We petition that WE CARE TREE CARE is allowed to fully continue its operations on the Toronto Islands, under a revised Park Access Agreement, commencing December 1, 2023 and extending for the next 5 years.  WE CARE TREE CARE agrees to occupy a fenced space of 25 x 25 metres and to fully meet all the conditions outlined in Mr. Deighan's updated letter of June 20, 2023.

Background
WE CARE TREE CARE has provided expert tree pruning and tree removal services for homeowners who reside on Ward's and Algonquin Islands, the three private yacht clubs (RCYC, QCYC, and IYC), The Toronto Island Community Association, two Community Association buildings, The Sunshine Senior Centre, The Shaw House, The Toronto Island Trust, The Sun Fish Cut Boat Club, The Island Public School, The Natural Science School, Navigation Canada, and The Toronto Island Tree Trust, for many years with intimate and professional knowledge of the tree canopy on the Toronto Islands that we are so privileged to enjoy.

Reasoning for the Petition
If WE CARE TREE CARE is forced to lose access to the Parks Department's organic dump, and has to remove brush and logs off the Island, efforts to help feed the trees and stave off Island erosion would be compromised.  The organic dump materials are used to protect the environment around the Island by  building up low spots and garden beds, and mulching young trees.  Therefore, this material is an Island organic vegetation lifeblood and a valuable resource which should be encouraged. There is no organic dump in the City which takes branches longer than 4 ins.  Shipping logs to a garbage dump is an illogical waste of our natural resources and has a negative impact on the environment.

Additionally, to remove organic materials off the Island, WE CARE TREE CARE would have to pay vehicle access fees to use the Island ferry, plus expenses for its hired workers' time to go into the city and return, plus the cost of dumping at a city garbage dump, at a total cost estimated to be +$700 per load.  The additional expense would have to be passed on to WCTC clients which would likely result in clients being deterred from having their trees routinely cared for.  This, in turn, then creates hydro line problems, road access problems, and other safety issues resulting in much larger concerns and costs for the City of Toronto.

Recent experience has shown that it is increasingly difficult for the Island community to receive services from operators in the city (e.g. electricians, telco providers, plumbers, etc.) due to the high fees charged to transport service vehicles on the ferry and the lack of reliable departure times.  If the community could no longer use the services of WE CARE TREE CARE and needed to contract with a city service, it is unlikely that trees will be kept to current standards.  

Finally, the Island community has an aging population with many residents no longer capable of doing their own tree pruning; a reliable, reasonably priced service is much needed.