Rob Black’s soil legislation gets first reading
OTTAWA – Guelph Liberal MP Dominique O’Rourke presented the first reading of Fergus Senator Robert Black’s soil health legislation in Ottawa on Earth Day, April 22.
Black first tabled Bill S-230, A National Strategy for Soil Health Act, in the Red Chamber last year.
It’s the second bill Black has introduced, following the successful Food Day in Canada Act, which came into law in 2023 and marks the Saturday of the August long weekend as Food Day in Canada each year.
His latest bill calls for the development of policy and legislation to protect soil.
“It’s developing that strategy about what actions, what processes need to be put in place to ensure we can protect our soil,” Black previously told the Advertiser.
“The strategy is the first step that would develop the action plan.”
The bill also lays the groundwork for appointing a national soils advocate to advance messaging around soil health across Canada.
“This bill aligns national policy with the cutting-edge work our farmers and researchers are already leading,” O’Rourke stated in the release.
“I am pleased to be able to support the work of Senator Black, the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and work collaboratively to raise awareness of the importance of soil health and the conservation of our soil.”
