Senator Rob Black

One of a senator’s most important roles is their work on committees. In fact, Muriel McQueen Fergusson, the first female Speaker of the Senate, described committee work as the “heart and soul” of the Senate. Senators serving on committees provide crucial oversight of proposed legislation and investigate matters of importance to Canadians.

Senate committees are made up of a group of senators from across group/party lines. The members work together to examine and improve legislation, and they undertake studies on issues of importance to Canadians.

Senator Black is currently the Chair of the Standing Senate Committees on Agriculture and Forestry. He is also a member of the Standing Senate Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament and the Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament.

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Senator Black's Committees

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

Senator Black's role on the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (AGFO) has been a very important part of his time as a senator so far. They have studied, among other things, Canada’s value-added food sector, supply management system, and several pieces of legislation.

In 2022, the AGFO committee undertook an 18-month study on the current state of soil health in Canada. In 2024, the committee tabled the report Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canda’s Economic, Environmental, Human and Social Health. This significant study discusses soil quality around the country, soil pollution and contamination, regenerative farming methods, soil health initiatives around the country and urgent need to take action and protect Canada’s soil now and for the future.

As Chair, Senator Black is looking forward to working with committee members to continue studying more topics impacting the agriculture and forestry sectors that are extremely important to the country’s future.

For more information about the committee, including its current members, its past studies and reports, and transcripts from meetings, visit the Senate’s AGFO page.