Law society seeks injunction to stop Metrolinx from cutting down trees at historic Osgoode Hall

The Law Society of Ontario says it is seeking an injunction to stop Metrolinx from cutting down trees on the grounds of Osgoode Hall, work that the legal regulator says could begin this weekend.

In an email, a spokesperson for the law society says that Metrolinx has advised it that tree removal could start as soon as Saturday.

Wynna Brown, spokesperson for the law society, said on Friday night itslawyers have filed an application with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and made a request for an urgent case conference meeting as soon as possible about construction work by Metrolinx at Osgoode Hall.

Located on Queen Street West downtown, Osgoode Hall housesthe Ontario Court of Appeals, Superior Court of Justice and the Law Society of Ontario, which co-owns the property with the provincial government. The grounds include publicly accessible greenspacethat is home to trees more than 200 years old.

Metrolinxpreviously identified at least five trees that it says needto be removed so it cancarry out archeological work before building an entrance to a station on the new Ontario Line. The provincial transit agency initially put the plan on hold last November after strong resistance from local residents, the law society and Indigenous groups.

In an email to CBC Toronto, Metrolinx did not confirm that it would begin cutting down trees on Saturday but did sayit would proceed with work to support the archeological assessment"as soon as possible."

"We have been engaging with communities on the project for over two years and can't afford to delay getting this much-needed project built," the email said.

Metrolinx also pointed to a third-party review, commissioned by the city, that looked at 10 possible options for the new station entrance and concluded that the Osgoode Hall site made the most sense for commuters.

Protesters demand that Metrolinx consult

A community vigil was held onFriday on the grounds of Osgoode Hall. About 40 people attended. The event drew business leaders, politicians and residents.

People sang,listened to speakers and demanded meaningful consultation from Metrolinx. The protesters said they were there to protect thetrees that have seen more than 200 Toronto winters.

The protesters held signs that read "Speaking on behalf of the trees" and "Ispeak for the trees."

Metrolinx stands firm on line's placement

The province'sregional transit agency says the Ontario Line will see almost 400,000 passengers every day upon completion and reduce crowding on existing subway lines.

In a suddencommunity meeting Wednesday the same day the third-party review was released director of community engagement for subwaysDarren Cooneytold residents while Metrolinx agreed to await the results of the review, the decisions on the location of each Ontario Linestation have already been made.

The agency says it will establish aconstruction liaison committee with localresidents, business and employers who will be consulted when itdevelops restoration plans for the area.

Toronto Mayor John Tory saidwhile he's still "very concerned" with how construction will impact Osgoode Hall, the city's options are limited.

"I understand from City staff this land has been expropriated by the province and Metrolinx has indicated they will not be seeking any permits or permissions from the city," Tory wrote in a statement.

"I encourage Metrolinx to actually clearly and publicly communicate what they are doing, why there are doing it, and how they will make sure the grounds of Osgoode Hall are protected and restored when this work is done."

Jonathan Rosenthal, a member of the law society's board of directors, says the dispute is the latest example of the transit agency being short-sighted in its plans.

"Theiractivities, in my opinion, are nothing short of bullying," said Rosenthal, who said he's not speaking on behalf of the board, but as an independentcitizen.

Community coalition bands together

Community resident Liz Driver says she found out aboutMetrolinx's plans to proceed with their plan Thursday after she found the trees behind a construction fence,guarded by "masses of security personnel" with contractors preparing themfor removal.

"It only takes a day or two to cut them down. Metrolinx could wait," said Driver,the director and curator of the Campbell House Museum.

Driver helped launch the Build Ontario Line Differently (BOLD)Coalition as the interim chair,a new group that describes itself ascommunities across Toronto "advocating for greater consultations and transparency from Metrolinx."

She's calling for Metrolinx to pause culling operations for at least a weekto give time for city council and residents to considerthe review. That reviewfoundan entrance at the Campbell House could be analternative site to the greenspace at Osgoode Halland could benefit from further analysis.

"It's important to use every tool available to make Metrolinx come back to the table to consider all the options at this intersection not the easiest option, not their preferred option, but the option that would be best for everybody for the next 100 years," said Driver.