APAS LAYS OUT FOREIGN FARMLAND OWNERSHIP CONCERNS IN COMPREHENSIVE LETTER TO SASK. PARTY

Sask. Party Has Been Soft on Foreign Farmland Ownership: Wotherspoon

REGINA – The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) is sounding the alarm and calling for immediate action from the Sask. Party government on the issue of illegal foreign farmland ownership.

In a letter sent Thursday to Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison, APAS warns of “systematic challenges to farmland ownership” in Saskatchewan, as well as suspicions of “indirect forms of foreign ownership, including corporate structures and financial instruments”.

‎

“For 18 years, the Sask. Party has been soft on illegal foreign farmland ownership,” said Trent Wotherspoon, Saskatchewan NDP Associate Shadow Minister for Agriculture.

‎

“The loopholes in the government's approach to this issue are so wide you can drive a combine through. The Sask. Party needs to stop telling producers that they are wrong and start closing the loopholes.”

‎

APAS says that the “current regulations and enforcement measures require significant strengthening,” including through a lease registration system, stronger penalties and enforcement, monitoring corporate entities, audits of ownership records, and compliance declarations.

‎

The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the Sask. Party government to stop dismissing the serious concerns of producers and immediately step up to work with producers and act with the reforms, resources and measures that will enforce the law and crack down on illegal foreign farmland ownership.

‎

“Saskatchewan producers are world leaders and the backbone of our province,” said Wotherspoon. “This is about ensuring a bright future for producers in Saskatchewan – so many multigenerational farms and ranches - and agriculture in our province.”

‎

-30-

Latest posts

KEVIN WEEDMARK REFUNDS TAXPAYERS FOR JOURNALISM GRANT HIS PAPER RECEIVED

KEVIN WEEDMARK REFUNDS TAXPAYERS FOR JOURNALISM GRANT HIS PAPER RECEIVED The Moosomin-Montmartre MLA Continues Hiding From Media As Questions Grow

REGINA – Today, more questions about embattled MLA Kevin Weedmark have been raised following the release of an article from Grasslands News about his privately owned and operated newspaper, The World Spectator.

BRIGHTON RESIDENTS LEFT IN THE DARK: CARLA BECK'S TEAM CALLS OUT MLA KEN CHEVELDAYOFF OVER PHANTOM SCHOOLS

SASKATOON— Carla Beck's team, joined by local Brighton resident Dr. Sarah Chomicki, is calling on Scott Moe to fulfill his government's broken promises and immediately get to work on a neighborhood school for the rapidly growing community of Brighton.

NEW DATA SHOWS THAT SASKATCHEWAN HAS THE HIGHEST CHILD FOOD BANK USAGE IN CANADA

Beck Commits To School Nutrition Program, Doing All She Can To End Child Poverty
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is sounding the alarms on new data showing more children in Saskatchewan are forced to rely on the food bank than anywhere else in Canada.

CARLA BECK GOVERNMENT WOULD RESTORE DIRECT-TO-LANDLORD RENT PAYMENTS AS MOOSE JAW FACES RISING HOMELESSNESS

More Affordable Housing, Rent Control Also Part Of Plan Being Developed By Beck’s Team
MOOSE JAW – Carla Beck’s team is in Moose Jaw today committing that, should they form the next provincial government, her team will restore direct-to-landlord rent payments for Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) clients.

NDP Caucus Office