Calls to Action / February 17, 2021

Call to Action: Help make Winnipeg’s trees a priority today!

As you know, Winnipeg’s trees are dying at an alarming rate from pests, disease, construction, effects of climate change, and lack of funding. If we continue at our current pace of investment in our urban forests, half of Winnipeg’s 3,000,000 trees may be gone by the year 2040.

But you can make a difference.

Trees Please Winnipeg Coalition* is asking all levels of government to re-think funding models for urban forests. We want to classify urban forests as “assets”, and treat trees like the valuable infrastructure they are. We call on all levels of governments to invest for the long-term.

You can help make urban forests a priority for all governments, starting with the Government of Canada, who wants input from YOU on their Pre-Budget Consultations.

Spend a few minutes of your time to tell the Government of Canada you care today!

1. One Minute: READ the one-page submission Trees Please Winnipeg Coalition submitted to the Federal Government’s Pre-Budget Consultation so you can learn more.

2. Five Minutes: FILL IN the Federal Government’s Pre-Budget Consultation questionnaire – By February 18th. *Question #1 asks you to identify 3 priorities from a long list. Please select “Invest in Communities through public transit, affordable housing, and green infrastructure” as one of your choices. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/programs/consultations/2021/pre-budget-consultations.html

3. Fifteen Minutes: EMAIL the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance (and copy your MP) — see sample wording and contact information. Due: as soon as you can! Thank you for your valuable time — every voice counts in helping our governments hear we care about our trees.

** Please forward this to your friends and neighbours who also care about trees.

If you wish to stay informed about Trees Please Winnipeg activities, sign up for updates and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Trees Please Winnipeg Coalition is a citywide association of resident and community groups, working together with the David Suzuki Foundation, Trees Winnipeg, OURS Winnipeg, the Manitoba Urban Forest Council,The Ontario Urban Forest Council, LEAF Ontario, The Manitoba Eco-Network, Reforest London, REEP, Green Ventures and The Oakvillegreen Conservation Association Inc. to secure long-term sustainable funding for Winnipeg’s urban forest and those across Canada.