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SURVEY FINDS NEW ALHB INFESTATIONS IN TORONTO AND VAUGHAN

Toronto, August 11, 2005 – During on-going surveys, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has detected a number of trees infested with the Asian Long-Horned Beetle (ALHB) at three sites in the City of Vaughan and one location in the City of Toronto. To prevent the further spread of the beetle, approximately 7,000 trees will be removed from these locations beginning August 22, 2005.

The infested trees were discovered in three locations in the City of Vaughan: a cemetery, located near Steeles Avenue and Jane Street; a commercial area south of Highway 7, west of Weston Road; and a residential area located north of Chancellor Drive, west of Ansley Grove Road. In the City of Toronto, the ALHB infested maple trees were discovered in a predominantly residential neighbourhood north of Finch Avenue and west of Jane Street.

All the infested locations are within the ALHB Regulated Area, which was established in parts of Toronto and Vaughan in February 2004 to prevent the spread of the beetle. The Asian Long-Horned Beetle Infested Places Order restricts the movement of any tree materials (including nursery stock, trees, leaves, logs, lumber, wood, wood chips and bark chips from susceptible species of trees as well as firewood of all species) out of the Regulated Area, unless authorized by the CFIA.

Public information sessions will be held in the communities affected by the tree removal operations. Area residents and members of the general public will be invited to attend these sessions to learn more about the beetle. A “Notice to Dispose” will be issued to affected property owners prior to tree removal.

The CFIA has proposed an amendment to the Introduced Forest Pest Compensation Regulations to compensate property owners to replace trees ordered destroyed. The start date is anticipated in September or October, in time for the fall planting season.

For more information on the ALHB and on how to identify signs of infestation, please visit the website at www.inspection.gc.ca or call us toll free at 1-800-442-2342. In Toronto, please call 416-665-5055.

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• Asian Longhorned Beetle

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Media Relations (Toronto)
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Media Relations (Ottawa)
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