REGINA - Saskatchewan’s new Agriculture Minister believes the Provincial Auditor's report reflects confidence in the work of the province’s Farmland Security Board.
“Well, I think the Auditor confirmed that there's no foreign ownership of any farmland here in the province, so I think that's an indication that our Farmland Security Board is being effective,” said Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison in remarks to reporters following the release Provincial Auditor Tara Clemett’s performance audit findings on the Farmland Security Board.
That audit had focused on the board's processes to regulate foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland, and in particular the amount of farmland that non-Canadian entities, individuals and corporations can own or lease.
But while Harrison was of the belief the report findings signalled that the Board was doing its job effectively, it was the opposite reaction from the MLA for Regina Mount Royal, Trent Wotherspoon. He grilled Harrison in Question Period Tuesday on the findings of the Provincial Auditor.
“She found they didn't have enough protections in place to stop foreign entities from illegally purchasing land," Wotherspoon said.
He particularly zeroed in on the finding that the Farmland Security Board did not request statutory ownership declarations for nine out of 18 farmland transactions where purchases were made by corporations not registered in Saskatchewan.
“The Sask Party government only asked for a declaration in half of the high-risk, out-of-province transactions she reviewed. Now, we've been calling for statutory ownership declarations on all transactions for years. Simple question for the minister. Is 50 per cent good enough for that Sask Party government?”
“As indicated in the report, the audit did not find any confirmed instances of unauthorized foreign ownership,” Harrison responded. “The audit also found the board's existing procedures were appropriate, effective, and fulfilled the board's legislative mandate. There is always more room for improvement, and the board will continue to focus on process improvement.”
“Mr. Speaker, Saskatchewan people expect that if laws are broken, if there are laws, that they will be followed,” Wotherspoon responded.
“And when those laws are broken, there will be consequences. All over rural Saskatchewan, people are concerned that foreign entities are illegally buying up Saskatchewan farmland. And now the auditor is flagging that when they're dealing with the lawbreakers, the Sask Party government does not have escalation procedures for staff to take further action, example fines or penalties.
And, quote, when will we see some real consequences, some real teeth, to stop the illegal purchase, foreign purchase of farmland in Saskatchewan?”
But Harrison stuck to his message that the “audit did not find any, any confirmed instances of unauthorized foreign ownership.
“The report also said there are effective measures in place to monitor this. The board has already discussed many of the recommendations made by the auditor. The majority of the recommendations or items were a process that were being used. However, procedural documents are now being created and reviewed by the board and implemented. Many of the recommendations suggested by the Auditor have already been prioritized, and the implementation of many of these recommendations has already begun.”
That response still did not satisfy Wotherspoon, who characterized the Sask Party government's approach as using “kid gloves and to look the other way.”
In speaking to reporters later, when asked if this issue was no concern for the government, Harrison reiterated to reporters the Farmland Security Board was doing a good job.
“No, as a landowner and a producer myself, I'm very concerned about this. I take this very seriously. And I look forward to continuing to work with the Farmland Security Board. I think they're doing an exemplary job. They have the investigative teeth that this government gave, and they're doing their job effectively, as the Auditor said.”
