Skip to content
AGFO - Standing Committee

Agriculture and Forestry

Report of the committee

Thursday, May 11, 2023

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry has the honour to present its

NINTH REPORT

Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, to examine and report on the status of soil health in Canada, respectfully requests funds for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024.

The original budget application submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the report thereon of that committee were printed in the Journals of the Senate on February 16, 2023. On February 16, 2023, the Senate approved the release of $36,220 to the committee.

Pursuant to Chapter 3:05, section 2(1)(c) of the Senate Administrative Rules, the budget submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the report thereon of that committee are appended to this report.

Respectfully submitted,

ROBERT BLACK

Chair

................Page Break................

STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

Examine and report on the status of soil health in Canada

APPLICATION FOR SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2024

Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Tuesday, April 26, 2022:

The Honourable Senator Black moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Downe:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to examine and report on the status of soil health in Canada with the purpose of identifying ways to improve soil health, enable Canadian forest product and agricultural producers to become sustainability leaders, and improve their economic prosperity;

That in particular, the committee should examine:

(a)current soil conditions in Canada;

(b)possible federal measures that would support and enhance agricultural and forest soil health, including in relation to conservation, carbon sequestration and efforts to address the effects of climate change;

(c)the implications of soil health for human health, food security, forest and agricultural productivity and prosperity, water quality and air quality; and

(d)the role of new technologies in managing and improving soil health; and

That the committee report to the Senate no later than December 31, 2023, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Gérald Lafrenière

Interim Clerk of the Senate

................Page Break................

SUMMARY OF BUDGET

Activity 1: Western Canada

$128,620
Activity 2: Rome, Italy
$66,940
TOTAL

$195,560

The above supplementary budget was approved by the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry on Thursday, April 27, 2023.

The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.










Date
Vice-présidente du Comité sénatorial permanent de l’agriculture et des forêts
PAULA SIMONS
Deputy Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry








Date
Présidente du Comité permanent de la régie interne, des budgets et de l’administration
LUCIE MONCION
Chair, Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

GENERAL ESTIMATE OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE SPECIAL STUDY

Pursuant to Chapter 3:05, section 2(2) of the Senate Administrative Rules.

Expenses for fiscal year 2022-2023 — $14,879

Expenses for fiscal year 2023-2024 — $231,780

Estimate of the total cost of the special study — $246,659

................Page Break................

STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

Examine and report on the status of soil health in Canada

EXPLANATION OF BUDGET ITEMS

APPLICATION FOR SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET AUTHORIZATION

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2024

ACTIVITY 1: Fact Finding Trip to Western Canada (Saskatoon, SK and Calgary, Carmangay and Olds, AB (Summer/Fall 2023))
FACT-FINDING



14 participants: 10 senators, 4 staff

(1 clerk, 1 Committees Directorate staff member, 1 analyst and 1 communications officer)







TRANSPORTATION, ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES







1.Transportation - air69,600




10 senators x $5,800 (0224)





4 staff x $2,900 (0227)



2.Hotel accommodation24,500




10 senators, $350/night, 5 nights (0222)





4 staff, $350/night, 5 nights (0226)



3.Per diem8,820




10 senators, $105/day, 6 days (0221)





4 staff, $105/day, 6 days (0225)



4.Working meals (travel) (0231)7,000


5.Taxis4,200




10 senators x $300 (0223)





4 staff x $300 (0232)



6.Charter bus (0228)14,000




(5 days, $2,800/day)



Sub-total
$128,120








ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES










OTHER



1.Miscellaneous costs associated with travel (0229)500









Sub-total
$500








Total of Activity 1
$128,620







ACTIVITY 2: Fact Finding Trip to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy (Summer 2023)
FACT-FINDING



4 participants: 2 senators, 2 staff



(1 clerk and 1 analyst)

















TRANSPORTATION, ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES







1.Transportation - air42,600




2 senators x $16,000 (0224)





2 staff x $5,300 (0227)



2.Hotel accommodation13,120




2 senators, $820/night, 4 nights (0222)





2 staff, $820/night, 4 nights (0226)



3.Per diem (Rome, Italy)4,920




2 senators, $205/day, 6 days (0221)





2 staff, $205/day, 6 days (0225)



4.Working meals (travel) (0231)2,000


5.Taxis2,800




2 senators x $700 (0223)





2 staff x $700 (0232)



Sub-total
$65,440








ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES










OTHER



1.Miscellaneous costs associated with travel (0229)1,500









Sub-total
$1,500








Total of Activity 2
$66,940







Grand Total

$ 195,560

The Senate Administration has reviewed this budget application.












Date
Shaila Anwar, Clerk Assistant,
Committees Directorate











Date
Nathalie Charpentier, Comptroller and Deputy Chief Financial Officer,
Finance and Procurement Directorate

APPENDIX (B) TO THE REPORT

Thursday, May 11, 2023

The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has examined the budget presented to it by the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry for the proposed expenditures of the said committee for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, for its special study on the status of soil health in Canada, as authorized by the Senate on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. The approved budget is as follows:

Activity 1: Western Canada

$128,620
Activity 2: Rome, Italy
$—-
TOTAL

$128,620

(includes funds for Activity 1 for a fact-finding mission and 10 senators to travel; the decision on Activity 2 is deferred, pending the submission of a revised budget application)

The budgets approved by the Senate for each travel activity are the maximum amount that can be spent for that activity. Budgets normally include funds for the full membership of the committee to travel. In general, a reduced delegation actually travels and efforts are made to find additional savings. Therefore, actual expenditures are expected to be considerably below the approved budget, and they will be proactively disclosed. Any funds remaining at the conclusion of a travel activity will be clawed-back and can be made available for allocation to committees for other activities.

Respectfully submitted,

LUCIE MONCION

Chair


Back to top