The City of Ottawa is streamlining the process for volunteers to obtain necessary insurance to remove invasive plant species from the city’s green areas. Invasive species, which are non-native to North America, pose a threat to the local ecosystem. Notable invasives in Ottawa include buckthorn, dog-strangling vine, and garlic mustard.
Volunteers seeking to combat invasive plants can now enter into a stewardship agreement with the city’s forestry department, but they must be covered by liability insurance. Responding to inquiries from Alta Vista Coun. Marty Carr, the city staff recently confirmed that groups with stewardship agreements can now access the Community Partnership Insurance Program (CPIP), which offers third-party liability coverage to community entities.
Some groups prefer not to be affiliated with community associations and wish to focus solely on invasive plant removal. This change in policy has been welcomed by volunteers, as it alleviates a significant bureaucratic burden.
Michelle St-Germain, chair of the land restoration committee at the Alta Vista Community Association, highlighted the challenges of securing insurance through associations. The new rules now allow groups to apply directly to the city, streamlining the process significantly.
Lynne Patenaude, a volunteer with the Ottawa South Eco Action Network (OSEAN), emphasized the importance of minimizing bureaucratic obstacles to focus on essential conservation work. OSEAN aims to collaborate directly with the city on invasive species removal, rather than going through community associations.
Overall, the adjustment in insurance procedures has been lauded as a positive step forward by volunteers like St-Germain, who believe it will encourage more individuals to participate in conservation efforts. City staff are working on further initiatives to engage more people and simplify administrative processes, with an update expected in the near future.