard.

Twelve years of standing under its canopy of leaves in the summertime ended last week when the city cut it down, and on Monday Buchan was cleaning up sawdust.

"That's the most relaxing thing you can get is being in the city and feeling like you're not. And losing these trees, it's fading fast," she said.

"It's just a very beautiful sight that you can't get in the newer areas. Now it's just a big empty space."

The city says it was banking on matching funds from the province, but those funds never came.

In a statement to the CBC, Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship said the province is committed to delivering Dutch elm disease programming with the city, and there have been no cuts to funding the city's program.

"We will still be addressing Dutch elm disease trees, but we won't have the level of proactivity we were looking for," Sacher said.