Farmers and other concerned citizens have two weeks left to participate in the farmland ownership survey that will help the Saskatchewan Party government determine who should be allowed to own farmland in Saskatchewan.
The survey, part of the government’s review of the Saskatchewan Farm Security Act, will run until Aug. 10, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a news release Monday
As of last Friday, more than 1,700 surveys have been received. “Seventeen-hundred is not a bad response,” Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart said. “But more is better. That’s why we’re putting this reminder out.’’
Once the consultations end, survey results and comments will be posted online in the fall. Names, addresses and all other identifying information will be removed before results are published. After the results have been analyzed, decisions will be made regarding next steps, the ministry said.
However, the government’s meetings with stakeholder groups, like farm and business organizations, have wrapped up. “No great surprises,’’ he said referring to the meetings with stakeholder groups. “It was a good discussion.”
Norm Hall, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, said APAS members surveyed on the farmland ownership issue were surprisingly open to foreign investment in farmland — by individuals. Currently, foreign ownership of farmland by either individuals or corporations is restricted to no more than 10 acres.
“Our survey showed that producers would welcome foreign individuals (as investors) if they were like our grandparents and put their bums in tractor seats,’’ Hall said. “As far as foreign-owned entities, that (survey response) was an absolute no.’’
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) purchase of 115,000 acres of farmland in 2013 also generated some feedback, Hall said. “As far as CPP (is concerned), the general consensus (of APAS members surveyed) was, don’t make them divest, but no more new (investments).’’
Progressive Conservative Party leader Rick Swenson has called for the divestiture of the CPPIB lands, citing an alleged conflict of interest involving a senior agriculture ministry official and a predecessor company of Assinboia Farmland Capital, which sold the land to CPPIB for $128 million. The government has denied any conflict existed and that the transaction was vetted by Ministry of Justice officials, who deemed the deal permissible under the Saskatchewan Farm Security Act.
Source : LeaderPost