Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Gatineau’s effort to grow its urban tree canopy is receiving a significant boost from the federal
government, with $2.7 million in new funding announced under Canada’s 2 Billion Trees
program. The investment will support the planting of 80,000 new trees across all city boroughs
by 2031, helping to cool urban neighbourhoods, capture carbon, and improve the health and
livability of public spaces.

The trees, to be planted in parks, boulevards, and public lands, are expected to increase
Gatineau’s urban forest cover by 30%. Officials say the project is not just about beautification; it
is central to how the city is preparing for the impacts of climate change, from intensifying
heatwaves to declining air quality.

“This is about building a city that’s more resilient, more sustainable, and more pleasant to live
in,” said Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette. “With this support, we’re accelerating our
Urban Forestry Plan and turning climate commitments into concrete actions on the ground.”

The Gatineau project is one of four tree-planting initiatives funded across Quebec through this
latest round of federal support. Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu will receive $2 million to plant 70,000
trees and boost its own urban canopy, while rural initiatives include a large-scale reforestation
project by Les Fermes Harpur in western Quebec and the creation of an Indigenous-run nursery
in Mashteuiatsh, which will eventually produce over 10 million seedlings annually for boreal
reforestation.

For Gatineau, the benefits of the tree-planting initiative are both immediate and long-term. In
addition to mitigating climate impacts and supporting biodiversity, the project will create five new
jobs in the region and lead to long-term maintenance contracts to care for the city’s growing
urban forest.

Federal officials presenting the initiative in Gatineau emphasized its role in a broader national
strategy. “Trees play a vital role in our lives—they clean the air, provide habitat, make cities
more livable, and help us adapt to a changing climate,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of
Energy and Natural Resources. “This is about planting the right tree in the right place at the right
time—and doing it together with local communities.”

The 2 Billion Trees program, launched in 2021, aims to have two billion trees planted across
Canada by 2031 as part of the country’s nature-based climate solutions. As of late 2024, the
government had secured agreements for the planting of more than 716 million trees.

“Thanks to this federal investment, Gatineau is taking a decisive step toward a greener,
healthier future,” said Marquis-Bissonnette. “Planting 80,000 trees is more than an
environmental gesture; it’s a commitment to our citizens, to their well-being, and to the
generations who will live here after us.”​

Photo: The federal government is investing $2.7 million to help Gatineau plant 80,000 trees by
2031, expanding the city’s urban canopy by 30% and advancing its climate resilience and
sustainability goals. (TF) Photo: Courtesy of the City of Gatineau