Climate Action Council

Burlington

Proposed Corporate Tree Protection and Enhancement Policy

The importance of trees and the value they provide to municipalities, specifically as it relates to climate change mitigation has been the focus of municipal discourse over the last several years across Ontario and Canada. It is clear now more than ever, urban, and peri-urban regions need trees, as they provide a great deal of social, environmental and economic benefit to a community. The development of a corporate-wide tree protection and enhancement policy provides a framework for the improvement of several bylaws, policies, guidelines, and city-wide programs, so they are clear and consistent in their approach and aligned with the City’s strategic direction as it pertains to the Urban Forest. The policy also satisfies a legislated requirement of the Municipal Act. Section 270 (1) which states: “A municipality shall adopt and maintain policies with respect to the following matters: 7. The manner in which the municipality will protect and enhance the tree canopy and natural vegetation in the municipality.” The Corporate Tree Protection and Enhancement Policy is organized into 4 categories with corresponding policy statements which inform each category:

  1. Preserve and Protect
  2. Maintain and Monitor
  3. Establish, Replace and Enhance
  4. Engage and Collaborate

Strategic and sustained investment will be key to the appropriate management of tree-related opportunities and challenges as they arise and evolve. Urban forests have tremendous capacity to provide increasing benefits and services to the community as they mature. This policy will help to enrich the City’s urban forest and support the 25-year Strategic Plan goal of achieving 35% canopy cover by 2041.

Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling Program Extension Agreement

In 2018 the City of Burlington’s application to the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling (OMCC) Program was approved. This program provides funding for capital projects that support new or expanded commuter cycling infrastructure. The City has used the funding to complete improvements to the Francis Road Bikeway. The City’s funding allocation was $640,000. In June 2021, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) informed us that the program deadline had been extended to December 31, 2021. The City applied for the extension which allowed for final components of the project completion to be assigned to the program funding.

Federal funding programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Pathway Feasibility Studies Program: The Federation of Canadian Municipalities offers several funding programs for municipalities across the country for environmental projects through their Green Municipal Fund. The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Pathway Feasibility Studies Program focuses on integrating energy and GHG reductions into longer term management plans for local recreational and cultural facilities. Studies in this stream will include feasibility work to support near-term and long-term capital projects while mapping out a course to extend asset life and reduce cost of ownership (i.e., the total capital, operating and maintenance costs over the building’s remaining useful life). The studies must include a sequence of GHG reduction measures that allow, at minimum, local recreational and cultural facilities to achieve 50 percent GHG reductions within 10 years and 80 percent GHG reductions within the next 20 years. To be eligible for this grant, projects must include at least one municipally owned community building. Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP): Transportation accounts for approximately 25 percent of Canada’s GHG emissions, of which almost half comes from passenger cars and light trucks. Driving down transportation emissions is critical to achieving the Federal Government’s ambitious climate change commitments and is consistent with the global shift toward zero-emission vehicles. Funded through Budget 2019 and the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) is a 5-year $280 million program. Its objective is to address the lack of charging and refueling stations in Canada; one of the key barriers to zero emissions vehicle adoption, by increasing the availability of localized charging and hydrogen refueling opportunities where Canadians live, work, and play. This program is administered through Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). The program targets the following infrastructure streams:

  • Public Places
  • On-Street
  • Workplaces
  • Multi-Unit Residential Buildings
  • Commercial and Public Fleets

The City applied under the public places stream which supports electric vehicle charging infrastructure deployment in parking areas intended for public use. The City’s application, submitted in June 2021, was for the installation of 26 electric vehicle chargers at several recreational facilities and parking lots throughout the city. One level 3 charger for Parking Lot 5 was also part of the application.