$300K Christmas tree at city hall raises eyebrows

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This article was published 11/11/2021 (196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 50-foot-tall Christmas tree now spruces up city hall, though some question its nearly $300,000 price tag.

The City of Winnipeg switched to a 28-foot artificial Christmas tree in 2019, after years of allowing Winnipeg homeowners to donate large, real trees to dress up the courtyard next to the council building.

This year, the city added a large extension to the tree, increasing its height by 22 feet, at a cost of $151,000. The city also paid $82,000 for decorations and $25,000 for a new tree stand/ pad, on top of $40,000 for the initial artificial tree, bringing the total cost to $298,000.

That triggered online criticism, including complaints from Coun. Shawn Nason, who said the investment doesn’t make sense as the city copes with the financial blow of COVID-19.

"At the time when we have a… budget deficit, I think it flies in the face of financial responsibility. It’s four times the cost of the tree that we already secured. (This is happening while) we’re talking about having to do cuts or raise taxes," said Nason.

A recent finance report predicts the city will end the year with a $17.3-million operating shortfall, plus a separate $9.6-million deficit for Winnipeg Transit.

Mayor Brian Bowman said the towering Christmas tree will provide good value, since it’s slated to last at least 15 years. He said the tree will cost the city about $20,000 per year, while it previously spent $25,000 each year to cut down, transport and display real trees.

"I like it because it saves money over the long run. I think it’s more beautiful and it’s more of an iconic Christmas tree than we’ve had before. During a time when we are trying to plant a million trees in our community, we’re not going out and chopping down a beautiful tree… each and every year," said Bowman.

The mayor added he provided funding from his office budget to enlarge the tree and believes its addition will help uplift pandemic-weary Winnipeggers.

"If ever there were a year for a little more light and joy during the holiday season, this would be the year," he said.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter:@ joyanne_pursaga