🍁 civid v1

Purpose and status

• Bill S-230 would require the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to develop a national strategy to protect, conserve and enhance soil health across Canada.
• The source identifies the bill as passed by the Senate on March 26, 2026, and lists its stage as first reading.

Developing the strategy

• The minister must collaborate with the ministers responsible for the environment, health, Indigenous services and natural resources, as well as other relevant ministers.
• Provincial agriculture representatives, Indigenous governing bodies and municipal governments must be given an opportunity to collaborate.
• The minister must consult stakeholders, Indigenous and non-Indigenous agricultural industry and organization representatives, and interested persons. Farmers’ views must be meaningfully considered across regions and types of farm operations.

Required content

• The strategy must identify policy and legislative measures to recognize soil as a strategic national asset and protect its sustainable and profitable capacity to produce food, fibre and fuel.
• It must provide for improved soil analysis, data collection and monitoring; education, training and information-sharing; research and technical assistance; and Indigenous stewardship practices and soil knowledge.
• It must address improved communication and soil knowledge-sharing, including through a national soil information system.
• It must recommend whether and how to appoint a National Advocate for Soil Health, and address targets, timelines and necessary resources. The bill does not itself appoint an advocate or set those targets and resources.

Reporting and deadlines

• Within two years after the Act comes into force, the minister must prepare a report setting out the strategy. It must be tabled in each House of Parliament within the first 15 sitting days after completion and published online within 10 days after tabling.
• Within three years after the strategy report is tabled in both Houses, and every three years thereafter, the minister must prepare a review report with the specified collaborators. It must describe implementation and effectiveness, explain unimplemented measures and their timelines, and provide updates or recommendations. The same tabling and publication deadlines apply.

Existing law and costs

• The text does not specify amendments to existing legislation, a budget or funding amounts. It requires the strategy to make recommendations about necessary resources, but does not itself require every strategy measure to be implemented.