Council urged to toughen up language on natural heritage

GUELPH — If city council is serious about increasing Guelph’s tree canopy, it needs to scrap “really weak” language in a proposed Official Plan update, a local environmentalist said Thursday night.

“I challenge you people to go through this document and count the ‘shoulds,’ ” Richard Challoner told councillors. “You’ll get tired before you’re finished.”

Challoner, representing Guelph Urban Forest Friends, was among more than a dozen delegations at a public meeting aimed at soliciting feedback about the amendment, and particularly the proposed natural heritage strategy. He said the document is peppered with words like “should” and “recommend,” urging councillors and staff to substitute more forceful language before the natural heritage strategy comes back to council for consideration at the end of July.

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Judy Martin, the local representative of the Sierra Club of Canada, alleged the natural heritage strategy is “too flexible in allowing development” because the city is under pressure from the province to grow. Martin urged the city to adopt “environment-first language,” noting for example mature trees must be protected and incorporated into future developments “unless no other alternative exists.”