Milkweed to be allowed in gardens to protect monarch habitat

The City of Burlington’s municipal law enforcement team has drafted a new lot maintenance bylaw that will allow milkweed. The old bylaw prohibited milkweed growing above 8 inches. Residents effectively made the case that milkweed flowers, which grow taller than 8 inches, provide essential habitat for monarch butterflies. The new bylaw will be brought forward to City Council in September 2018 for consideration and approval. Between now and September, the city will not enforce the removal of milkweed from private properties. Milkweed is not on the province’s list of Noxious Weeds in Ontario.Read staff memo here: milkweed memoMy Take: You did it everyone! After resident Doreen Nicoll received a notice to remove her milkweed, she spoke out and residents rallied providing credible evidence about the need to retain milkweed for monarch butterflies. I will support the revised bylaw when it comes to committee and council in September.