THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, June 15, 2023
(48)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 9 a.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Robert Black, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Black, Burey, Cotter, Deacon (Nova Scotia), Jaffer, Klyne, Oh and Simons (8).

Participating in the meeting: Joanne Markle LaMontagne, Analyst, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, the committee continued its study of the status of soil health in Canada.

WITNESSES:

Office of the Auditor General of Canada:

Jerry V. DeMarco, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development;

Marie-Pierre Grondin, Director.

As an individual:

Nathan Basiliko, Professor of Forest Soils, Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University (by videoconference).

Royal Bank of Canada:

Mohamad Yaghi, Agriculture & Climate Policy Lead, Climate Action Institute (by videoconference).

Weston Family Foundation:

Lara O'Donnell, Executive Director (by videoconference).

Jerry V. DeMarco, Nathan Basiliko, Mohamad Yaghi and Lara O’Donnell each made a statement and, together with Marie-Pierre Grondin, answered questions.

At 10:42 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:43 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft agenda (future business).

It was agreed that the committee allow the transcription of the in camera portion of today’s meeting, that one copy be kept with the clerk of the committee for consultation by committee members and/or staff, and that the transcript be destroyed by the clerk when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session.

At 10:51 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Ferda Simpson

Clerk of the Committee