The Senate resolved into a Committee of the Whole in order to study the subject matter of Bill C-26, An Act to authorize certain payments to be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the purpose of improving housing supply.

Senator Muggli: My question relates to whether there has been consideration to require an agricultural impact assessment to establish land’s agricultural value before any federal department or agency disposes of Crown land located in an agricultural area or converts such land into non-agriculture use, that is, for housing, especially where the land is fit for food production. We are losing food-producing land, and with the geographic expansion of cities, how do we manage the intersection of the need to build homes and the need to keep agricultural land in food production?

Mr. Robertson: Thank you, senator. I appreciate you flagging that concern. As a former farmer on land that was protected in B.C. by the Agricultural Land Reserve, I would have never had the opportunity to have a career in farming and food, which led to food processing and, ultimately, to me being here today. I have a very direct and passionate connection to the points you raise.

I would love to follow up in terms of an agricultural impact assessment tied to federal tools to make sure there is a balanced approach. Many of the provinces and territories do not have a system like B.C., which has protected agricultural land for 50‑plus years. We’re certainly looking at every opportunity to put housing on federal land where it makes the most sense, but it should be sensitive to ensuring that we are not taking away valuable farmland in a time when food security is paramount.