REGINA - The Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan is calling to limit farmland ownership of international and out of province investors.
The PCs have announced this policy in advance of the next election, citing concerns about the amount of farmland under investor ownership. In their news release issued Friday the party cites numbers from 2015, almost a million acres of Saskatchewan farmland under “investor” ownership, and say more up to date numbers are hard to come by. They also point to the largest privately held farm, consisting of over 225,000 acres, is controlled by an out of province entity.
“Farmland is Saskatchewan’s most strategic resource. It is our primary renewable generator of wealth and growth,” said PC Leader Rose Buscholl in a statement Friday. “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.”
The PCs are calling for changes in the structure of the Farmland Security Board to consist of seven members. Under their plan, only one member would be elected from government to chair the meetings, plus one member each from SARM, SUMA, APAS (Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan) the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation and the Association of Saskatchewan Realtors.
“Our land is our land” Buscholl said in a news release. “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 in the interests of folks in Saskatchewan. This needs to change. We know we can’t trust the present government to do the right thing.”
