Report of the committee
Thursday, June 1, 2023
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry has the honour to present its
ELEVENTH 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 supplementary 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 and on May 16, 2023, the Senate approved an additional release of $128,620 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
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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
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SUMMARY OF BUDGET
| Activity 1: Fact-finding mission to Rome, Italy | $ | 134,764 | ||
| TOTAL | $ | 134,764 |
The above budget was approved by the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry on Thursday, May 11, 2023.
The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.
| Date | Président du Comité sénatorial permanent de l’agriculture et des forêts ROBERT BLACK 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 — $299,604
Estimate of the total cost of the special study — $314,483
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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: Global Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy (Summer 2023) | ||||||
| FACT-FINDING | ||||||
| 6 participants: 4 senators, 2 staff (1 clerk and 1 analyst) | ||||||
| TRANSPORTATION, ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES | ||||||
| 1. | Transportation - air | 74,600 | ||||
| 4 senators x $16,000 (0224) | ||||||
| 2 staff x $5,300 (0227) | ||||||
| 2. | Hotel accommodation | 34,440 | ||||
| 4 senators, $820/night, 7 nights (0222) | ||||||
| 2 staff, $820/night, 7 nights (0226) | ||||||
| 3. | Per diem | 11,124 | ||||
| 4 senators, $206/day, 9 days (0221) | ||||||
| 2 staff, $206/day, 9 days (0225) | ||||||
| 4. | Taxis | 5,400 | ||||
| 4 senators x $900 (0223) | ||||||
| 2 staff x $900 (0232) | ||||||
| 5. | Charter bus (0228) | 7,200 | ||||
| (3 days, $2,400/day) | ||||||
| Sub-total | $132,764 | |||||
| ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES | ||||||
| OTHER | ||||||
| 1. | Miscellaneous costs associated with travel (0229) | 2,000 | ||||
| Sub-total | $2,000 | |||||
| Total of Activity 1 | $134,764 | |||||
| Grand Total | $134,764 | |||||
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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, June 1, 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: Rome, Italy | $ | 134,764 | ||
| TOTAL | $ | 134,764 |
(includes funds for a fact-finding mission and 4 senators to travel, and is conditional on the committee taking steps to ensure that overall expenditures for this activity are reduced by 35%)
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