Gravenhurst Withdraws Request to Create a Town Policy to Preserve Milkweed

Mayor Heidi Lorenz, said "public safety comes first.”

Gravenhurst Council withdrew a motion presented by Councillor Penny Varney proposing a policy permitting the preservation of milkweed during the July 21, 2026, council meeting.

The motion noted that milkweed is the only plant monarch butterflies lay their eggs on and is the exclusive food source for monarch caterpillars.

It also referenced the Ontario Ministry of the Environment's classification of the monarch butterfly as a species of special concern.

The proposal would have directed administration to develop a policy allowing for the preservation of milkweed on both public and private property, including procedures for identifying or tagging milkweed plants, such as with yellow ribbons supplied by community members.

The policy would also have been required to ensure that preserved milkweed would not affect public safety, sightlines, drainage or community property standards.

Varney suggested that the Town doing brushing in September (instead of spring too) where feasible would allow the eggs to hatch, feed and leave.

She explained that the practice of preserving the milkweed plant would also “build on encouraging and highlighting of biodiversity and natural habitat,” and suggested the Town support people having or interested in growing community gardens.

She said the removal of milkweed results in the loss of the monarch habitat – the caterpillar - that feeds on it, and that’s it’s the only food source it can live off.

She continued that as long as it’s not posing a problem it should be allowed to grow.

Councillor, Sandy Cairns, emphasised the importance of the motion to support biodiversity. She said, “If we want to have food to eat, we need the butterflies – the bees and the butterflies.”

Council members debated the issue with concerns including the practicality of cutting around the plant and the impact of safety in certain areas.

Mayor, Heidi Lorenz, said, “Yes, we want to maintain the butterflies, but public safety comes first.”

Director of Infrastructure, Andrew Stacey, indicated there are pros and cons to the issue, including liability factors and said, “I think we should continue letting the department do what’s it’s doing.”

He said the department can compromise by allowing the plant to grow in some areas that wouldn’t pose an issue and see how it goes. However, he added that the department will also be presenting a request to Council for a policy “recommending roadside gardens not be permitted in the community.”

Cairns expressed concern about many gardens, such as those on boulevards “would have to be taken down in the whole Town.”

She added that the department already must lift the vehicle blades for noxious weeds like hogweed and Japanese knotweed because cutting them results in spreading them and suggested a training session to do the same with milkweed.

The fact that other municipalities like Huntsville and Muskoka Lakes have the yellow ribbon policy in place also came up in discussion about the potential for Gravenhurst to do the same. However, Stacey indicated that the road networks are different in those Towns, saying “it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison.”

Varney said, “I’m disappointed in some of the comments because environmentally, flower gardens are so important to our eco system, and I feel this is very unfortunate.”

Cairns suggested the Town let homeowners know about the process “so people can bring the leaves in and save them before they get cut” and then release them, like the City of Stratford does.

The meeting resulted in the motion being withdrawn with Cairns and Varney the only members voting in favour of the request.