MontrealNewsFire leaves dozens of Saint-Amable residents homelessBy Laurence Brisson DubreuilPublished: April 21, 2025 at 7:12AM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience the municipality located 30 kilometres northeast of Montreal is imposing an annual tax of $200 for residents who don’t have a leafy tree in their front yard with a goal of reducing heat islands and improving biodiversity One public policy expert says using taxes to get people to be more green is a smart way to address environmental challenges — although not all residents agree with the town’s approach said the rule requiring a tree in every front yard has been on the books for years But officials were moved to start enforcing it when they learned the results of a recent mapping project by Universite Laval which found the town was “highly exposed” to heat waves due in part to heat islands — buildings and patches of concrete or asphalt that raise temperatures higher than in surrounding areas Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. to lower the ambient temperature in St-Amable,” Menard said He said the town of about 13,500 people has expanded rapidly in the last 20 years the heat islands can worsen the impact of high summer temperatures Menard said the town hired a mobile mapping company called Jakarto to scan lawns and it found that about 1,200 of 3,000 yards were missing trees Notices were sent out and the town held two sales to offer trees at a discount which resulted in most residents complying He said about 400 homes received the $200 charge when the tax bills went out this year a professor of municipal administration at Quebec’s ecole nationale d’administration publique says St-Amable’s initiative is an example of “ecofiscality,” which is a set of public policy tools to encourage people to adopt environmentally friendly behaviour — or pay up St-Amable is the first town she knows of that is taxing treeless yards but she says plenty of other cities have adopted measures along similar lines such as imposing a fee for parking lots or charging developers for each tree they cut down is that enforcing them involves less bureaucracy compared with the traditional ticketing process so it adds really significant costs,” she said She said St-Amable’s choice to incentivize tree planting is an interesting one because it permits the city to reach several objectives so we can reach several goals at once with climate solutions founded on nature,” she said 🌿 Saint-Amable agit pour un milieu de vie plus vert avec un plan ambitieux contre les îlots de chaleur 🌳 Not everyone in St-Amable believes the town is going about its goals in the right way said she bought trees from the municipality and planted them after the town said it hadn’t received the form she was required to submit She said a rental company she works for also received the tax for some properties despite planting the trees — although in those cases she admits the forms weren’t submitted She said she hasn’t succeeded in reversing the charge even though she has receipts from the city proving she bought a tree from them adding that she understands the need for greenery and environmental measures but feels citizens who act in good faith aren’t being listened to Two hundred dollars is a grocery shop,” she said believes the city’s approach is “unfair and abusive.” He said he’s heard from several residents who were taxed despite having trees while he said others thought they had complied only to be told their trees didn’t count because they were considered shrubs He believes the town could have accomplished its goal by working with citizens rather than playing “tree police.” “There’s an administrative mess surrounding this tax Menard said about half of the 50 or so people who contested the tax have succeeded in having it overturned — often because their tree was missed by the software that scanned the yards He said that while a small group of citizens might not be happy most are on board with the town’s environmental ambitions which include doubling its tree canopy and planting more than 12,000 trees on public land in the coming years transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account A small town in Quebec's Montérégie region is trying a novel approach to help mitigate the impacts of climate change and accelerate the greening of the community, reports CBC News.  are being charged an annual surtax of $200 if they don't have at least one leafy McGill Plant Science Faculty Lecturer David Wees talked to CBC about how this approach could make a difference in encouraging people to plant more trees on their properties in Saint-Amable a new suburb trying to double its canopy coverage in order to combat the heat island effect Montreal WatchFire leaves Saint-Amable residents homelessA major overnight fire destroyed a six-unit apartment building in Saint-Amable. says this Quebec town | CBC.ca LoadedHave a tree on your property or pay $200 a year 1 month agoDuration 2:10Have a tree on your property or pay $200 a year, says this Quebec town1 month agoNewsDuration 2:10Saint-Amable, Que., east of Montreal, is enforcing a longstanding rule that properties must have at least one deciduous tree in their yard as a way to help mitigate the impact of heat islands in the community. Here’s how the automatic recount will work for Terra Nova-The Peninsulas1 hour agoVideo20:16 The Breakdown | Supplying Canada’s military + Duty Free tariff fearsThe Breakdown - Full Show |1 hour agoVideo2:01 Video evidence, NHLer testimony raise questions in world junior sexual assault trialThe National |May 2Video4:45 Trump repeats 51st state taunt as Carney prepares for White House visitThe National |May 5Video11:28 It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem MontrealNewsQuebec town’s eco-tax sparks debate among residents over treesBy Laurence Brisson DubreuilPublished: March 31, 2025 at 6:11PM EDT which represents eight maintenance and operations technicians signed a new collective agreement with the Régie intermunicipale de l’eau potable Varennes The members voted 88% in favour of accepting the agreement negotiated by the parties at a general