City considers million-dollar chop to tree planting program Directed by province to put more money into Journey to Churchill exhibit By: Joyanne Pursaga Posted: 5:20 PM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 7, 2026 Last Modified: 5:36 PM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 7, 2026 Updates

The City of Winnipeg is one step away from chopping $1.2 million from its tree planting program to fill a separate budget gap.

The Manitoba government recently directed the city to spend an additional $1.236 million of its provincial “strategic infrastructure basket” funding on the Assiniboine Park Conservancy Journey to Churchill Exhibit, according to a city finance report.

Finance officials recommend the city fill that budget gap by transferring the same amount from the urban forest tree planting budget, which council’s executive policy committee voted in favour of Tuesday.

A local tree protection group said any funding loss would hurt an already ailing city canopy.

“When the city increased the forestry budget over the last couple of years, it was finally almost enabling forestry to keep up with the pace of planting for trees that were lost on public property … I would say the loss of any funding for forestry is big,” said Jean Altemeyer, a member of Trees Please Winnipeg.

Altemeyer urged city councillors to seek more information on exactly how the cut would affect the tree canopy before city council casts a final vote on the proposal, such as how many fewer trees would be planted this year.

“The loss of any funding for forestry is big.”

“I think, given global warming, heat domes, volatile weather, the city has lost a stunning number of trees on public property … So, if they’re now talking about removing resources from what is already going to be a stressed budget that seems short-sighted at the least,” she said.

The finance report notes the funding cut would “delay the implementation” of Winnipeg’s urban forest strategy but still leave $9.825 million in the tree planting budget this year. It does not offer further details.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said he would prefer not to have to alter the budget at all.

“I wish we didn’t have to make this decision. I wish the province would have contributed an additional $1.2 million from their budget to fund this so that council wouldn’t be put in a position to make a decision to reduce the budget in some other program,” said Gillingham.

However, the mayor said he plans to support the budget change in a final city council vote and does not want to delay the decision to seek more details about the forestry impact.

“I’m not looking to (do that.) The province of Manitoba needs an answer from the City of Winnipeg,” said Gillingham.

The mayor said provincial governments, both past and present, have consistently set conditions for how the infrastructure dollars they provide the city are spent, though he would prefer to see the decisions confirmed sooner.

“I wish we didn’t have to make this decision.”

The mayor said this July notice did arrive several months earlier in the city’s calendar-year budget than a similar provincial direction did last year.

“The province is acting months sooner than previous years. That’s a good step in the right direction,” said Gillingham.

Even after the proposed cut, the city would still spend a significant amount on tree planting, the mayor stressed.

“Our (urban forest strategy) budget has increased almost 30 per cent over the last few years … We’re planting more trees, we’re expediting or speeding up our pruning processes … Make no mistake, we’re still prioritizing investment in the urban forest,” said Gillingham.

Overall, the province will provide Winnipeg $93.9 million in strategic infrastructure basket funding this year.

A provincial spokesperson said funding for Assiniboine Park was crucial.

“This funding will help ensure that the conservancy can continue to deliver quality services to families by enhancing its animal health centre, which is essential for attractions like the bears in the Journey to Churchill,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

City council is expected to cast the final vote on the proposal July 16.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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