Saskatchewan to review Farm Security Act, says no evidence of foreign ownership found

The province is reviewing the Farm Security Act, including ownership rules and land access for new farmers. Sierra D’Souza Butts reports.

The Government of Saskatchewan says it is beginning a comprehensive review of the province’s Farm Security Act.

Following an initial review, the evaluation will include further public and stakeholder consultations.

“This review will ensure any potential changes to The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act are done right and continue to meet the needs of Saskatchewan producers," said Agriculture Minister David Marit in a news release Tuesday.

The review will be spearheaded by the Farm Land Ownership Advisory Committee, a board put together in October 2025 by then-agriculture minister Daryl Harrison.

So far, the advisory committee has conducted research into farmland ownership, stating that it’s found “no evidence of foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland under the current legislative framework.”

On Tuesday at the legislative building, the committee stated it received 13 complaints about foreign ownership since December 2024 and a few more during the previous year.

The committee has also met with leaders in real estate, financial service, agriculture and the legal sector.

“The outcome of our outreach was very informative with no evidence of foreign ownership reported,” said Ken McDonald, chairperson of the Farm Land Ownership Advisory Committee. “We feel this legislative review will help ensure the province’s farmland stays in the hands of Canadian farmers and that there will be a positive path forward for the next generation.”

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Bill Huber, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), said farmland is the largest asset producers have.

“We’ve got to make sure that our farmland is available for our young producers and Saskatchewan residents,” Huber said, referring to hundreds of students pursuing education in agriculture.

He added that reviewing the province’s current act will help to attract and keep the next generation of farmers in the province.

“We have to have every opportunity open for our young farmers and young producers in this province, to continue to get into the industry and also to expand it once they are in there,” Huber said.

The Saskatchewan NDP have repeatedly called on the province to enact stronger enforcement measures against the illegal purchase of Saskatchewan farmland by foreign buyers. Those calls followed recommendations from the provincial auditor.

“The province failed to act for years to make sure that the Farmland Security Board had the resources and the tools to actually enforce the law,” NDP MLA Trent Wotherspoon told reporters Tuesday afternoon.

“Things like a statutory declaration that would identify beneficial interests and statement of capital and ownership. These are something we’ve been calling for well over a decade. The government is only acting on them now and they’re unwilling, to this point, go back and do a review and an audit of past transactions.”

When speaking to media earlier in the day, Marit addressed there was no evidence that supported the claims of farmland foreign ownership.

“We found no evidence of that. We’ve done declarations and if people have a complaint or they feel it is there, they are free to file to the Farmland Security Board and they will investigate that situation,” he said.

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The review will also explore opportunities to improve ownership verification, strengthen penalty and enforcement tools, modernize definitions as well as boost reporting obligations and the oversight of permanent residents.

The review received praise from various stakeholders in the industry including the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, the Saskatchewan Cattle Association, the Wheat Growers Association and Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM).

“Our farmland is one of Saskatchewan’s greatest assets, and it’s important that the rules around who can own and use it keep pace with the realities of farming today,” SARM president Bill Huber said in the news release.

“This review is a good chance to make sure the Act continues to protect family farms and support the future of our rural communities.”

The review will continue to be led by the Farmland Ownership Advisory Committee with plans to introduce any potential changes to the act in Legislation by spring 2027.