Program: Fight Against the Emerald Ash Borer

In September 2015, City Council adopted the first strategy to battle emerald ash borers, preserve the urban forest, maintain the canopy and protect biodiversity.

Objectives of the strategy:

• Slow ash mortality;
• Reduce the costs generated by loss of ash trees;
• Ensure everyone’s safety;
• Maintain the canopy;
• Protect biodiversity.

Strategy to fight the emerald ash borer

For the complete By-law on emerald ash borers, go to the By-laws page.

In August 2015, 4,000 ash trees were inventoried on public land, divided into three categories.

The treatment strategy on public land covers ash trees located in parks and alongside streets.

Treatment with TreeAzin preserves the ash trees while new trees are planted or another protective measure is found. The strategy is revised and adapted based on new knowledge and treatments.

Some 325 ash trees will be felled each year until 2021. Felling of untreatable ash trees on public land will be carried out over eight years, to maintain the maximum level of foliage and based on the risks they pose, while spreading out the costs associated with this operation.

It is prohibited to store ash tree residue for more than fifteen (15) days that has not been processed using a compliant method during pruning and felling, pursuant to By-law PC-2918 Regarding the Fight Against the Spread of the Emerald Ash Borer. Failure to comply with this by-law may result in a fine.

For branches less than 20 cm in diameter:

The branches must be chipped and disposed of at your expense by a private contractor. The resulting woodchips must not exceed 2.5 centimetres on at least two sides.

The City does not accept woodchips at the dump site (Public Works yard).

For branches or trunks over 20 cm in diameter:

Wood logs or sections of various lengths must be brought to an authorized treatment site:

For work carried out between October 1 and April 30:

The wood must be brought to the Public Works yard located at 50 Terra-Cotta Avenue. You must first make an appointment by calling 514-630-1230, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Once on site, at the attendant booth, you will have to provide your identification, the felling certificate number and the associated address.

For work carried out between May 1 and September 30:

Wood must be brought to the following authorized sites:

• Ville de Montréal ecocentres, complying with admission requirements (fees may be charged depending on the quantity of wood):
  See schedules on the following website: https://montreal.ca/en/topics/ecocentres
   
• Multi-Recyclage (fees apply)
  140 rue Saulnier, Laval (QC)
  Telephone: 1-888-306-5151
  Monday to Friday: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  Saturday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  Sunday: closed
   
• Your contractor may also dispose of the wood by bringing it to another processing site outside the City’s territory.

Subsidy for Tree Removal

A subsidy is offered for the removal of ash trees with a diameter of 25 centimeters or more to residential property owners, individuals, as part of the strategy to combat the emerald ash borer.

The owner of any dead ash tree, or one with more than 30% dead branches, must proceed or have the tree removed.

The subsidy represents 50% of the removal cost, up to a maximum of $500 per tree per year.

Since June 2020, removal is authorized year-round.

Eligible Work

• Removal of the ash tree(s)
• Collection and shredding of branches
• Collection and disposal of logs and wood pieces.

Ineligible Work

• Stump removal (stumping)
• Pruning
• Any type of arboriculture work performed on trees other than ash trees

How to Obtain the Subsidy

• Fill out a permit application for removal;
• Receive a visit from an inspector to evaluate the ash tree(s) to be removed and issue recommendations. The removal authorization is sent at no cost within 30 days of the request;
• Submit the invoice detailing the work done for each tree and confirming payment for the work, as well as your contact information (name, address, phone number) by email (subventionfrene@pointe-claire.ca), in person at the city's multi-service counter, or by mail to the following address:
  • Public Works Department
    451, Saint-Jean Boulevard
    Pointe-Claire (Quebec) H9R 3J3
• The invoice must include a cost for the removal of ash trees clearly distinguished from other arboriculture work performed. The following information must be included on the invoice:
  • Owner's name
  • Work address
  • Detailed description of the work performed
  • Invoice example
• Allow 60 days to receive the payment.

To facilitate the processing of the subsidy, please ask your contractor to separately identify the costs for eligible ash tree removal work from non-eligible arboriculture work (e.g., stumping) on the invoice.

Preferential Price and Subsidy for Treatment

Owners of trees that have already been treated against the emerald ash borer can benefit from a subsidy for a new treatment, equivalent to 50% of the cost, up to a maximum of $1,500 per address. Current knowledge suggests that starting a new treatment on an infested tree is not recommended.

