Regina, SK–Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan under Leader Rose Buscholl is proposing limiting farmland ownership of international and out of province investor.
“Farmland is Saskatchewan’s most strategic resource. It is our primary renewable generator of wealth and growth,” stated Buscholl. “Accordingly, we must continue to safeguard our control over this resource by maintaining our legislated framework of protection under The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act and adapting it where necessary to new challenges. Let’s protect our provincial interests rather than give it all away like ‘ladies night’ shots at a dive bar.”
As of 2015, almost a million acres of Saskatchewan farmland is under “investor” ownership. More modern numbers are hard curiously hard to come by. Further, the largest privately held farm, consisting of over 225,000 acres, is controlled by an out of province entity. Numbers are harder to come by since muddying the waters of outright ownership.
To aid in the process of ensuring that land continues to be available to Saskatchewan farm and ranch families, the P.C. Party proposes change the structure of the Farmland Security Board to consist of seven members:
- Only 1 elected from government. This person would chair the meetings plus;
- 1 member of SARM (Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities)
- 1 member of SUMA (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association)
- 1 member of APAS (Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan)
- 1 member of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association,
- 1 member of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation
- 1 member of the Association of Saskatchewan Realtors.
“Our land is our land” Buscholl asserted. “We should be the beneficiaries of it. Or at least have the option to own it. Out of province or even out of country interests may not necessarily be the interests of folks in Saskatchewan. This needs to change. We know we can’t trust the present government to do the right thing.”
-30-