meeting last October 4 calls for a total wage increase of 18.25 per cent The latter will mean that employees will receive an indexable amount of $30 per year of service but proceedings were productive and respectful Our goal was to provide better working conditions to members while at the same time improving service to the public We were able to accomplish both,” says CUPE representative Caroline Labelle The mission of the Régie intermunicipale de l’eau potable Varennes Sainte-Julie et Saint-Amable is to provide excellent quality drinking water on the territory of the three towns Ontario K1G 0Z7 Tel: (613) 237-1590 Fax: (613) 237-5508  Toll free: (844) 237-1590 Montreal WatchQuebec town's residents required to have trees on properties or face $200 fineResidents in the Quebec town of Saint-Amable must have at least one leafy tree on their property or face a $200 fine. Police officers from the Haut-Saint-Laurent MRC Sûreté du Québec went to the premises after being alerted by a member of the public The youth were taken by surprise on site in what is considered by police as a location that appears to be a rather special gathering place What is unusual is that all the individuals questioned come from outside the Suroît region One 18 year old resident of Deux-Montagnes was arrested for possession of over 100 grams of cannabis He will appear at the Valleyfield Courthouse in July to face charges of possession of cannabis with intent to traffic young 18 year old man from Boisbriand will be charged with obstructing justice for providing  a false identity to an officer of the peace the 15 adolescents were each fined $271 under an Haut-Saint-Laurent MRC municipal by-law which stipulates that "it is prohibited for any person to enter or walk around on any private or public property without permission from the owner." Tarifs sur les pièces automobiles : Comment ça fonctionne Est-ce que la Cadillac Celestiq à 500 000 $ est un modèle réaliste dans le contexte actuel  Plus de 25 000 Ford Bronco et Transit visés par un problème de caméra de recul You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience. CanadaChevron QuébecChevron MontrealChevron International superstars? Tell us more.It feels like every cool person in the city has explored the Coldroom at least once, if only to see what the buzz is about. Even if you're not a big drinker, the people-watching here is a draw: Bruce Willis, Christina Aguilera, Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Luke and Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller and members of the Montreal Canadiens all have made an appearance. What should we order?Much like the décor, the drinks are classic with next-level twists. Try the Japanese Highball (Toki whiskey with lemon zest and soda) or the savory Kingfisher (Citadelle gin with Lustau sherry amontillado, Cocchi Americano, caper brine, and turmeric). There's also three choices each of white and red wine available by the glass or the bottle (all under $65). Did the staff do you right?The bar staff is knowledgeable, dedicated, and efficient. Okay, so to recap: What's the vibe here?With tucked-away nooks for two, the Coldroom has a cozy, clandestine energy to it. Bigger groups can hang out by the bar. Expect to stand quite a bit—this place is ultra popular. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page MontrealSuspicious package addressed to Magnotta found at Canada Post distribution centreBy ctvmontreal.caPublished: July 17, 2012 at 7:35AM EDT many residents view the rule as government overreach A controversial green bylaw in Saint-Amable, near Montreal, mandates that homeowners plant at least one tree in their yard or face a $200 annual fine Promoted for environmental benefits like noise reduction and energy savings Resident and former mayor Simon Lacoste called it "unfair and abusive," noting fines issued even to those with existing trees dismissed as "shrubs."  Strict regulations govern tree planting: trees must be a minimum of 30 cm tall with a 5 cm trunk diameter and one tree is required for every 10 meters of street frontage Certain tree species are prohibited near roads trees cannot be planted within 1.5 meters of fire hydrants or utility entrances The town provides a detailed sketch and map specifying exact planting locations “I think it's exaggerated,” said one woman “It’s hard to say—I don’t agree with it.”  Others pointed to inconsistent enforcement and lack of notice you're fine.' But then they fined others who didn’t have one.” “Yes, I think it’s $200 a year if you haven’t submitted proof that you planted a tree,” said another “I already have several trees at home—just not in the front.” They didn’t even give one before issuing the $200 fine,” said another resident Comparisons are being drawn to past mandates in nearby areas with one resident lamenting the perceived erosion of freedom in Quebec due to such regulations The town's strict enforcement raises questions about the extent of municipal interference on private property Your contribution helps our fearless journalists travel across the country to report on the stories mainstream media refuses to cover Whether it's exposing government overreach or documenting on-the-ground protests and events Rebel News is dedicated to bringing you the unfiltered truth we can continue to challenge censorship and provide Canadians with real Please donate today to keep our Field Reports team on the frontlines Alexa graduated with a degree in biology from Laval University she has seen political instability as well as corruption While she witnessed social disorder on a daily basis she has always been a defender of society’s most vulnerable and now joins Rebel News to shed light on today’s biggest stories We follow the facts wherever they may lead — even if that conflicts with the official narrative of the establishment Big Tech and the government are trying to silence us making the risk of de-platforming higher than ever Stay informed by signing up for our newsletters There are the daily news clippings called "Rebel Buzz" and our weekly highlights called "Rebel Roundup." 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