October 7, 2021 (2 Minute Read)
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By Kuwarjeet Singh, Contributing Editor, Bramptonist
As one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, Brampton is home to more than 700,000 people and 75,000 businesses. Alongside this population growth, the City is planting 8,000 new trees by the end of 2021.
This has all been made possible with dedicated annual budgets towards the tree program, in addition to, an injection of funding from the Government of Canada.
Mayor Patrick Brown; Brampton City Councillors; and Maninder Sidhu, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development and Member of Parliament for Brampton East, announced a $1,280,000 investment to plant the trees this year.
The City will plant these trees in naturalization sites, along streets, as tableland trees in parks, within boulevards, and at community plantings. Brampton’s tree planting program will remove an estimated 35,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) over 50 years.
“Planting two billion trees is more than a plan for climate action. It’s a plan for creating thousands of good, green jobs. We’re rolling out tree-planting projects right across the country. Planting trees gets us to net-zero,” said The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources.
With the support of the Government of Canada’s plan to plant two billion trees over 10 years, and the City of Brampton’s vision to plant One Million Trees by 2040.
Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton said, “Brampton is a Green City and we are committed to protecting our trees, plants, and green spaces. Our urban forest is an integral part of our community, and I welcome this funding to help achieve our goal of planting One Million Trees in Brampton by 2040, and support the Government of Canada’s plan to plant two billion trees over 10 years.”
The Government of Canada’s investment will contribute to Brampton’s urban tree canopy.
As a Green City, Brampton is committed to enhancing its urban forest as part of its sustainability and climate efforts. Planting One Million Trees by 2040 is a part of Brampton’s Grow Green Environmental Master Plan (EMP), Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP), and the Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan (CEERP).
Maninder Sidhu, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, Member of Parliament for Brampton East said, “Planting trees across Canada, including right here in Brampton, will help us reach our 2030 climate targets and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The two billion trees initiative will provide the residents of Brampton with cleaner air and expanded forest canopy for greater shade and create green jobs. I am so thrilled about this investment, as it will have an impact on this generation as well as generations to come!”