Grounding P.E.I. politicians: Habitat for Humanity gets help planting trees

Some P.E.I. politicians got their hands dirty Saturday morning, helping an Island organization plant trees.

Jamie MacKay is building three houses inHarrington, P.E.I., for Habitat for Humanity.

In order to build the homes he had to remove about 40 trees.The construction manager for the organizationwanted to replace them.

Habitat for Humanity P.E.I. is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide affordable home ownership to Island families of limited income.

MacKaysaid he thought it would be nice to run a strip of trees down each property line, so he approached the province and was approved for the trees. But he still needed some help.

He sent off an email to a number of P.E.I. politicians, including Premier Dennis King.

"Every one of them came back and thought it was a wonderful idea," said MacKay, who wassurprised to get the response because he knows all of the politicians have busy schedules.

Originally, the planting was to take place at the end of June. MacKay said at that time he was expecting 80 per cent of all Island MLAs.

Some politicians had to drop out

When it was rescheduled to Saturday, some politicians had to drop out, MacKay said.

"Some of them still found time to come out, including three of the party leaders."

Planting started at around 9 a.m. and within two hours more than 100white spruce trees were planted, MacKay said.

"It was just a lot of fun, everybody hada great time."

He said the project is important because it is supporting housing, addingthere was no real incentive for politicians besides wanting to help.

"Everybody just came out and got dirty," he said.

Green MLA Lynne Lund was one of the first people MacKayapproached.

"Habitat for Humanity is a fantastic organization. I know a number of people who have been involved with them over the years."

She said when she was asked to help plant trees she didn't have to think twice because the workis important.

"It was a really great day to be out with the Official Opposition and the governing party working together on an issue that matters to both of us."

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