Subsidy for the greening of institutions, businesses and industries

Urban heat islands are areas where the ambient temperature is higher than the surrounding areas due to the significant presence of roads, sidewalks, parking lots, and buildings. They are often found in sectors where there is a majority of institutions, businesses and industries (ICIs). One of the solutions deemed feasible to reduce these heat islands is to plant more trees in urban areas. Greening ICIs plays a key role in increasing canopy coverage, air quality, and reducing heat islands, thus improving the quality of life for workers and residents who frequent these places. It also promotes well-being and reduces the stress levels of workers while beautifying the area, creating cool spots, saving on air conditioning costs, and increasing property value.

The subsidy is available to owners of institutional, commercial, and industrial properties, and covers up to 50% of the costs of purchasing vegetation, up to a maximum of $2,000. For 2024, a maximum of five projects can be funded through this subsidy. The subsidy, subject to available funds, is available at all times, with the reference year extending from January 1st to December 31st. Applications are processed for the year in which they are submitted, and the reimbursement amount is calculated before taxes.

Types of greening permitted:

• Small high density wooded areas: Creation of a micro-forest, which is defined as an ultra-dense forest arrangement, to accelerate the establishment of a wooded area resembling a mature forest, which generally covers a small area within a green space heavily disturbed by human activities (often created from a grassy surface). This type of arrangement requires thorough soil preparation and a very high planting density that includes various indigenous species (on average 3 plants per square metre).
• Landscaping: Creation of a mass of trees, shrubs, and perennials in a well-defined planting bed.   
• Green parking area: Planting of large canopy trees and dense, diverse vegetation in green parking areas. Since these vast mineralized spaces are not ideal for plants (de-icing salts, damages and breakages caused by vehicles, limited space for root growth and access to rainwater, etc.), greening such areas must be carried out with great care to ensure the successful establishment of plants during the first years, and possibly allow them to reach their full maturity.
• Tree planting: The trees planted must be woody plants with a single trunk that branch out at a certain height from the ground, with a minimum height of five metres at maturity.

To submit a project

Every project must first be submitted by email to the Environment Section to see if it is eligible. Planting work may begin once the project’s eligibility has been confirmed. Once the planting project is completed, project completion documents must also be sent to the Environment Section, which reserves the right to inspect the site before paying the subsidy to validate that the planting plan submitted has been carried out in accordance with the criteria.

Project submission documents:

• Duly completed application form to request a subsidy for the greening of institutions, businesses and industries
• Planting plan illustrating at a minimum the project location, the area planted, the name and arrangement of plant species
• Underground infrastructure plan
• Before and after photos of plantation site
• Proxy or agreement signed by the owner (if applicable)

Project completion documents:

• Up to date planting plan (only if latter has been modified since the initial planting plan was submitted)
• Proof of purchases
• Photos of site after work has been carried out
• Any other document deemed necessary

Project eligibility criteria

• The purpose is to reduce a heat island
• For the creation of a diverse plantation well adapted to the site (varied species and good hardiness)
• The space selected must ensure the sustainability of the plantation
• Must be carried out on the territory of Vaudreuil-Dorion, on land zoned for public, commercial or industrial use
• Must be carried out on a property with the written and signed agreement of the owner(s)
• Must comply with municipal regulations
• The location selected must be free of any underground infrastructure that could be damaged by the plantation. To this end, a plan can be requested from Info-Excavation.

Conditions

Species of the Fraxinus genus (ash) do not qualify for the subsidy, as well as the following invasive, exotic species:

• Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
• Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula)
• European Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
• Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)
• Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
• Common hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium)
• Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
• Swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum rossicum)
• Black swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum nigrum)
• Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)
• Bohemian knotweed (Reynoutria ×bohemica)
• Giant knotweed (Reynoutria sachalinensis)
• Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)
• Common reed (Phragmites australis)

The following species do not qualify for the subsidy unless they are to be planted along the shoreline:

• Bay willow (Salix pentandra)
• Weeping willos (Salix alba tristis)
• White poplar (Populus alba)
• Eastern cottonwood (Populus Deltoides)
• Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra italica)
• Quaking aspen (Populus Tremuloides)
• Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)
• Box elder (Acer negundo)
• American elm (Ulmus americana)

Mandatory plantations under a construction permit or a notice of violation of current regulations are not eligible for this subsidy.

Eligible expenses

Only expenses related to the purchase of plants qualify for this subsidy. The plants must be purchased from a business located within the territory of the MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges in the 12 months preceding the application.

Payments

Once analysis of the completion documents is performed, a payment will be made by cheque to the project applicant. The team from the Environment Section reserves the right to inspect the plantation before paying the subsidy to verify that the planting plan submitted has been carried out in accordance with the criteria.

For any information concerning the subsidy: 450 455-3371, option 1 or enviro-subventions@ville.vaudreuil-dorion.qc.ca