MLAs clash over foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland

Premier Scott Moe called Wotherspoon’s comments serious accusations.

“Mr. Speaker, he says foreigners are owning farmland in the province of Saskatchewan. I would ask that he do the right thing on behalf of the Saskatchewan people and report that immediately through the Minister of Agriculture’s office. All of those transactions will be looked at the front end, not the back end, as per the recommendations from the auditor,” Moe said.

“Let’s see if these reports… these accusations come through, and let’s see if the critic has the back of Saskatchewan farmers across this province.”

Saskatchewan’s Provincial Auditor, Tara Clemett, released a report in late 2024 highlighting significant weaknesses in the province’s oversight of non-Canadian farmland purchases, leading the Farm Land Security Board (FLSB) to implement procedural changes to improve enforcement. The auditor said the Board often reviewed transactions months after sales had already closed, failed to request essential ownership declarations for half of high-risk, out-of-province corporate transactions reviewed and, in several cases, failed to determine compliance due to lack of sufficient evidence from purchasers. In Saskatchewan, foreign entities can’t own more than 10 acres of farmland without an exemption issued by the FLSB — 140 exemptions have been granted in the last five years.

Last month, amendments were passed to give the FLSB greater clarity of when it can give fines for breaking the Act, as well as not allow the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board to own farm land any longer.

Outside of the legislature, Wotherspoon said the government’s failures have come at a cost to Saskatchewan producers who have had an unlevel playing field competing against foreign entities that were ‘organizing financial arrangements that break laws in Saskatchewan.’

After the exchange in the legislature, provincial Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison wrote to Wotherspoon giving him a deadline to send evidence to the FLSB that backed up his claims. In response, Wotherspoon sent his own letter to the Ag Minister questioning why he would attempt to shut down serious concerns of producers instead of fixing the problem. Then he gave a deadline back to the minister, asking for a response by Nov. 10 at 1 p.m.

When that deadline passed, the NDP issued a press release pledging to implement changes when it forms government. Those changes included:

Properly resourcing the Farmland Security Board and ensuring it has the teeth required to review, investigate and enforce the law;
Beefing up fines for farmland transaction violations to a level where they serve as an actual deterrent, not a slap on the wrist;
Reviewing, auditing and enforcing forced divestiture of land acquired and owned illegally by foreign entities that breached the law and causing forfeiture of profit;
Through consultation with the legal and agricultural community, ensure the statutory declarations in the transaction process are mandatory and contain the information needed to effectively and efficiently review and enforce the law, such as proof of residency, statement of beneficial interests, ownership and capital.

The NDP said they pledge the action when they ‘form government in 2028 or sooner.’

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by farmnewsNOW Staff

MLAs clash over foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland

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