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National Strategy for Soil Health Act

An Act respecting the development of a national strategy for soil health protection, conservation and enhancement

Summary

  • Requires the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, working with other federal ministers, provinces/territories, municipalities, and Indigenous governing bodies, to develop a national strategy to protect, conserve, and enhance soil health across Canada.
  • The strategy must outline policy and legislative options, support research and data sharing, and include education, training, and information-sharing initiatives to improve soil management.
  • Mandates public consultations and clear timelines: the initial strategy must be tabled in Parliament within two years, with progress reviews and updated reports every three years, all published online.
  • Aims to strengthen agricultural resilience and productivity and improve environmental outcomes such as carbon sequestration, water efficiency, and reduced soil degradation.

Builder Assessment

Vote Yes

Overall, the bill aligns with Build Canada’s tenets by strengthening the foundations of agricultural productivity, resilience, and export potential, though it is primarily a planning instrument. Its ultimate growth impact depends on execution details, funding, and whether it catalyzes market-driven innovation rather than adding bureaucracy.

  • Strengths: foundational natural capital focus, clear links to productivity and exports, and support for research/education that can spur innovation.
  • Weaknesses: no concrete incentives, funding, or deregulatory measures; risk of added administrative overhead; lacks measurable growth targets.
  • To strengthen alignment: set measurable yield/export targets; include performance-based funding and targeted tax credits for regenerative/precision practices; harmonize regulations to reduce red tape; standardize soil data and monitoring; link strategy to trade promotion and agri-infrastructure; fast-track approvals for proven soil amendments.

Question Period Cards

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Principles Analysis

Canada should aim to be the world's most prosperous country.

Healthier soils underpin a more productive, resilient agriculture sector, supporting long-run prosperity and food security.

Promote economic freedom, ambition, and breaking from bureaucratic inertia (reduce red tape).

It creates a planning and reporting framework; whether it streamlines or adds bureaucracy depends on how the strategy is executed.

Drive national productivity and global competitiveness.

Improved soil health can raise yields, reduce input losses, and enhance resilience, boosting farm productivity and competitiveness.

Grow exports of Canadian products and resources.

More reliable, higher-quality crop output supports export growth and strengthens Canada’s reputation in global agri-food markets.

Encourage investment, innovation, and resource development.

Emphasis on research, data, education, and knowledge-sharing can accelerate adoption of innovative agronomic and ag-tech practices.

Deliver better public services at lower cost (government efficiency).

National coordination might reduce duplication, but new reporting obligations add administrative costs; net efficiency impact is unclear.

Reform taxes to incentivize work, risk-taking, and innovation.

No tax measures are included.

Focus on large-scale prosperity, not incrementalism.

A national strategy is system-level in scope but lacks concrete, large-scale actions or targets; outcomes hinge on future implementation.

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PartySenate
StatusAt second reading in the Senate
Last updatedJun 10, 2025
TopicsEnvironmental Policy
Parliament45