THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Thursday, April 27, 2023
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met with videoconference this day at 9:02 a.m. [ET], in camera, for the consideration of a draft agenda (future business); and, in public, to examine and report on the status of soil health in Canada.
Senator Paula Simons (Deputy Chair) in the chair.
(The committee continued in camera.)
(The committee resumed in public.)
The Deputy Chair: Senators, we are now going to vote on the budget for the proposed trip to Alberta and Saskatchewan, which has an estimated total of $128,620. I will ask our clerk, Ferda Simpson, to call the roll.
Ferda Simpson, Clerk of the Committee: The Honourable Senator Simons?
Senator Simons: Yea.
Ms. Simpson: The Honourable Senator Burey?
Senator Burey: Yes.
Ms. Simpson: The Honourable Senator Klyne?
Senator Klyne: Agreed.
Ms. Simpson: The Honourable Senator Oh?
Senator Oh: Agreed.
Ms. Simpson: The Honourable Senator Petitclerc?
Senator Petitclerc: Yes.
Ms. Simpson: That’s five “yes” votes.
The Deputy Chair: Accordingly, this budget is approved.
Now, we will move on to the second half, which is the budget for the proposed trip by the chair, the deputy chair and two staffers to travel to Rome to meet with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This is a budget of $66,940. I will ask the clerk to call the roll.
Ms. Simpson: The Honourable Senator Simons?
Senator Simons: Yea.
Ms. Simpson: The Honourable Senator Burey?
Senator Burey: Yes.
Ms. Simpson: The Honourable Senator Klyne?
Senator Klyne: Abstain.
Ms. Simpson: The Honourable Senator Oh?
Senator Oh: Abstain.
Ms. Simpson: The Honourable Senator Petitclerc?
Senator Petitclerc: Yes.
Ms. Simpson: That’s three “yeas” and two “abstentions.”
The Deputy Chair: Accordingly, this is also carried.
I move that the budget application for $195,560 under the committee’s order of reference to examine and report on the status of soil health in Canada be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024.
And, by consensus, is it agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: If we are able to, our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 2, during our usual time slot at 6:30 p.m. where we will proceed to the clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-236, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and the Employment Insurance Regulations (Prince Edward Island).
Before we adjourn, I would like to take a moment to thank the committee members for their thoughtful discussion, as well as all the staff who support the work of this committee. Thank you to the interpreters, the Debates team transcribing this meeting, the committee room attendant, the multimedia services technician, the Recording Centre, ISD and our wonderful pages.
(The committee adjourned.)