{"id":6166,"date":"2025-12-04T10:28:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T16:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cindygilroy.ca\/?p=6166"},"modified":"2025-12-02T15:34:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T21:34:46","slug":"protecting-our-trees-defending-our-greenspace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cindygilroy.ca\/index.php\/2025\/12\/04\/protecting-our-trees-defending-our-greenspace\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting Our Trees, Defending Our Greenspace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Why I\u2019m Fighting for a Stronger, Greener Winnipeg<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, I\u2019ve heard one message repeatedly from residents across our city, Winnipeg must stop losing the very greenspaces, trees, and natural corridors that make our neighbourhoods livable<\/em>. These spaces are more than scenery. They are our shade on a hot day, our protection during floods, our lungs in a growing city, and our gathering places for families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet, for too long, Winnipeg has struggled to protect these irreplaceable natural assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why, at the November 27th Council meeting, I brought forward two significant motions. Motions that work hand-in-hand to protect our canopy, restore our natural corridors, and finally give the City of Winnipeg the tools and accountability mechanisms needed to stop the decline of our greenspaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both motions reflect years of advocacy, grassroots pressure, and community passion. And they reflect my commitment to ensuring that environmental stewardship isn\u2019t just talked about at City Hall,  it\u2019s acted on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defending Trees at Risk\u2026 Kenaston Widening & Chief Peguis Trail Extension<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s be honest, any proposed widening of Kenaston Boulevard or extension of Chief Peguis Trail would result in the loss of hundreds of mature, healthy trees. These are decades-old canopy giants that provide cooling, shelter, biodiversity, stormwater management, carbon capture, and beauty. Once they\u2019re gone, they\u2019re gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why I pushed forward a motion requiring the city to\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fully account for every single tree that could be lost,  public and private<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes valuation by size, species, age, and ecological value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Budget for real replacement, not symbolic replacement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A one-for-one tree replacement strategy must be funded. And if trees can\u2019t be replanted directly along Kenaston or Chief Peguis, they must be planted in other Winnipeg neighbourhoods so that we do not experience any net canopy loss<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Build these costs into the actual project budget<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Environmental protection cannot be an afterthought. These replacement costs must be part of the project\u2019s financial planning from day one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winnipeg cannot keep approving road expansions without acknowledging and paying for the ecological cost. Losing canopy is losing climate resilience. Losing biodiversity. Losing shade for our elders. Losing natural beauty for our kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This motion ensures that the public finally gets a transparent accounting of what is at stake and what must be protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Citywide Strategy: Greenspace Investment, Protection & Restoration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same Council meeting, I also introduced a citywide greenspace motion \u2014 because protecting trees is not enough. Winnipeg needs a clear, enforceable, long-term plan that ensures every neighbourhood has access to greenspace and natural corridors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Greenspace and Natural Corridors Master Plan is underway, but plans mean nothing without funding, enforcement, accountability, and clear targets. That is what this motion delivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This motion calls for\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new Greenspace Investment Fund<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dedicated capital reserve to purchase land, restore natural corridors, and manage greenspace long-term.
And the funding must start with the very next four-year budget cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neighbourhood-level targets, not vague citywide averages<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes canopy cover by ward, greenspace access within 400m of homes, and hectares of restored natural corridors. Real data. Real goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A prioritized 5-year neighbourhood investment map using equity metrics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ensures greenspace investments go first to neighbourhoods that need them most,  including underserved, lower-income, and climate-vulnerable communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A cross-departmental Greenspace Working Group<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every department that touches land, trees, permits, or development must be at the table. Public Works, Planning, Water & Waste, Legal and  Finance  all working together instead of in silos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new Greenspace Master Plan By-law<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is critical. It will include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n