THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, November 23, 2023
(59)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 8:58 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, Petitclerc and Simons (5).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senator McNair (1).

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:

Environment and Climate Change Canada:

Catherine Stewart, Ambassador for Climate Change (by videoconference);

Vincent Ngan, Assistant Deputy Minister, Climate Change Branch;

Judy Meltzer, Director General, Carbon Market Bureau, Environmental Protection Branch;

Kelly Torck, Acting Director General, Biodiversity Policy and Partnerships;

Lindsay Pratt, Director, Pollutant Inventories and Reporting, Science and Technology Branch;

Jackie Mercer, Program Manager, Offsets & Emissions Trading.

Deveron:

David MacMillan, President and Chief Executive Office (by videoconference).

Carbon Asset Solutions:

Robin Woodward, Director (by videoconference).

Écoboeuf:

Simon Lafontaine, Co-Founder (by videoconference).

Western Stock Growers’ Association:

William Newton, Governor (by videoconference).

Canadian Cattle Association:

Duane Thompson, Environment Committee Co-Chair (by videoconference);

Reynold Bergen, Science Director, Beef Cattle Research Council (by videoconference).

Biological Carbon Canada:

Don McCabe, Chair (by videoconference);

Graham Gilchrist, Chief Executive Officer (by videoconference).

Catherine Stewart, David MacMillan, Robin Woodward, Duane Thompson, Don MacCabe and Graham Gilchrist each made a statement and, together with Vincent Ngan, Judy Meltzer, Kelly Torck, Lindsay Pratt, Jackie Mercer and Reynold Bergen, answered questions.

At 10:52 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Ferda Simpson

Clerk of the Committee