An act to mandate a national soil health strategy has been tabled and read for a second time in the Senate of Canada.
Senator Rob Black sponsored Bill S-230, An Act Respecting the Development of a National Strategy for Soil Health Protection, Conservation and Enhancement. If passed, it would mandate the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and other relevant ministers, to develop a national soil health strategy.
It also includes measures to recognize soil as a strategic national asset necessary to food security.
Black has been a long-time advocate for soil health. Last year, the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry released a report titled Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada’s Economic, Environmental, Human, and Social Health. This report was the basis for a number of recommendations in the Senate bill.
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Recommendations include appointing a National Advocate for Soil Health, and developing targets and resources to improve soil health.
Speaking on the bill in the Senate, Black thanked former MP Alistair MacGregor for tabling a bill on soil conservation in the last session of the House of Commons.
“Although the bill did not make it beyond first reading and we weren’t able to study the bill in either chamber, I’m hopeful Bill S-230 honours his commitment to protecting soil in Canada.”
He also spoke about concerns heard from Canadian producers over the loss of farmland and soil health to housing developments and infrastructure development.
“Canada does not have an unlimited supply of farmland. We are privileged to have the land we have now, that has healthy, arable soils that can be used for farming and food production.”
Senator Black’s full speech on the bill can be watched on YouTube.
