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Crown Conservation Easements

Res #: 9-15A
Number: 9
Year: 2015
Midterm: No
Expired: Yes
Responses Received: No
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

WHEREAS in 2014 the Government of Saskatchewan initiated the Southern Conservation Land Management Strategy which allowed agricultural lessees the opportunity to purchase eligible parcels of crown land previously designated under The Wildlife Habitat Protection Act (WHPA); and

WHEREAS this strategy was developed in a co-operative approach by the ministries of Environment and Agriculture with input from agricultural producers and the environmental community and is largely seen as a welcome and positive approach to the responsible sale of moderately ecologically sensitive crown lands; and

WHEREAS included in the strategy was the need to apply crown conservation easements (CCE) which place restrictions on the land in perpetuity; and

WHEREAS in some cases lenders are hesitant to hold land that has a crown conservation easement on it as security for indebtedness and in others they may second mortgage but at a reduced lending value;

BE IT RESOLVED that The Ministry of Agriculture review the matter with lenders and if in fact lenders are seeing these easements as too restrictive for them to use as security that the selling price of the crown land be adjusted.

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE RESPONSE

The Ministry has discussed the effect of conservation easements on land values with lenders and Farm Credit Canada. No concerns regarding conservation easements were raised during these discussions. The Ministry was informed that credit worthiness is the primary consideration that will impact lending.

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