Summary#

Calgary City Council adopted the update to its 2 Billion Trees agreement program on June 30, 2026, as the response to an earlier notice of motion on tree equity. The decision directs City staff to report annually on Urban Forestry operational metrics and to bring 2027–2030 capital funding for consideration during November budget deliberations; it does not approve that funding. City staff say the program aims to grow Calgary’s tree canopy and improve equity in access to trees.

• City staff must report annually on Urban Forestry operational metrics.
• Council will consider, but has not approved, capital funding for Urban Forestry Lifecycle and Municipal Development Plan target programs for 2027–2030.
• The proposed capital funding is intended to help meet canopy targets and the federal agreement’s matched-funding obligations.
• The existing agreement is nearly $61 million for 2023–2028 and supports a goal of planting and establishing 930,000 trees across Calgary by 2029, according to City staff.

What it means for you#

• Residents: City staff say planting is focused on areas with lower canopy while continuing across all wards. The decision does not guarantee that a particular neighbourhood will receive trees or set planting locations.
• Residents and taxpayers: You will receive annual public updates on Urban Forestry operations, according to City staff. The decision does not approve new 2027–2030 capital spending.
• City staff: They must report annually on operational metrics. The decision does not specify which metrics must be included.

Money#

The decision does not approve a new funding amount; the cost of the proposed 2027–2030 capital funding is not stated in the supplied material.

• City staff say matched funding is required under the federal agreement, and capital funding beyond 2026 is needed to meet that requirement.
• The report identifies a nearly $61 million contribution agreement for 2023–2028, but the supplied material does not state the City’s and federal government’s separate shares.
• City staff say a larger public tree inventory will require more maintenance and long-term operating resources.

What is unclear#

• How much capital funding City staff will ask Council to approve, and how much matching funding would be required.
• Which operational metrics the annual reports will cover, and when each report will be published.
• How planting will be divided among communities and how tree-equity priorities will be measured.
• The supplied material does not include the contents of the attached public submission, so its specific views are unknown.

Case for#

• City staff report that Calgary’s canopy cover rose from 8.12% in 2022 to 9.62% in 2024, toward a city-wide target of 16% by 2060.
• Staff say nearly 360,000 trees have been planted since enhanced federal funding began in 2023, with more than 500,000 additional trees planned for 2026–2028.
• Annual reporting could give the public regular information about planting and Urban Forestry operations.
• Prioritizing lower-canopy areas could help address the uneven distribution of tree canopy described by City staff.

Case against#

• City staff say future capital funding is needed to meet the federal agreement’s matching requirement. Council only agreed to consider funding in November, so the money is not secured by this decision.
• Staff also warn that a larger public tree inventory will bring greater maintenance and lifecycle costs, without stating how much those costs may be.
• The decision does not set specific measures for tree equity or say how annual operational metrics will show whether access to canopy is becoming more balanced.
• City staff say targeted outreach on tree planting, tree equity and the notice of motion had not been undertaken for this report.