The Honourable Rob Black, Senator for Ontario, has tabled and spoken to his Inquiry in the Senate of Canada regarding land use in Canada.

As chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (AGFO), as well as an ‘AGvocate’ forthe industry, Black has noted many times that protecting valuable soils, and prime agricultural and forest land isessential to Canada’s food supply chains, economy, and environment. In his tabling speech, Black noted a seriousconcern for Canada’s valuable farmlands slowly being reduced.

In the ongoing AGFO soil health study, the statistics, data compilation and research presented has illustrated notonly the issues facing Canadian soil but also the fact that urban sprawl and land-use planning is adding to the degradation of farmlands and contributing to the loss of prime agricultural land across the country.

While land-use planning falls under provincial jurisdiction in Canada “it is imperative that we protect our farmlands and production capacities. We need to cohesively collaborate amongst federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to address the challenges we face in securing our food supply, both domestically and globally.” SaidBlack. “This collaboration will also help with future land planning, development and urban sprawl.”

Discussions on land use have continued to grow in the face of a booming population and the increaseddemand for housing. Black remains optimistic that these needs can be fulfilled alongside support for, andprotection of, Canadian agriculture. He looks forward to hearing discussion by his Senate of Canada colleagues ashis Inquiry progresses over the coming months.

Source:  Senate of Canada October 5, 2023 news release