Historic elm tree faces axe for Centre Block renovations

It haswitnesseddecades of Canada Day celebrations andcabinet shufflesand even survived the devastating Dutch elm disease, but the major renovation ofCentre Block will likely mean the demise of ahistoric elm tree on Parliament Hill.

Though no one can be sure of itsexact age, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) estimatesthe tree is about100 years old, during which time it has grown as high asthe offices on the fifth storey of Centre Block, from its base next to a statueof Canada'sfirst prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.

"It frames almost any shot of Centre Block. It's part of the picture, it's part of the scene, it's part of our heritage," saidPaulJohanis,chair of theGreenspaceAllianceof Canada's Capital.

Johanis and his colleagues at the alliance are raising the alarm now that PSPC, the department responsible for the renovations of Centre Block, hasconfirmed they'll ask the National Capital Commissiontocut itdown to make room for construction.

"Mature trees playa very specific and important role in the forest cover, and we keep losing them through projects like renovations and infill," Johanis said. "In Centretown Ottawa, it's become a crisis. We want to make sure that doesn't happen with this tree."

'Low potential for survivability'

In all 30 trees in the section east of Centre Block have beentaggedfor either relocationor permanent removal to accommodate excavation work nearthe buildings, said Jennifer Garrett, director general for the Centre Blockrehabilitationprogram.

The department needs to cut down 16of those eight of which are invasive and relocatethe remaining 14.

Unfortunately, a2018 arborist'sreport determined the tree is in poor condition and is being held together by cables in theupper sectionas a result of deterioration in itscentre, and that it has a "low potential for survivability" if moved, Garrett said.

"We took very seriously the decision and the analysis around the tree," Garrett said. "NobodyinPSPCwants to take down a tree. But the facts are the facts, and the realities are the tree is not in very good condition, and it wouldn'tbe prudent of us to invest taxpayer money."

PSPCestimates thecost to move theroughly 20-metre-tall tree would reach $400,000.

"The best course of action, on behalf of taxpayers, is to remove that tree, meaningcut it down, and re-use the wood for commemorative purposes," Garrett said.

Cutting down or moving trees on Parliament Hill requires what's called a federal land use approval, which means requesting permission from the National Capital Commission (NCC).

In a written response to CBC, the NCC said it's reviewing all of PSPC'sCentre Block rehabilitation project, and addressed the elm tree in particular.

"As the elm tree in question is the property ofPSPC, the ultimate decision on how to proceed rests with them," read the statement.

Upon learning of the NCC's response, Paul Johanissaid the alliance will immediately ask the NCC to deny PSPC's application to cut down the elm.

Elm could live on as a sculpture

If the elm is cut down,the wood would likely end up in the hands of the Dominion Sculptor, Phil White, whose work includes wooden decorative and commemorative carvings and sculptures in the temporaryhome of the Senate.

"Let's say we could salvage 50 per cent of the wood, we could be looking at elements of furniture, chairs, tables, or even sculptural elements," said White. "We could actually take a section of that tree and create a sculpture from it. Something that honours the memory of the tree."