Canadian Government Funding Helps Ontario Move Closer to Meeting Its Tree Planting Pledge

Adam van Koeverden, a member of parliament representing the Milton, Ontario, on behalf of Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, along with the Halton Regional Conservation Authority (HRCA) and Trees for Halton Hills, announced (10-14-23) a joint investment of more than $1.6 million (CAD) for two projects that will see more than 122,345 trees planted across the Halton, Ontario, region.

Over the course of two years, the HRCA and Trees for Halton Hills will work to increase the urban tree canopy across the region. The HRCA will plant 120,020 trees across the region’s watershed, including conservation and park lands, municipal lands, and private lands. The planting will support restoration efforts in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, including urban creeks and wetlands, retired farmland, and forested areas. Trees for Halton Hills will plant 2,145 trees, undertake four community planting events and work with partners from school boards, municipalities, and local businesses to plant caliper trees—older trees with trunks at least four cm in diameter—in outdoor learning classrooms.

The Government of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees program (2BT) is helping to clean the air, keep neighborhoods cool in the summer, create jobs, and fight climate change while protecting nature. Since the program was launched in 2021, Canada has planted over 100 million trees, exceeding program expectations. This means that the 2BT program is on track toward its ultimate goal of planting 2 billion trees over 10 years.