Whereas the agricultural sector of Huron County depends on the health of the soils in Huron County;
And Whereas soil erosion poses a very significant threat to the long-term health of the soils in Huron County;
And Whereas the Town of Goderich owns some agricultural land which is an asset for the Town;
And Whereas the Town of Goderich is committed to protecting the assets of the Town from preventable harm;
And Whereas the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry published a report in 2024 titled "Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada's Economic, Environmental, Human and Social Health" (the Report) that contained twenty-five (25) recommendations in total for the federal government;
And Whereas, Recommendation 7 of Critical Ground stated that "The Government of Canada encourage provinces, territories, and municipalities to develop measures—as a form of land use planning—that best preserve and protect agricultural land in their jurisdictions;"
Therefore, be it resolved that the Town of Goderich urge the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario to commit to recognizing a sense of urgency and act accordingly in order to protect and conserve soil as per Recommendation 25;
And Further That this motion be circulated to the following parties:
Robert Black, Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
All local municipalities within Huron County
Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs
Todd McCarthy, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks
Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness
Ben Lobb, Huron-Bruce MP
Julie Dabrusin, Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Heath MacDonald, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development