Four people in St. Catharines charged for allegedly removing trees

Four people are facing nearly 200 charges each for allegedly removing trees in St. Catharines and violating a tree by-law.

The unauthorized removal of trees and plants happened in the Martindale Pond area, which violated a City of St. Catharines by-law.

The by-law states that residents need a permit in order to injure or destroy a tree on or affecting City property.

The four unidentified individuals each face 194 counts, which equals 776 total charges.

Under the by-law, each person faces potential consequences of a minimum fine of $1,000 per count, or $10,000, whichever amount is higher.

“This enforcement action represents the City’s unwavering commitment to protecting our green spaces and upholding our by-laws,” Manager of By-law Enforcement Paul Chudoba said.

“We will continue to rigorously enforce these regulations to ensure the well-being of our community and its natural resources.”