Bill S-230: An Act respecting the development of a national strategy for soil health protection, conservation and enhancement

Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the National Strategy for Soil Health Act . Interpretation Definitions 2 The following definitions apply in this Act. Indigenous governing body means a council, government or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, community or people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 .  (corps dirigeant autochtone ) Minister means the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. ( ministre ) National Strategy — Soil Health Protection, Conservation and Enhancement Development of national strategy 3 (1) The Minister must develop, in collaboration with the Minister of the Environment, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Indigenous Services, the Minister of Natural Resources and any other relevant Ministers, a national strategy to support and promote efforts across Canada to protect, conserve, and enhance soil health, including with a view to achieving resilient and healthy soils across Canada. Collaboration with other levels of government (2) The Minister must provide representatives of provincial governments responsible for agriculture and agri-food, Indigenous governing bodies and municipal governments with an opportunity to collaborate in the development of the national strategy. Public consultation (3) In developing the national strategy, the Minister must also engage in a public consultation process with (a) stakeholders; (b) Indigenous and non-Indigenous representatives of agricultural industry and organizations; and (c) any interested persons. Views of farmers (4) The Minister must ensure that the views of farmers representing different regions of Canada and the diversity of farm operations are taken into account in a meaningful way during the consultations referred to in subsection (3). Content — policy and legislative measures 4 (1) The national strategy must identify policy and legislative measures, including measures to (a) recognize soil as a strategic national asset and as a resource that is essential to domestic and international food security; and (b) protect, conserve and enhance the capacity of soils across Canada to produce food, fibre and fuel in a manner that is both sustainable and profitable. Content — knowledge improvement measures (2) The national strategy must provide for measures to improve knowledge, including measures to facilitate (a) the analysis of the status of Canada’s soils, including in respect of degradation, structure, compaction, available nutrients, productivity, soil contamination and soil ecology, as well as stable carbon; and (b) the gathering of data and the monitoring of indicators on soil health, including in respect of carbon content and sequestration potential, the establishment of water-stable soil aggregation and available water-holding capacity. Content — education and information measures (3) The national strategy must provide for measures to support education and training and the sharing of information, including measures to (a) encourage use of effective management practices, including through (i) research programs that help to develop and apply sustainable soil practices, (ii) education and training in soil health for agricultural producers and professionals, (iii) knowledge transfer and technical assistance to agricultural producers and soil health managers, and (iv) Indigenous stewardship and conservation practices and Indigenous knowledge of the soil; (b) promote the sharing of information with all Canadians on the importance of healthy soil and the direct impact it has on their lives; and (c) improve communication and sharing of soil knowledge, including through the development of a national soil information system. Content — National Advocate for Soil Health, targets, timelines and resources (4) The national strategy must also include recommendations related to (a) the appointment of a National Advocate for Soil Health; and (b) the development of appropriate targets, associated timelines and the resources necessary for soil health protection, conservation and enhancement. Reports to Parliament Tabling of national strategy 5 (1) Within two years after the day on which this Act comes into force, the Minister must prepare a report setting out the national strategy and must cause it to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after it is completed. Publication (2) The Minister must publish the report on the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food website within 10 days after the day on which it is tabled in Parliament. Review and report 6 (1) Within three years after the report referred to in section 5 has been tabled in both Houses of Parliament, and every three years after that, the Minister must, in collaboration with the parties referred to in subsections 3(1) and (2), prepare a report setting out (a) the measures from the national strategy that have been implemented and the effectiveness of these measures; (b) with respect to any measures included in the national strategy that have not been implemented, the reasons why they have not been implemented and the timeline for doing so; and (c) any updates, other conclusions or recommendations about the strategy. Tabling (2) The Minister must cause this report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed. Publication (3) The Minister must publish the report and subsequent reports on the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food website within 10 days after the day on which it is tabled in Parliament.