THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, October 9, 2025
(5)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 8 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, Martin, McBean, McNair, Miville-Dechêne, Muggli, Robinson and Varone (9).

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

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the committee continued its study on the growing issue of wildfires in Canada and the consequential effects that wildfires have on forestry and agriculture industries, as well as rural and Indigenous communities, throughout the country.

WITNESSES:

Canadian Climate Institute:

Ryan Ness, Research Director on Adaptation (by videoconference).

FireRein Inc.:

Wayne Maddever, Chief Executive Officer (by videoconference);

David Hyndman, Chief Science Officer (by videoconference).

Bioindustrial Innovation Canada:

Meaghan Seagrave, Executive Director (by videoconference).

As an individual:

Blair Feltmate, Head, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo.

Blair Feltmate and Ryan Ness each made a statement and answered questions.

At 8:59 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 9:02 a.m., the committee resumed.

Wayne Maddever and Meaghan Seagrave each made a statement and, together with David Hyndman, answered questions.

At 9:58 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Catlin Seibel-Kamél

Clerk of the Committee