The Farmland Security Board (FSB)
Res #: 15-25A
Number: 14
Year: 2025
Midterm: No
Expired: No
Responses Received: Yes
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
WHEREAS foreign ownership of farmland is a growing concern in Saskatchewan.
WHEREAS the Provincial Auditor has determined that the FSB did not request Statutory Ownership Declarations from nine out of at least eighteen high risk farmland purchases.
WHEREAS the FSB has been unable to conclude whether eight suspect transactions are in compliance with ownership rules, due to not receiving mandatory information (i.e. Statutory Declarations) and are unable to take further action.
BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial government to make it mandatory that the Statutory Declarations, and any other pertinent information, be submitted BEFORE any suspect lands are approved.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the provincial government establish escalation procedures to enable the FSB staff to take further appropriate action when cooperation is not forth coming from non-compliant entities.
Responses From: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
April 2, 2025
The Farm Land Security Board (Board) staff review an average of 40,000 farm land transactions per year to monitor the compliance of landowner eligibility. Under the current model, this takes place after land transfers title and the information is received from the Information Services Corporation.
To ensure compliance, The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act allows for the collection of an attestation of compliance from landowners through a Statutory Declaration. These declarations can be submitted voluntarily or as required upon request of the Board. In 2024, approximately 872 Statutory Declarations were voluntarily submitted. Another 66 Statutory Declarations were requested by the Board.
As a statutory decision-maker, the Board and its staff will continue to develop, implement, and adjust its procedures. For instance, I understand that the Board is currently reviewing sale transactions within a month of the transaction, requesting statutory declarations from all out-of-province corporations, and has begun work on escalation procedures. A new Statutory Declaration form requesting additional information will be implemented soon.
The Government of Saskatchewan will continue to evaluate the existing legislative and regulatory frameworks to ensure Saskatchewan farm land remains in the hands of Canadian farmers.
Daryl Harrison – Minister of Agriculture, Government of Saskatchewan
