News Releases

This week, the City of Saskatoon Parks Department has confirmed another positive case of Dutch elm disease (DED) in an elm tree in Forest Grove.

The City has again initiated its DED Response Plan, which includes: 

• Immediate removal of the positive trees and disposal at the City Landfill. This will involve 3 trees immediately along Central Avenue and 28 more pending line location, with further removal possible pending test results. A map of the removal area is attached.
• Increased surveillance of the surrounding area to search for stored elm wood.
• Additional sampling of symptomatic trees within one kilometre of the infected tree. 
• Continuing regular city-wide elm surveillance, sampling, and cyclical pruning of trees in parks and on boulevards. 

What will happen in impacted areas?

Parks staff will be conducting surveillance around impacted areas. Surveillance of these areas includes checking every property for elm firewood or brush and removing it when it is found. If residents are not home, staff will remove the elm wood and leave an Elm Infraction Notice with a note indicating that the wood was removed.

As part of the Forest Resource Management Act, the Provincial Dutch Elm Disease Regulations, 2005 allow inspectors to enter private property to inspect for elm wood, remove elm wood, and sample private elm trees. In accordance with the regulations, property owners will be asked to remove and dispose of infected elm trees.

What is DED?

DED is a serious disease caused by a fungus that clogs the elm tree’s water and nutrient conducting system, which eventually causes the tree to die. DED was introduced in North America in the 1930s and has since wiped out millions of elms across Canada and the United States. In Saskatoon, elms make up 25% of the public urban forest.

How is DED spread?

In Saskatchewan, the disease is spread by several species of elm bark beetles. These beetles can fly farther than two kilometres in search of elm trees. The DED fungus has tiny spores that stick to the body of the beetle. Elm bark beetles can carry these spores and infect other elm trees. The fungus can also be spread by infected pruning tools.

You can help prevent DED by:

• Not pruning elms during the provincial pruning ban (April 1 to August 31)
• Not bringing elm wood into the city, storing elm wood for more than a day, or burning elm firewood
• Always disposing of elm wood at the City Landfill
• Sanitizing tools after working on elm trees
• Not building treehouses in elm trees, as the nail and screw holes can attract elm bark beetles
• Reporting dead or dying elm trees or branches to the City or to a professional arborist 

How to identify and report unhealthy elm trees and firewood

American elm trees with DED may start showing symptoms as early as June. Typically, the leaves will start to wilt and turn yellow, then curl and turn brown. If you suspect an unhealthy elm tree or are unsure of what type of firewood you have, take a photo and complete the online form at saskatoon.ca/dutchelmdisease or call Urban Forestry at 306-975-2890.

For more information on DED, visit saskatoon.ca/dutchelmdisease.

City Council’s Governance & Priorities Committee (GPC) will continue its work to reduce the projected funding gap within the 2024/2025 Multi-Year Business Plan and Budget at its next Special Budget Meeting on August 15.

Following budget reductions of $21.6 million in 2024 and $1.6 million in 2025 as directed by GPC at its July 25 Special Budget Meeting, City Administration has been able to further refine estimates and update 2024 and 2025 revenue and expense projections based upon the most current data available. Heading into the August 15 Special Budget Meeting, the revised budgetary gap being presented for discussion is $26.2 million in 2024 and $19.3 million in 2025.

This reduces the current estimated tax increase that would be required if no further mitigation steps were introduced to a new starting point of 8.92 per cent in 2024 and 6.01 per cent in 2025, respectively.

“Work continues in a public and transparent way to address the funding pressures we’re facing ahead of Council’s 2024/2025 budget discussions in November this year,” says Director of Finance Kari Smith.

At its August 15 meeting, Committee will consider business line reports relating to Transportation, Community Support, Saskatoon Fire, Environmental Health, Taxation and General Revenue, Land Development, Arts, Culture and Events Venues, Recreation and Culture, and Urban Planning and Development.

Council has also requested to receive draft budgets from the Saskatoon Police Board of Commissioners and the Saskatoon Library Board earlier than normal so that they may be incorporated into future budget discussions.

The full AGENDA for the August 15, 2023, Special Budget Meeting is available for review. As with all, this meeting will be LIVE streamed, access LIVE VIDEO here.

Should any member of the public wish to submit a letter or request to appear in person at the August 15 Special Budget Meeting, the deadline to arrange for this is Monday, August 14, at 5:00 pm.

