In a significant environmental policy reversal, the Liberal government has officially scrapped Justin Trudeau's ambitious plan to plant two billion trees across Canada, National Post has learned.
The program, announced with great fanfare during the 2019 election campaign, was touted as a key component of Canada's climate strategy. The initiative promised to combat climate change through natural carbon capture while creating thousands of seasonal jobs.
Failed Implementation Despite Funding
Despite receiving substantial funding in the 2020 fiscal update, the program consistently failed to meet its planting targets. Sources indicate the government has now quietly decided to abandon the initiative altogether rather than continue struggling with implementation challenges.
The cancellation raises serious questions about the government's ability to deliver on its environmental promises and comes at a time when Canada faces increasing pressure to meet its international climate commitments.
What This Means for Canada's Climate Goals
The two billion tree program was expected to:
- Capture significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere
- Restore natural habitats and biodiversity
- Create employment opportunities in rural and Indigenous communities
- Help Canada meet its 2030 emissions reduction targets
With the program now cancelled, environmental advocates are expressing concern about how these benefits will be replaced and whether alternative measures will be sufficient to fill the gap in Canada's climate strategy.
Political Fallout and Public Reaction
The decision to scrap the program is likely to provide ammunition for opposition parties who have criticized the government's environmental record. Conservative and NDP critics have already begun questioning the government's commitment to meaningful climate action.
This development also highlights the challenges governments face when implementing large-scale environmental programs, even when political will and funding appear to be in place.
