Callander trims tree by-law, but still, thou shalt not cut

Thou shalt not cut a tree on municipal land, Callander.

This is not new; the rule was outlined clearly in the Municipality’s Tree Cutting By-law adopted in 2006. Ten years later, the town’s thoughts turned to the trees again, because in 2016 the province required all municipalities to adopt a policy to protect and enhance the tree canopy and natural vegetation in the Municipality.

The province asked, and in 2019 the town delivered a freshly minted Tree Canopy Policy. However, the original by-law also remained.

As did the ban on public tree cutting, and if a person does damage a tree on municipal land, or removes or falls it, that person will have to replace it at their own expense and if convicted of an offence under the by-law could also be fined up to $10,000.

If not convicted, the person who contravened the by-law could still be fined by the Municipality.

Why change the policy now? Municipal staff noted in a report to council that the existing policy “is quite restrictive” and has not been reviewed since it was adopted. The restrictive part referred to how removing trees in almost all situations required council authority.

Now, the by-law is more consistent with the Tree Canopy Policy, and it also gives municipal workers more authority to remove trees if needed. Council still decides which trees are removed – say from a park – but in an emergency situation, staff can deal with troublesome trees without the need for a council meeting.

Also, the by-law allows staff to remove trees and brush that are in the way of utilities, or those that are likely to cause damage to a structure. However, municipal staff must exercise prudence as , “all employees and contractors shall exercise reasonable care and diligence and shall endeavour to preserve and protect trees where possible,” the by-law details.

The new tree cutting by-law can be found on the Municipality’s website.

David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

David Briggs, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, BayToday.ca