NDP: Ford cancelling crucial tree planting program will cause serious environmental harm

QUEEN’S PARK — The NDP’s critic for Natural Resources and Forestry, Judith Monteith-Farrell, said the Ford government cancelling a tree-planting program that is critical to ensuring forest sustainability and flood protection will cause serious environmental harm.

The government has eliminated the 50 Million Tree Program, an initiative to plant 50 million trees across the province by 2025. The program reduces carbon pollution, improves air and water quality, protects Ontario shorelines and mitigates flood risk. Since 2008, more than 27 million trees have been planted.

“Ontarians want to rest assured that their forests, and the quality of their air and water, are protected for generations to come,” Monteith-Farrell said. “By cancelling this essential tree-planting program, the Ford government is putting all of us at risk. Fewer trees will mean more air and water pollution, more erosion in flood zones, less habitat for wildlife and less protection from the accelerating impacts of climate change.

"Ford's elimination of this program will also mean significant job losses for the forestry industry.

“Ford’s budget was short on details, but we continue to learn of new cuts to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. The government has also cut funding for flood management programs by 50%, and narrowed the scope of conservation authorities. Ford’s elimination of the 50 Million Tree Program, and his government’s sweeping cuts to essential environmental programs, is both short-sighted and deeply troubling.

“Ontarians deserve a government that protects our invaluable natural resources and keeps us safe from flooding and the impacts of pollution and climate change.”