Hon. Robert Black: Thank you, honourable colleague, for the question and for your dedicated work on the Agriculture and Forestry Committee. And thank you for your important statement earlier today.

Fellow senators, as has been noted, food security is on the terms of reference for the Senate Agriculture Committee’s study on soil health. Canadians and the world know and appreciate the hard work of farmers, producers and processors to keep food on our tables three times a day. The connection between soil health and food security continues to be raised by our members and by the witnesses we have heard from during our meetings. I do as well hope, though, to see the Senate approve an additional study on food security at some point in the future.

I want to give a shout-out to our colleagues on the Agriculture Committee in the other place, who completed a succinct and effective study on food security last month. I would encourage you to check that out. It notes correcting labour shortages, increasing support for local and regional food systems and protecting and monitoring Canada’s vast grasslands and wetlands as key supports that the government can do.

I do appreciate the question, senator, and hope to continue to speak about food security in the committee and here in the Senate Chamber. Thank you very much.

Hon. Sharon Burey: I rise today to ask a question of the Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.

Senator Black, as Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, I want to commend you and your committee and, indeed, the Senate for undertaking its critical study on soil health. After all, soil health is human health.

As part of the terms of reference for this study, food security is an area of focus. Given our recent experiences during the pandemic of food shortages and supply chain problems, and the continued dramatic increases in the cost of food, my question, Senator Black, is this: Is the committee considering doing a study on food security following the completion of its study on soil health?