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- Jun/6/23 5:50:00 p.m.
Hon. Senators: Question.
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 5:50:00 p.m.
Some Hon. Senators: No.
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 5:50:00 p.m.
Hon. Denise Batters: Therefore, honourable senators, in amendment, I move:
That the report be amended by adding the following at the end of proposed new rule 1-1(3):
“in order to facilitate the senator’s participation in proceedings in the Senate Chamber or in the committee room, as the case may be”.
Thank you.
[Translation]
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 5:50:00 p.m.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Are honourable senators ready for the question?
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 5:50:00 p.m.
Hon. Renée Dupuis: Would Senator Batters accept a question?
[English]
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 5:50:00 p.m.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion in amendment?
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 5:50:00 p.m.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Senator Dupuis, do you have a question?
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 5:50:00 p.m.
Hon. Robert Black moved the adoption of the report.
He said: Honourable senators, the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry is focused on ensuring it’s well positioned to provide a meaningful and well-rounded report on soil health to support Canadian farmers, producers and the world.
With food security, land use, biodiversity and environmental and agricultural health in mind, the committee looks to have a fulsome and in-depth perspective on soil health that will be as beneficial as the previous Senate report has been for nearly 40 years.
In order to do this, the committee finds that it is essential to meet with global counterparts in Rome as a greater opportunity to engage with experts on soil health from around the world. This fact-finding mission originates from an invitation extended to the Agriculture Committee from the deputy director of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, or UN FAO, to meet many international experts with the organization, which would be impossible to coordinate in a virtual method.
This will involve roundtable discussions as well as a mix of formal and informal meetings that will highlight the importance of global coordination on soil health programs and projects.
Honourable senators, as you know, I’m not one to lay idle, and I keep my schedule booked solid with meetings while also adhering to my responsibilities here in the chamber and in committee. This fact-finding mission will be no different. So to my colleagues travelling with me, we can look forward to a very busy schedule, packed full of meetings, tours and a soil conference as well.
Our Agriculture Committee has had consistent and meaningful discussions around this budgeted option. We understand that this is a large expenditure for Canadians. Soil health, however, is a global problem, and while the committee is working to travel throughout Canada to better understand soil health here, an international perspective will have vast benefits as well. We can learn from other experts, beyond Canada, and from our largest trading partners and allies. As I’ve alluded to earlier, we will also be attending the Global Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly where we’ll engage in meaningful discussions with leading stakeholders and experts on soil from around the world, who can, without a doubt, contribute to our understanding of soil health here in Canada.
Therefore, Madam Speaker, if it’s the will of the chamber, I hope that we can pass the report today so that our diligent committee support staff can begin making arrangements for this travel, expected to take place in mid-July. Thank you, meegwetch.
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 5:50:00 p.m.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: There is no agreement.
[Translation]
Accordingly, honourable senators, leave not having been granted, the sitting is suspended and I will leave the chair until eight o’clock.
(The sitting of the Senate was suspended.)
(The sitting of the Senate was resumed.)
[English]
On the Order:
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Black, seconded by the Honourable Senator Quinn, for the adoption of the eleventh report of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (Budget—examine and report on the status of soil health in Canada—power to travel), presented in the Senate on June 1, 2023.
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 8:00:00 p.m.
Hon. Ratna Omidvar moved the adoption of the report.
She said: Honourable senators, I feel that I’m stepping into sensitive territory here. The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology has put a request before the chamber that was approved by the steering committee of the Social Affairs Committee, by the Subcommittee on Senate Estimates and then by the Internal Economy Committee.
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 8:00:00 p.m.
Hon. Lucie Moncion: Would you take another question, Senator Black?
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 8:00:00 p.m.
The Hon. the Speaker: Are honourable senators ready for the question?
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 8:00:00 p.m.
The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 8:00:00 p.m.
The Hon. the Speaker: Are honourable senators ready for the question?
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 8:00:00 p.m.
Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Would Senator Black take another question?
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 8:00:00 p.m.
Some Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
- ORDERS OF THE DAY
- Social Affairs, Science and Technology
- Budget—Study on Issues Relating to Social Affairs, Science and Technology Generally—Thirteenth Report of Committee Adopted
- The Senate
- Motion to Call Upon the Government to Immediately Designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Terrorist Entity Adopted
- Hear
- Hear!
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- Jun/6/23 8:00:00 p.m.
Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond: I have a final question for Senator Black.
Thank you very much, Senator Black, for providing all of this information. I understand that if we adopt this report, it includes one condition: The overall expenditures for this activity will be reduced by 35%, which means that you cannot exceed $87,000 for the trip to Rome. Am I right that it is no longer $134,000 that would be authorized but, rather, a maximum of $87,000?
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 8:00:00 p.m.
Hon. Robert Black: Thank you for the question. As my honourable colleague knows, being a member of the Internal Economy Committee that is charged with approving travel requests, we were advised — as part of it, as you say — to seek reduced costs wherever possible. We were also advised to stay beyond the city boundaries in order to remain fiscally responsible and keep the costs lower for Canadians. I remain aware of the expense to taxpayers, and we will do our best to limit costs.
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- Jun/6/23 8:00:00 p.m.
Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.
- Hear!
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- Jun/6/23 8:00:00 p.m.
An Hon. Senator: On division.
(Motion agreed to, on division.)
On the Order:
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Simons, calling the attention of the Senate to the challenges and opportunities that Canadian municipalities face, and to the importance of understanding and redefining the relationships between Canada’s municipalities and the federal government.
- Hear!
- Rabble!