Historic trees at Toronto's Osgoode Hall spared until Feb. 10 following interim injunction
The historic trees on the chopping block at Osgoode Hall in downtown Toronto will live to see another day.
Ontario’s Superior Court has granted an interim injunction which restrains Metrolinx from cutting down the group of trees on the property to make way for an Ontario Line subway station, according to the Law Society of Ontario (LSO).
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
A spokesperson for the LSO said Justice William S. Chalmers made the decision which prevents the Crown agency from axing the trees until Feb. 10 at midnight, unless the order is further extended by the court.
“The Law Society of Ontario is pleased with the outcome of the proceedings. We extend our thanks to the Courts and community and look forward to next steps in the process,” Wynna Brown said in a statement issued Sunday.
The reasoning behind the decision is set to be released later this morning, Brown said.
Metrolinx began cutting down the historic trees on Saturday morning before the Ontario Superior Court could hear the injunction application launched to prevent their clearing.
Crews “temporarily paused” the work following pressure from protesters at the site, but Metrolinx said at the time it planned to continue following the results of the hearing.
In an updated statement issued Sunday, Metrolinx said it looks forward to “resolving this matter quickly.”
“Metrolinx has been engaging with communities on this project for over two years,” the statement read. “We met with the Law Society of Ontario 17 times prior to the start of work to avoid unnecessary delays that will cause significant financial consequences to taxpayers and commuters.”
The Build Ontario Line Differently (BOLD) Community Coalition, which has advocated against the clearing of trees at Osgoode Hall, welcomed Sunday’s update and said it looks forward to working with city councillors to find a transit solution that “meets everyone’s needs.”
However, the group went on to say that dozens of mature trees in nearby Moss Park were not so lucky.
“While the trees of Osgoode Hall are temporarily protected, just a stone’s throw away at Queen and Parliament at Moss Park 61 trees were wrongfully cut down,” BOLD said in a statement.
“Ordinary citizens, let alone City Hall or institutions like the Law Society, should not have to go to court to be heard. Metrolinx is a public agency. This is a wake-up call that Metrolinx’s so-called ‘public consultation’ lacks integrity and their behaviour is no longer trustworthy.”
The Osgoode site is one of 15 planned stops along the 15.6-kilometre stretch of the Ontario Line, which is set to run from Exhibition Place to the Ontario Science Centre.
Nine other areas in the area of Osgoode Hall were assessed as potential locations for the future station. However, a U.S.-based infrastructure engineering firm contracted by the city to carry out the assessment, found that Osgoode Hall appeared to be “the most suitable option.”
The trees, which are believed to be hundreds of years old, were first scheduled to be chopped down in December of last year, but that work was stopped in November following public backlash to the plan.
The Ontario Line is set to be completed in 2031.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.