QUESTION PERIOD — Infrastructure and Communities
Use of Agricultural Lands
June 4, 2025
Senator Gold, as you’re aware, the Liberal government has made clear their intention to build more housing to solve Canada’s housing crisis. However, along with the agricultural industry, I’m concerned that these commitments will be fulfilled by building homes on prime agricultural land that is already becoming scarce across this country. Although it may seem convenient to build on these lands, using up more farmland will weaken our ability to remain a food sovereign nation and feed our country, let alone the world.
We are rapidly losing prime farmland to urbanization and the development of housing and infrastructure. Once the farmland is gone, it’s gone. Our land is valuable, and we need to protect it. Senator Gold, could you please explain how the government intends to fulfill their promises for housing while also prioritizing the protection of these diminishing agricultural lands we need to feed our country?
Thank you for your question. It is an important one. As I have said on many occasions, this government has a serious and multipronged plan to do its part to get more homes built, whether that’s building affordable homes in the role of a developer, cutting GST for first-time homebuyers or cutting municipal development charges in half for multiunit builds. That initiative builds on the Housing Accelerator Fund and agreements with nearly 200 communities across this country.
Having said all of that, senator, as you know, the protection of agricultural lands is a critically important issue for the health and well-being of Canada and our economy, but land use designation falls within provincial jurisdiction, with the exception, of course, of Crown land. This is an issue all levels of government are seized with, and the federal government is doing its part within its jurisdiction. Thank you for raising this question.
Thank you, Senator Gold. I understand the need to build homes and infrastructure to support our growing population. However, such development should not affect the ability to produce food, fibre and fuel. Will you ensure the government takes into account and prioritizes the protection of prime agricultural land and the inherent health of our soil in all future development plans?
Thank you for your question and also, if I may, for the important work that the committee which you chaired did regarding the importance of soil health for our environment and our economy.
Again, please forgive the constitutional lawyer in me underlining that this is largely a matter of provincial jurisdiction. I certainly will bring these concerns to the attention of the minister so that the federal government also keeps this in mind as it pursues its work in this area.
