Dryden Horticultural Society suggests changes to city bylaws

The Dryden and District Horticultural Society is seeking to update the city’s property standard by-laws.

Board member Fabien Velez says they want to discourage the use of non-native plants and encourage the growth of plants that are native to northwestern Ontario.

“There’s actually definitions of exactly what noxious weeds are and list a list of plants that are harmful to Ontario, Canada and so forth and are considered to be noxious weeds,” Velez told council on Monday night during a deputation.

“There is actually a list from Ontario of what’s considered to be a local plant and there’s a list for northwestern Ontario.”

Velez adds that they want to encourage the growth of native species, because they have beneficial impacts.

“A lot of those plants for northwestern Ontario they do produce flowers, but a lot of the deer don’t eat them too much because it’s not their forte. That’s why it’s a native plant, just grows wild. But that’s how you would also know if you grew a plant that’s not native, because it would attract some things a little bit more than average.”

Velez says both the cities of Guelph and York have passed by-laws which are similar to the one they are recommending to city council.

He says it’s just a matter of updating and modernizing the city’s current by-laws.