By Mark Squibb
The City of Mount Pearl has begun the application process for federal funding to plant more trees around town.
Councillor Chelsea Lane, during the October 1 public meeting, said the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF) has a $291 million initiative called Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) that supports planting trees across the country in an effort to fight climate change.
The GCCC program will cover half the cost of tree planting projects, and so staff recommended council apply for $400,000 worth of work.
The City’s portion, $200,000, will be budgeted for in Budget 2025 and work will be carried out in 2025-26 in the area of Old Placentia Road from Sagona Avenue to Ruth Avenue and Richard Nolan Drive to Commonwealth Avenue should the application be successful.
“I just want to say, I am so pleased with this,” said councillor Isabelle Fry. “For staff to find this funding that gives us ‘50-cent dollars’ is fantastic. This is going to save us money in the long run, and I think this is a great opportunity to enhance our city and carry out our Urban Forestry Plan.”
Councillor Jim Locke also applauded the motion.
“I don’t know the exact quote, but it goes something like, ‘Someone sits under the shade of a tree today because someone planted that tree years ago,’” said Locke. “This City in 30 years, because of this tree-planting initiative, is going to be absolutely spectacular. I may not be around to sit under the shade of the trees, but my grandchildren certainly will be.”
Staff were authorized to proceed with the pre-application process ahead of the October 1 public meeting to meet the October 15 deadline, and so council ratified the decision at its public meeting.
