SASK. PARTY AG MINISTER REFUSES TO TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION ON FOREIGN FARMLAND OWNERSHIP

Saskatchewan NDP Commits To Addressing Issue As Agriculture Minister Remains In Hiding, Writing Nonsense Letter

REGINA – The Sask. Party Agriculture Minister has stayed in hiding, refusing to take meaningful action on the issue of illegal foreign farmland ownership despite widespread concerns from producers, rural municipal representatives and the Provincial Auditor.

On Friday, Saskatchewan NDP Deputy Agriculture Shadow Minister Trent Wotherspoon demanded in a letter that Agriculture Minister Darryl Harrison bring forward a plan for real, meaningful action by 1 p.m. Monday. That time has come and gone.

‘’The Minister would rather write pathetic, nonsense-filled letters to shut down the very serious concerns of producers,’ Wotherspoon said. ‘’Well, we won’t stop. We will keep fighting for producers and a bright future for agriculture in Saskatchewan.

‘’I will continue to work with producers, ag and producer organizations and people to push for action on their serious concerns over the lack of oversight on foreign farmland transactions. They see this government’s inaction. We will continue to push them to do their job. We pledge action when we form government in 2028 or sooner.

‘’We build a bright future by protecting Saskatchewan and Canadian producers and agriculture. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do.’’

Provincial Auditor Tara Clemett found the Farm Land Security Board reviews approximately 40,000 farmland transactions each year with a staff of just six people working through the Ministry of Agriculture. Her investigation found reviews typically occurred five months after land sales had closed and, in 50 per cent of the reviewed cases, the board never requested the legally required ownership declarations from corporations registered outside Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan NDP commits to implementing the following changes when it forms government:

Properly resourcing the Farmland Security Board and ensuring it has the teeth required to review, investigate and enforce the law;
Beefing up fines for farmland transaction violations to a level where they serve as an actual deterrent, not a slap on the wrist;
Reviewing, auditing and enforcing forced divestiture of land acquired and owned illegally by foreign entities that breached the law and causing forfeiture of profit;
Through consultation with the legal and agricultural community, ensure the statutory declarations in the transaction process are mandatory and contain the information needed to effectively and efficiently review and enforce the law, such as proof of residency, statement of beneficial interests, ownership and capital.

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