The Minister of Natural Resources needs to step up soon and commit to establishing an Ontario Green Legacy program if it is to be up and running by 2017, says Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.
“On Oct. 22, I brought forward a Private Member’s Resolution calling upon the government to establish an Ontario Green Legacy program to mark Ontario’s 150th anniversary as a province within Canada,” Arnott reminded MPPs in a statement in the Ontario Legislature on Dec. 7.
“This initiative, which would be based on the County of Wellington’s Green Legacy program, would seek to plant 150 million trees starting in 2017.”
Arnott’s resolution, which was passed unanimously by the Legislature, was inspired by Wellington County’s Green Legacy program.
He said the county established the program in 2004 and it now plants over 150,000 trees across the county each year and has grown into the largest municipal tree planting program in North America.
“I want to again thank the many people who support my resolution, both in this House and outside of it,” he said.
“I especially want to acknowledge the role of the County of Wellington, and in particular Scott Wilson and the late Brad Whitcombe, for their vision and leadership in establishing Wellington County’s Green Legacy program.”
Since Arnott’s resolution was passed, support for his idea has continued to grow. Arnott recently met with representatives from the Credit Valley Conservation Authority, the David Suzuki Foundation, Forests Ontario, and Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests.
He also has planned meetings with representatives from the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute and Landscape Ontario.
Arnott said that while an Ontario Green Legacy Program has been endorsed by the Ontario Legislature, the government needs to get behind it in order to make it happen.
“I spoke to the Minister of Natural Resources on Nov. 5 to follow up on my resolution, asking him to reach out to the County of Wellington and invite county council and staff and many of their representatives to meet with them,” Arnott informed the House. “I hope that he will do so, as well as publicly commit to moving
