Responsibility & Monitoring of Noxious Weeds on Crown Land & Rights-of-Way
Res #: 2-23A
Number: 2
Year: 2023
Midterm: No
Expired: No
Responses Received: Yes
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
WHEREAS noxious weeds along provincial highway rights-of-way are a significant problem in many rural
municipalities, preventing landowners and occupants adjacent to these rights-of-way from fulfilling their general
duties under part III section 15 of the Weed Control Act, 2010.
WHEREAS municipalities do not have authority under the Weed Control Act, 2010 to take action to destroy noxious
weeds in provincial highway rights-of-way or to serve orders for provincial highway land.
WHEREAS the provincial government downloaded the responsibility for the management and control of noxious
weeds onto their individual lease holders.
WHEREAS the provincial government does not currently have any public inventory, mapping or information on the
location of noxious weeds contained on Crown land.
WHEREAS the provincial government does not currently have a person or contact assigned to oversee mapping and
annual control of noxious weeds in conjunction with local municipalities and weed inspectors.
BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial government to create publicly accessible mapping and information
regarding the location and control of noxious weeds on Crown land.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial government to establish a permanent position to oversee
the contact and collaboration with municipalities on local noxious weed control within provincial rights-of-way and
Crown land.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial government to destroy the noxious weeds in provincial
highway rights-of-way and on Crown land, in due season and in a diligent manner, to prevent its spread to other lands,
thereby supporting rural landowner and occupant efforts to satisfy their duty to do the same.
Responses From: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
May 3, 2023
The Weed Control Act does not prevent a Rural Municipality (RM) from monitoring and documenting regulated weeds on highway rights-of-way. Since 2012, Saskatchewan has utilized iMaplnvasives, a public facing invasive species inventory and mapping system. RMs that subscribe to this system can receive email alerts when a weed on their watch list is reported within their RM. The MoA has also initiated the Crown Land Pasture Association Invasive Weed Program to provide financial assistance to pasture associations on agricultural Crown land. Further, the MoA is expanding the Invasive Plant Control Program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership to fund weed inspector expenses in RMs. Documentation in iMaplnvasives will be integral to that funding. As you know, the MoA also provides funding to SARM for the Plant Health Technical Advisors to further support RMs efforts to when planning local invasive weed control. Additionally, the Ministry of Highways contracts licensed pesticide applicators for weed control annually at gravel pits, stockpile sites, and along rights-of-way. It also works closely with RMs to coordinate weed control and participates in municipal weed control programs.
The Honourable David Marit – Minister of Agriculture
