Roy Cullen, M.P.

Dear Friends,

As many of you know the threat of the Asian Longhorned Beetle has been the source of much anxiety and anguish for our community. Many of you will also know that since last summer we have all been hoping that the required cure was not going to be worse than the initial problem. Along with my staff, Mr. David Cuddemi, and Ms. Fran Watt, I have worked very hard to present your priorities and concerns to our Government and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. In October of last year I rose in the House of Commons and asked the then Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Lyle Vanclief, what actions he was prepared to take to protect the trees of Thistletown. In January of this year, and many times since, I have raised this with our new Agriculture Minister, the Honourable Bob Speller. I made the case that all necessary measures, but only those measures necessary, should be taken to protect this community. I can inform you that recently, I met once again with our Agriculture Minister to address Thistletown as a satellite infestation area. It was a very positive meeting, and I can tell you that Minister Speller expressed to me that tree removal would only take place in our area on the recommendation of sound science and appropriate risk management.

We have all seen the bucket trucks and tree climbers over the last few months, and I can assure you that what they have been doing has been in our best interests. The CFIA, along with the City of Toronto and the Province, have made a tremendous effort to ensure that our community is surveyed and inspected. Important and vital actions are being taken to stamp out the Asian Longed Horned Beetle in our Community. Most recently, the CFIA, under the guidance of many fine scientists, removed and tested four infested trees from Thistletown.

I have the pleasure of informing you that no exit holes were found on these trees. I can assure you that this is an extremely important milestone in our crusade to save our trees. In addition, it is my understanding that no more trees will be removed from our community at this time.

That is not to say that we can become complacent. Further intensive survey and science must be conducted to ensure that our community is kept safe from the Asian Long-horned Beetle. It should also be noted that should we once again discover this pest in our midst, all necessary steps will once again be considered to protect the community at large.

Let me close by thanking Minister Speller and his staff, the staff at the CFIA, Councillor Suzan Hall and city officials, MPP Shafiq Qaadri and the staff at the Ministry of Natural Resources, and especially the community who have united so admirably during this difficult time.

R O Y C U L L E N U P D A T E

Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALHB) - Latest Information

Upcoming Meetings and Events:

Over the course of the summer and spring, CFIA will continue to offer public information sessions to provide citizens with opportunities to learn about the ALHB and ask questions related to the eradication plans.

You can help....

If you find a beetle, or see signs of infestation, contact the CFIA's toll-free line at 1-800-442-2342. Do not remove any beetles or regulated articles from the area.

Do not move any move any regulated articles (including nursery stock, firewood, and fallen or pruned branches) from the infested area. This will reduce the risk of spreading the beetle.

Ministerial Order:

The CFIA has now established a regulated area in parts of Toronto and Vaughan to prevent the spread of the Asian Long-Horned Beetle. The Asian Long-horned Beetle Infested Place Order prohibits the movement of any regulated articles out of the regulated area unless authorized by a Domestic Movement Certificate issued by the CFIA.

Regulated articles include: nursery stock, trees, leaves, logs, lumber, wood, wood chips and bark chips from certain deciduous trees identified as hosts of the ALHB and firewood of all species

Any person who contravenes this order may be subject to fine and/or be liable to prosecution.

Notices to Dispose:

All Notices to Dispose have been delivered to property owners within the regulated area.

15,000 host trees have been removed as part of the ALHB eradication plan. Additional trees will be removed in 2004 if they are found to be infested.

Crews have completed tree removal in the primary and secondary zones of the core infested area. All known infested trees have also been removed from the three satellite sites: Thistletown, Beechwood Cemetery and Ansley Grove.

Infested trees have been taken to a laboratory within the infested area for data collection and further study.

The removal and destruction of host trees is considered the only effective option for eradicating the beetle.

CFIA crews are focusing on completing visual surveys in the regulated area.

Special teams will evaluate the suitability of various tree genera as hosts for ALHB.

CFIA will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available