The treatment must be carried out between June 15 and August 31.

• Inspection request deadline: August 15
• Deadline for benefiting from the advantageous rate: August 31

To Benefit from the Subsidy

1. If your ash tree(s) were treated two years ago, the Public Works Department will inspect and contact you to confirm the treatment. If your ash tree(s) were treated last year and you wish to treat them for a second consecutive year, contact the Public Works Department at 514 630-1230 for inspection of your ash trees.
    
2. If the need for treatment is confirmed, a firm selected by the City will carry out the treatment at the agreed rate. Any other firm qualified for preventive treatment can be chosen, following the same procedure and rate.
    
3. Submit the receipt confirming payment for the treatment and your contact information (name, address, phone number) by email (subventionfrene@pointe-claire.ca), in person at the city's multi-service counter, or by mail to the following address:
   Public Works Department
   451, Saint-Jean Boulevard
   Pointe-Claire (Quebec) H9R 3J3
    
4. Allow 60 days to receive the payment.

Replacement of Ash Trees on Private Property

Any tree felled must be replaced (zoning bylaw, chapter 9). A tree distribution program is available for homeowners. To increase biodiversity, a selection of 10 indigenous tree species will be offered.

Replacement of ash trees on public land

Each ash on public land in parks or along streets will be replaced, in the same location to the extent possible.

An additional 80 trees will also be planted each year to increase the canopy index.

Replacement plan for ash trees on public land:

A felling subsidy is available for ash trees with a diameter of 25 centimetres or more as part of the emerald ash borer control strategy.

The owner of a dead ash tree or an ash tree of which 30% of its branches are dead, must fell or have the tree felled.

The grant covers 50% of felling costs, up to a maximum of $500 per tree per year.

Since June 2020, felling is allowed all year-round.

Eligible work

• Felling of the ash tree(s)
• Collection and chipping of the branches
• Collection and disposal of the logs

Non-eligible work

• Stump removal
• Pruning
• Arboriculture work of any kind carried out on trees other than ash trees

How to obtain the grant

• Fill out a felling permit request.
• An inspector will visit your property to evaluate the trees that need to be felled and make recommendations. The felling certificate will be sent to you free of charge no later than 30 days after the application is filled.
• Send the detailed invoice confirming your payment and your contact information (name, address, telephone number) either by e-mail (subventionfrene@pointe-claire.ca), in person at the City Hall multiservice counter or by mail to the following address:
  • Public Works Department
    451 Saint-Jean Boulevard
    Pointe-Claire (Québec) H9R 3J3
• The invoice must be itemized and must include a cost for the ash tree(s) felling work clearly distinguished from the other arboriculture work carried out. The following information must be included on the invoice:
  • Name of the owner
  • Address of the work
  • Detailed description of the work carried out
  • Invoice example
• Allow 60 days before receiving the payment.

In order to facilitate the processing of the subsidy, please ask your contractor that the invoice separately identifies the costs for the work of felling eligible ash trees and non-eligible arboriculture work (ex: stump removal).

Owners of ash trees that have already been treated against the emerald ash borer will be eligible for a grant for a new treatment, equal to 50% of the cost, up to $1,500 per address. According to current knowledge, it is not recommended to start a new treatment on an infested tree.

The treatment must be applied between June 15 and August 31.

• Deadline to request an inspection: August 15
• Deadline to take advantage of the special rate: August 31

To qualify for the grant

1. If your ash tree(s) have been treated two years ago, the Public Works Department will be inspecting them. If your ash tree(s) were treated last year and you want the treatment for a second consecutive year, contact the Public Works Department at 514 630-1230 to have your ash tree(s) inspected.
2. If the need for treatment is confirmed, a company selected by the City will apply the treatment at the agreed rate. Any other firm qualified to apply the preventive treatment can be selected, using the same procedure and the same rate.
3. Send the receipt confirming payment and your contact information (name, address, telephone number) by e-mail (subventionfrene@pointe-claire.ca), in person at the City Hall multiservice counter or by mail at the following address:
   Public Works Department
   451 Saint-Jean Boulevard
   Pointe-Claire (Québec) H9R 3J3
    
4. Allow 60 days before receiving the payment.