Federal money provided to return unproductive farmland back to forest in Alberta
Corey Hogan, parliamentary secretary to Canada's natural resources minister, says the cash is part of the $3.2 billion '2 Billion Trees program' and the reforestation will help capture carbon and reduce greenhouse gases.
The goal is to support provinces, territories and third-party organizations in planting two billion trees across Canada by 2031.
Hogan says cleared farmland will be turned back into thriving forests, providing employment to Indigenous women and youth, and providing economic benefits.
Mike Toffan from Project Forest says through four different projects, 12 million trees will be planted in Alberta, including on the Siksika Nation and in the Peace Country.
He says some of the land goes back well over a century, when a quarter section was offered to settlers to encourage settlement in the Prairies.
'In some of those cases, the original farmers were farming the land, weren't able to make an economic go and the next generation didn't take that on,' Toffan said Monday.
'So going back to 1912 and in some cases prior to that, land was cleared in areas, not able to produce economic crops and those are perfect cases to bring forests back.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Sun
2 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Designer says regrets Adidas 'appropriated' Mexican footwear
Sportswear giant Adidas is being accused of cultural appropriation for designer Willy Chavarria's latest shoe design. Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP/File Mexico City (AFP) — US fashion designer Willy Chavarria said Saturday he regrets that sandals he created together with Adidas 'appropriated' a traditional design from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Local authorities had complained that the Oaxaca Slip-On sandals were a 'reinterpreted' model of huarache sandals, particularly one found uniquely in the area, which has one of the highest Indigenous populations in the country. Mexico's government said Friday it was seeking compensation from Adidas. 'I deeply regret that this design has appropriated the name and was not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community,' Chavarria, who is of Mexican heritage, said in a statement sent to AFP. Chavarria acknowledged that the sandals 'did not live up to the respect and collaborative approach' deserved by the community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, from where the original design is said to have come. The Mexican government said Friday that Adidas had agreed to meet with Oaxaca authorities. 'It's collective intellectual property. There must be compensation. The heritage law must be complied with,' President Claudia Sheinbaum said during her regular morning press conference Friday. The controversy is the latest instance of Mexican officials denouncing major brands or designers using unauthorized Indigenous art or designs from the region, with previous complaints raised about fast fashion juggernaut Shein, Spain's Zara and high-end label Carolina Herrera. Columnists Toronto & GTA Toronto Blue Jays World Editorials
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Conservative calls on minister to apologize to Christian singer over cancellations
A Conservative MP is calling on Identity and Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault to apologize to U.S.-based Christian musician Sean Feucht after the permits for recent concerts in venues overseen by Parks Canada were revoked. Marilyn Gladu, the Opposition critic for civil liberties, says in a letter dated Friday that denying the permits did not 'preserve the principle of inclusion' but had the opposite effect in excluding Feucht and many Canadians who had planned to attend the events. Feucht describes himself as a musician, missionary, author and activist. Having spoken out against what he calls 'gender ideology,' abortion and the LGBTQ+ community, his religious and political views have faced criticism while having grabbed the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Feucht ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for Congress in 2020. Gladu says in her letter that regardless of whether you agree or not with Feucht's views, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of expression in Canada. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. A number of concerts planned in various parts of Canada were cancelled abruptly, with Feucht having to switch venues to hold them. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada joins international partners to condemn Israel plan to take over Gaza City
OTTAWA – Canada is joining international partners panning Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City. Foreign ministers from several countries including Canada, Australia, France, Germany and the United Kingdom say they reject a decision taken by the Israeli security cabinet on Friday to launch an additional large-scale military operation in Gaza. They say it will serve to aggravate an already catastrophic humanitarian situation, forcing further mass movement of civilians, as well as endanger the lives of hostages still being held. Israel's cabinet approved a plan Friday to take control of Gaza City and the country's Foreign Ministry said the plan is not to hold Palestinian territory long-term but rather to rout Hamas. The countries say in the joint statement today that any attempts to annex territory or extend settlements would violate international law. On Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a similar message, but stopped short of saying whether Canada would consider sanctions against Israel. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2025.
