THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Tuesday, February 3, 2026
(18)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 6:31 p.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, Muggli, Robinson and Sorensen (7).
Participating in the meeting: Joanne Markle LaMontagne, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 20, 2025, the committee began its consideration of Bill S-230, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy for soil health protection, conservation and enhancement.
WITNESSES:
The Honourable Senator Robert Black, sponsor of the bill.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada:
Sophie Beecher, Director General, Sustainable Development Policy Directorate;
Kevin Norris, Director, Resilient Agriculture Policy Division.
Natural Resources Canada:
Dominic St-Pierre, Director General, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service;
Eric Loubier, Director General, Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation, Geoscience and Earth Monitoring Sector.
The Honourable Senator Black made a statement.
The Honourable Senator Burey moved that the Honourable Senator Robinson do take the chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 6:35 p.m., the Honourable Senator Robinson took the chair.
The Honourable Senator Robinson made a statement.
The Honourable Senator Black made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:14 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:17 p.m., the committee resumed.
Sophie Beecher and Dominic St-Pierre each made a statement and, together with Eric Loubier and Kevin Norris, answered questions.
At 8:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Barbara Reynolds
Clerk of the Committee