Senator Rob Black knows how to roll up his sleeves and get to work — literally.

When he’s not in the Red Chamber, the senator from rural Ontario can often be spotted at county fairs, wielding a pitchfork to move hay, planting pumpkins or driving plows.

The chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry is a proud and lifelong agricultural advocate — or “ag-vocate” as he calls it. Through his committee work and throughout summer months, he has visited farms across the country to examine the effects of climate change and carbon pricing on agriculture and Canada’s value-added food sector. Now he’s digging into a Senate study on Canadian soil conditions.

He sat down with SenCAplus to talk about his work supporting agricultural groups, and his family’s long farming history.

You were appointed to the Senate in 2018 because of your strong background working with agricultural and rural communities. How did farming become such an important part of your life?

I was born and raised on a farm in Fergus, Ontario. Our family farmed cattle, sheep, pigs and mixed crops. Then I went to the University of Guelph to study agriculture. I always had working in the agriculture sector in the back of my mind.

How did your previous experience working with agricultural organizations — such as 4-H, Junior Farmers and the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program — prepare you for the Senate?

I wouldn’t be in the Senate were it not for my involvement in 4-H. I was a 4-H member and leader, I coordinated 4-H programs in several Ontario counties and I became the first executive director when the program turned into an independent not-for-profit organization. 4-H has been my life. But also, my experiences in Junior Farmers, the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program and just being an aggie at heart — it all informs my work as a senator. I’m delighted to be able to speak up for agriculture and rural communities in the Senate. I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity.

Who inspired you to get involved in public life?

My grandmother, Isabel Jane Gilder Black, was very active with several organizations in our community. She inspired me to get involved in our county council. But it was actually our son Tayler who encouraged me to pursue a Senate seat. We were at the supper table one night and Tayler said, “Dad, I think you should apply to become a senator.” So, I did, and look where I am today.

What is one thing most Canadians might not know about you?

I’m a history nut. I have travelled all over the world to learn more about my family history. My great-great-great-grandfather left Scotland in 1834 with 24 family members — his wife and 12 kids, some of whom were married with children — and came to Canada. They resettled in Fergus at the invitation of Adam Ferguson, the town’s founder.

My great-great-great-grandfather, who was a farmer, opened the first pub and hotel in Fergus because the village needed a place to stay. He was 57 years old when he arrived in Canada. You can imagine, at that time, moving across the world. He also built a house, which is still standing in Fergus.

What do you think are the biggest public policy issues facing Canada today?

Climate change is a big one and I look at it from an agricultural perspective. We must consider the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events, but we also need to look at it through a food security lens, which is another pressing policy issue. The agriculture sector is dependent on weather and climate to grow food, but it’s also facing other pressures, such as planning issues and soil health.

Why should more Canadians care about what happens in the Senate?

We wouldn’t have a country, as we know it today, without the bicameral system. The Senate provides a balance of power in Parliament. It’s a final checkpoint for legislation before bills become law. Senators are more independent and we’re more apt to push back and improve legislation. I think, now more than ever, that Canadians should engage with the Senate.

What legislative or committee work are you most proud of participating in so far?

I’m delighted, honoured and thrilled to be chair of the agriculture committee. That was a goal I set out for myself in 2018 when I was appointed. I’m also proud that the committee is going to undertake a soil study, which is something I have been advocating for four and a half years. The last soil study, Soil at Risk: Eroding Canada’s Future, was published in 1984. I’m told that this is the most requested Senate study in 150 years. It’s high time for a new one. In April 2022, the Senate adopted an order of reference for us to undertake a study on soil conditions and health. I am very much looking forward to the process. I think we have a lot of work to do, as Canadians, to make sure we have healthy soil to grow food and feed the world.

I’m also proud of the fact that I introduced Bill S-227, An Act to establish Food Day in Canada, building on the work of the late Anita Stewart. It has passed the Senate and it’s now in the House of Commons. I think it’s important to recognize the food we eat, from the farmer right through to the consumer and the process in between. That’s what Bill S-227 will do.

I’m also proud to be the chair of the Canadian Senators Group, which is a non-partisan group formed in 2019.

What is a hidden gem in your region that more Canadians need to know about?

The Elora Gorge is a spectacular conservation area that intersects with the Grand River, which flows down to Lake Erie. It’s always great to wander through there. Another one that I’ve discovered in the past few years is the Guelph to Goderich Rail Trail. It’s an old railway that has been converted to a 132-kilometre multipurpose trail. It’s a wonderful green space that has opened that area of Ontario.

Can you name a guilty pleasure song / album that always makes you smile and why?

I would say that I’m a country-western fan. I like anything by George Fox or Charley Pride. I love to dance and I can dance to both of those musicians with my wife.

What is the last book you read or movie you saw that you recommended to someone else and why?

I’m a voracious reader. Because of my interest in history, I like historical fiction. I would recommend Sisters of the Great War by Suzanne Feldman, Orphans of War by Leah Fleming or any book by Peter May.

Why are you proud to be Canadian?

We live in a wonderful country. Canada has so much to offer, from the delicious foods that we produce to our varied landscapes. In many parts of the country, it’s only a short drive from a city to a rural area.

Canada is a place where people demonstrate strength in adversity. We support each other. I think, for the most part, we have hope for the future, which is something we all need these days.

I am also proud, honoured and privileged to represent Ontario in the Senate. I know Canadians expect a lot from our representatives, so I try and do my utmost to make Canadians proud of the Senate.