MLAs clash over foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland

The issue of foreign ownership of farmland rose to the surface again at the Legislature.

During Question Period last Thursday, the opposition NDP accused the Sask. Party government of not taking the issue seriously and failing to enforce the illegal purchase of farmland by foreign entities.

“We’ve been calling on that government from the moment they’ve been elected, and they look the other way and have failed to enforce the law,” said Trent Wotherspoon, deputy agriculture shadow minister. “There’s so much more that we need to do. The Farm Land Security Board needs more resources and real teeth. The fines for breaking the law need to be more than a slap on the wrist. And most importantly, the government must audit and enforce the divestiture of land acquired and owned by foreign entities that have breached the law and caused the forfeiture of profit in its divestiture.”

Wotherspoon went on to say that no ‘foreign entity, governments like China or criminal organizations’ should be able to profit off the illegal purchase 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.