For more information on the 2024/2025 Multi-Year Budget & Business Plan, including answers to frequently-asked questions and reference charts and graphs, visit Saskatoon.ca/budget.

City administration is recruiting up to four new members from the community for appointment to the Active Transportation Advisory Group (ATAG). ATAG weighs in on policies, programs and initiatives to improve community and infrastructure needs to increase options for cycling, walking and other modes of active transportation. 

“We’re looking for people from the community who want to help us explore options for active transportation, such as cycling and walking,” says Jay Magus, Director of Transportation. 

There are opportunities for people across Saskatoon to shift short trips from driving to walking and biking by creating safe active-transportation networks. The Active Transportation Advisory Group aims to build and strengthen connections between community groups, organizations, residents and the City of Saskatoon, to support the successful implementation of the Active Transportation Plan in Saskatoon. 

To apply and for more information, visit saskatoon.ca/atag or contact atag@saskatoon.ca. The deadline for applications is on Sunday August 27, 2023. 

On Tuesday, August 8, City Administration will present an approval report to the Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services Committee (EU&CS) in order to purchase the new smaller sized carts for the City’s upcoming variable waste utility launching in 2024.  

As previously directed by Council, the funding source for black cart garbage services will shift from property taxes to a utility model in 2024. Three different black cart sizes will be available to homes with curbside collection.

“We look forward to providing residents cart size options that reflect their household waste needs,” says Brendan Lemke, Director of Water and Waste Operations. “Following the successful launch of the city-wide green cart program, many residents are already noticing a smaller amount of garbage in their black carts. The variable utility model means that households will have more control over their costs and only pay for the waste they actually produce.”

A dedicated report on program implementation will be presented to the EUCS Committee this fall. This report will include information on cart size options, cart swap requests, timelines and proposed rates for the garbage utility.

Garbage collection will remain bi-weekly year-round. To view your collection calendar, visit saskatoon.ca/collectioncalendar or download the Saskatoon Waste Wizard app.  

To recognize the City’s commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, City Council approved on June 28, 2021, the process to rename John A. Macdonald Road, to acknowledge the ongoing harm in the community experienced by Residential School Survivors.   

Residential schools took Indigenous children away from their families, cultures and languages to assimilate them – so they would no longer exist as distinct peoples – and were responsible for the hunger, neglect, abuse and death of thousands of Indigenous children in Canada. Indigenous families today continue to experience this pain, grief, loss and inter-generational trauma. 

“The City is committed to raising awareness and understanding of residential schools and their ongoing impacts,” says Melissa Cote, Director, Indigenous Initiatives. “We recognize that John A. Macdonald, the first prime minister of Canada, played a significant role in the development of Canada’s Indian residential school system which created and continues to create many harms for Indigenous families.” 

Since Council’s direction in 2021, significant work has taken place to rename the road and there is important work still to do. The City has been meeting with Indigenous leaders, Residential School Survivors, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and youth, the Saskatoon Intercultural Association, members from the Chinese community, teachers from wâhkôhtowin School and many others to recommend a new name which will be presented to the Civic Naming Committee on August 1, 2023. 

The road name that will be proposed to the Civic Naming Committee is miyo-wâhkôhtowin Road – a Cree word meaning good (miyo) relationship (wâhkôhtowin). 

“The proposed name reflects the theme of Reconciliation and was thoughtfully and carefully chosen after listening to and learning from the community and the people that continue to be impacted by residential schools and the legacy of John A. Macdonald,” Cote explains. “Residential schools contributed to a breakdown in communities and relationships and division; good relationships will bring us together.” 

After the Civic Naming Committee, the next steps in the approval process for the renaming, are: 

• August 9, 2023: Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services to consider the recommendation to approve the name
• August 30, 2023: City Council to consider the recommendation to approve the renaming and to direct a Street Name Change Bylaw 
• September 27, 2023: City Council to consider the approval of Street Name Change Bylaw  
• Fall/Winter 2023: Street sign and map changes 

Throughout the renaming journey, the City has engaged with John A. Macdonald Road property owners and residents and this evening held a meeting to inform them of the proposed name and provide an update on the renaming process. The City will support property owners and residents with having their address changed including approved associated costs. More information on how to access support will be available directly for property owners and residents in the upcoming months. 

For more information, visit the John A. Macdonald Road webpage at saskatoon.ca/engage/renaming which is kept updated with the latest information.