Government to Undertake Comprehensive Farm Land Ownership Review

The Government of Saskatchewan will undertake a comprehensive review of The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act including additional public and stakeholder consultations after an initial review conducted by the Farm Land Ownership Advisory Committee.

"This review will ensure any potential changes to The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act are done right and continue to meet the needs of Saskatchewan producers," Agriculture Minister David Marit said.

The Advisory Committee met with leaders in the agricultural, real estate, legal and financial services sectors as well as conducted their own research into farm land ownership. Their work confirmed there is no evidence of foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farm land under the current legislative framework. This aligns with the Provincial Auditor's report, which found no instances of unauthorized foreign ownership.

The comprehensive review will explore opportunities to improve ownership verification, strengthen penalty and enforcement tools, modernize definitions, and strengthen reporting obligations and oversight of permanent residents. The review will also consider other components of the Act not reviewed by the Advisory Committee, including farm security and home quarter protection, to ensure ongoing relevance and effectiveness.

“The outcome of our outreach was very informative with no evidence of foreign ownership reported,” Farm Land Ownership Advisory Committee Chairperson Ken McDonald said. “We feel this legislative review will help ensure the province’s farm land stays in the hands of Canadian farmers and that there will be a positive path forward for the next generation.”

“We appreciate the government's efforts to continue to bring transparency around farm land ownership in Saskatchewan,” Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association President Jeff Yorga said. “Producers want a level playing field, and the upcoming consultations are a great first step to ensuring that. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to make sure producer voices are heard."