Reviewing Sask. trespassing rules

 

Staff Writer

Farms.com

 

The Saskatchewan Cattleman’s Association supports the provincial government’s evaluation of its trespass-related legislation.

 

The current Trespass to Property Act places responsibility on landowners to post signs requesting that the public not enter their land without permission. Separate legislation exists for hunting, ATVs and snowmobiles, which can lead to confusion about what constitutes trespassing. 

 

Recently, the provincial government distributed a questionnaire to Saskatchewan residents to determine if it should adjust this trespassing legislation. Specifically, the survey asks if members of the public should have the express consent of landowners or occupiers before entering a property. If survey respondents agree with this amendment, the government also asks how this permission should be sought and granted. 

 

The legislation “will increase the communication between the stewards of the land that are the farmers and the ranchers, and the people that are visiting that land,” Ryder Lee, CEO of the Saskatchewan Cattleman’s Association, told Farms.com. This increased communication is “good for a number of (reasons, including) safety of the people that are out there, safety of the animals, safety of the land, etc.” 

 

During hunting season, “if you want to come and ask to go on the land and hunt, absolutely. I can support that,” said Lee. “But, if someone is out there and I don’t know about him or her, there could be two different parties, and that’s not safe. 

 

“I can (also) help (hunters) know where the bulls are, or where the animals are.” 

 

The Saskatchewan Cattleman’s Association asks the government to alter the legislation to require all people who wish to enter farmland to have written consent from the owner, landowner or lessee.  

 

The questionnaire, which closes Oct. 1, can be found here.