Ottawa-Federal government support for building more new homes could threaten the country’s supply of high-quality farmland, says Ontario Senator Rob Black.

Speaking in the Senate, Black said that while it may seem convenient to build on these lands, using up more farmland will weaken our ability to remain a food sovereign nation and feed our country, let alone the world.

“We are rapidly losing prime farmland to urbanization and the development of housing and infrastructure. Once the farmland is gone, it’s gone. Our land is valuable, and we need to protect it.”

He said the government should explain how it will fulfill its promises for housing while also prioritizing the protection of these diminishing agricultural lands we need to feed our country.

“The Liberal government has made clear their intention to build more housing to solve Canada’s housing crisis. However, along with the agricultural industry, I’m concerned that these commitments will be fulfilled by building homes on prime agricultural land that is already becoming scarce across this country.”

Senator Marc Gold, the Government Representative in the Senate, said Black’s question “is an important one.”

The government has a serious and multipronged plan to help get more homes built, whether that iss building affordable homes in the role of a developer, cutting GST for first-time homebuyers or cutting municipal development charges in half for multiunit builds. That initiative builds on the Housing Accelerator Fund and agreements with nearly 200 communities across this country.

At the same time, the protection of agricultural lands is a critically important issue for the health and well-being of Canada and its economy, Gold said. But land use designation falls within provincial jurisdiction. “This is an issue all levels of government are seized with, and the federal government is doing its part within its jurisdiction.”

Black said building more homes “should not affect the ability to produce food, fibre and fuel.” The government must take into account and prioritize the protection of prime agricultural land and the inherent health of Canada’s soil in all future development plans.

Gold thanked Black for the question and the soil health report the Senate agriculture committee released a year ago. “I certainly will bring these concerns to the attention of the minister so that the federal government also keeps this in mind as it pursues its work in this area.”

This news item prepared for National Newswatch