Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in the City of Montreal

OTTAWA, July 27, 2011: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer in the city of Montreal at the corner of Notre-Dame East Street and Haig Avenue.

To prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer, movement restrictions on ash materials, such as logs, branches, nursery stock and wood chips, as well as firewood of all species will be implemented in the affected area. Further regulatory measures will be considered once survey work is completed.

Although the emerald ash borer does not pose a risk to human health, it is a highly destructive beetle. It has already killed a large number of ash trees in Ontario and the northeastern United States, and it poses a major threat to urban and forested areas of North America. There have been numerous finds in Ontario and Quebec.

The key challenge in limiting the spread of this beetle is for people to not move potentially infested wood and firewood to non-infested areas in order to protect Canada’s forests.

The CFIA continues to work with federal, provincial and municipal governments towards slowing the spread of the emerald ash borer.

Additional information is available on the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca/pests or by calling 1-866-463-6017.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media Relations: 613-773-6600

Additional Information:

• Areas Regulated for the Emerald Ash Borer
• Emerald Ash Borer Questions and Answers