Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I really do thank all of our witnesses for helping to guide our committee through this study.
Mr. MacLeod, I'd like to start with you.
Australia, by June of this year, is going to initiate a national soil strategy action plan that is going to commit the country to a 20-year course. That strategy is going to involve increased soil advocacy and extension services. They're going to try to improve soil monitoring and data sharing. They want to increase investment in soil research and development. They want to improve the communication and collaboration among researchers, landholders, industry, government, first nations peoples and educators. They want to give greater support to land managers to change practices to improve soil health, and they also want to increase focus on education, training and accreditation career paths for soil professionals.
First of all, what is your reaction to what Australia is doing? They have a federal system like ours. They have their national government in Canberra and they have state governments. Do you think that's an example that Canada could do well to follow?