Toronto and feds pledge $30M to rehabilitate city’s shorelines, tree canopy

By News Staff

The federal government is helping out Toronto in its fight against climate change by pitching in $12 million toward a total joint investment of $30 million to protect against future flooding and storm events

The funding announced Monday will come through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund – a $2 billion, 10-year federal program aimed at helping build infrastructure needed to withstand natural disasters like floods, droughts, earthquakes and wildfires.

The city will also be contributing nearly $18 million to the project, intended to rehabilitate Toronto’s shoreline infrastructure and tree canopy.

Mayor Tory says the funding is important because times have changed.

“These are very necessary investments we should make to protect the city against the effects of climate change,” he said.

He added that the funds will go towards various projects that will help mitigate shoreline erosion across the city’s waterfront, from Etobicoke to Scarborough. Some steps include placing large boulders along the shoreline based on recommendations by coastal engineers and selectively planting trees that will help stabilize the shore naturally.

Tory said he was pleased with the joint initiative and that it is the responsibility of all levels of government to come together and respond to the concerns created by climate change.

“This is our responsibility …  to make these investments as not only something that responds to immediate concerns caused by climate change and by flooding … but also as a legacy to people so that we will have a shoreline and a lakefront that people will be enjoying for generations, because we took these steps now.”

The projects will begin rolling out next year.

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