Hon. Robert Black: Honourable senators, on the heels of a very successful seventh Canada’s Agriculture Day, it is my pleasure to rise today in the Senate of Canada to share with you that 4-H Canada is hosting its fiftieth annual Citizenship Congress. Obviously, there were a few hiccups through the last few years with COVID, but for 50 years now countless members have come together in Ottawa to learn about citizenship and government. Certainly in the face of challenges and changes over those 50 years, the team at 4-H Canada has continued to be resilient, intuitive and include innovation in their programming.

This week, 4-H Canada youth delegates from coast to coast to coast are gathered in Ottawa to continue to build their skills in teamwork, communications, collaboration, leadership and problem solving. The organization continues to hone these important life, personal and work skills in each and every member through all the programs they offer.

Developed in 1972 to bring together 4-H members, the Citizenship Congress welcomes 55 delegates to Ottawa this week. I wish them the very best of luck in the coming days as they participate in many important events. Their hard work and determination continue to inspire many people, including myself.

For your information, the culmination event will take place on Sunday at noon when they will enter into this chamber and debate the following:

Be it resolved that the Government of Canada hold online [social media] platforms accountable for the [hate-speech/misinformation] postings of its users.

They will prepare for that debate throughout the course of the next few days, and I look forward to hearing the debate that day.

These members and those all across Canada represent our future, the future of Canadian agriculture and that of our urban and rural communities. Honourable colleagues, I can assure you the future is bright.

I will be particularly interested in welcoming three individuals from Ontario: Annalise Lilbourne, Caitlin McKercher, Ethan Russell and their chaperone Judy Hall when I see the group this evening at the parliamentary reception in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building.

Colleagues, I invite you to join me to meet these amazing young people and many other 4-H Canada representatives this evening. Thank you, meegwetch.

Hon. Robert Black, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, presented the following report:

Thursday, February 16, 2023

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry has the honour to present its

EIGHTH REPORT

Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, to examine and report on the status of soil health in Canada, respectfully requests funds for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, and requests, for the purpose of such study, that it be empowered to:

(a) to travel within Canada.

The original budget application submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the report thereon of that committee were printed in the Journals of the Senate on June 9, 2022. On June 9, 2022, the Senate approved the release of $21,826 to the Committee.

Pursuant to Chapter 3:05, section 2(1)(c) of the Senate Administrative Rules, the budget submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the report thereon of that committee are appended to this report.

Respectfully submitted,

ROBERT BLACK

Chair

(For text of budget, see today’s Journals of the Senate, p. 1270.)