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
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.