SASK. PARTY ADMITS TO ALLOWING BIG OUT-OF-PROVINCE REAL ESTATE TRUST AND INVESTMENT FUNDS TO BUY UP SASKATCHEWAN FARMLAND

Sask NDP Call on the Sask Party Government to Step Up and Act To Prevent Investment Funds And Trusts From Buying Saskatchewan Farmland, Especially as Monette Farms’ Assets Hit Market
REGINA – Carla Beck's team is calling out the Sask. Party after Scott Moe’s Agriculture Minister admitted the government is allowing big, out-of-province real estate investment trusts and funds to buy up, consolidate and speculate Saskatchewan farmland.

For example, the Sask. Party government admitted when facing questioning in committee that they gave a greenlight to Avenue Living — a large Alberta real estate trust that owns more than 80,000 acres of Saskatchewan farmland.

“For 20 years, this government has been soft on illegal foreign land ownership, and they’ve been allowing large out-of-province investment trusts and funds to buy up and consolidate Saskatchewan farmland,” said Trent Wotherspoon, Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Finance & Deputy Agriculture Shadow Minister.

“Farming is the backbone of Saskatchewan’s economy, and this government should be committed to ensuring fairness and opportunity for producers.”

The government also revealed in estimates that multiple other trusts and investment funds have been allowed to buy up Saskatchewan farmland but refused to provide names, the number of investment entities or the total number of acres owned.

Last month, the government also refused to support legislation from Wotherspoon to crack down on illegal foreign farmland ownership including by upping fines from $1,000 and $50,000 to $1 million for individuals and $500,000 for corporations to $10 million.

The Saskatchewan NDP is highlighting that it's particularly important for the government to crack down and act as very large amounts of farmland will likely be hitting the market with the creditor protection process of Monette Farms.

“As a very large amount of land is about to hit the market, this Sask. Party government must step up, crack down and act to protect the interests of and ensure fairness for producers and multi-generational farms and not allow this land to be bought up and consolidated by investment trusts and funds, or illegal foreign ownership,” said Wotherspoon.

“This government has downplayed the very real concerns of producers for far too long. Clearly, it’s long past time to stand up for Saskatchewan producers and ensure fairness and opportunity. It’s time for change.”

Carla Beck’s team is calling on the Moe government to immediately disclose which investment trusts and funds own Saskatchewan farmland and how many acres they own.

-30-

Latest posts

SASK. PARTY REFUSES TO PASS MORE THAN 20 BILLS FROM CARLA BECK’S TEAM THAT WOULD MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE, FIX HEALTHCARE & MORE

Scott Moe Continues To Downplay Cost-Of-Living Crisis As Saskatchewan People Report Highest Financial Anxiety In Canada
REGINA – As the Spring Session comes to an end, Scott Moe and the Sask. Party are refusing to pass more than 20 bills from Carla Beck’s team that would make life more affordable, bring needed changes to healthcare and so much more.

RURAL COMMUNITIES WARN HUNDREDS OF CHILDCARE SPACES COULD BE LOST UNDER SCOTT MOE’S CHILDCARE AGREEMENT

Sask. NDP Join Childcare Operators and Municipal Leaders Calling For Immediate Pause And Review As Funding Shortfalls Threaten Closures
REGINA — Carla Beck’s team alongside municipal leaders and childcare operators is calling on the Sask. Party government to go back to the drawing board on their failing childcare funding model which they say puts hundreds of critical childcare spaces at risk – particularly in rural communities already struggling with limited access.

FIRE JEREMY HARRISON, TOSS THE CATASTROPHIC COAL PLAN IN THE TRASH AND START ALL OVER: BECK

Saskatchewan People Can’t Afford $26 Billion Disaster That Will Drown Them In Debt And Double Rate Hikes
REGINA — Carla Beck is calling on Scott Moe to fire his out of control SaskPower Minister, toss the catastrophic, $26-billion coal plan in the trash and go back to the drawing board.

CARLA BECK'S TEAM INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO FORCE MOE GOVERNMENT TO DISCLOSE ALL PRIVATE HEALTHCARE CONTRACTS

Taxpayers Deserve To Know Whose Making Money Delivering Healthcare In Crumbling System
REGINA - As the Scott Moe government increasingly funnels record amounts of public money into for-profit healthcare, Carla Beck’s team is introducing legislation to ensure taxpayers aren’t being ripped off.