Seed Money

Yesterday’s Globe and Mail had an editorial by Neil Reynolds entitled “Failed to See the Forest for the Trees” and I think everyone in Ontario should read it. The article talks about the importance of trees for C02 sequestration, flood control and water quality and the Rae government’s cuts to a remarkable public-private partnership that had reforested Southern Ontario for 100 years. In 1990 the Ontario provincial tree planting program had reached a peak of planting 30 million trees but for some reason after being voted into power the Rae government cut the funding for this program. By the time Mr. Rae and his NDP stalwarts had been voted out of power the rate of planting had fallen to a mere 5 million trees per year. I am not a fan of our current premier but, like Mr. Reynolds, I will give him credit for reversing Mr. Rae’s error and, like Ontario Environmental Commission Gord Miller who says the province’s minimum goal should be 100 million trees a year, I also encourage Premier McGuinty to create incentives for Ontarians to reforest our province – because it is the right thing to do.

www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/failed-to-see-the-forest-for-the-trees/article1879395/