Government and Politics in Ontario Agriculture: The Boiler Room (79)

MLAs clash over foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland

The issue of foreign ownership of farmland rose to the surface again at the Legislature. During Question Period last Thursday, the opposition NDP accused the Sask. Party government of not taking the issue seriously and failing to enforce the illegal purchase of farmland by foreign entities. “We’ve been calling on that government from the moment they’ve been elected, and they look the other way and have failed to enforce the law,” said Trent Wotherspoon, deputy agriculture shadow minister. “There’s so much more that we need to do. The Farm Land Security Board needs more resources and real teeth. The fines for breaking the law need to be more than a slap on the wrist. And most importantly, the government must audit and enforce the divestiture of land acquired and owned by foreign entities that have breached the law and caused the forfeiture of profit in its divestiture.” Wotherspoon went on to say that no ‘foreign entity, governments like China or criminal organizations’ should be abl

Federal strychnine ban review may help control gopher ‘plague’ on Sask. crops

Farmers and rural officials across Saskatchewan say Ottawa’s decision to review the strychnine ban could finally bring relief in the fight against gophers. Still, some warn that the solution needs to balance effectiveness and safety. At the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) midterm convention in Regina, delegates announced a resolution calling on the federal government to either reintroduce strychnine or provide a cost-effective alternative for pest control. The once-common chemical was banned by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) in 2023, leaving producers with few reliable options. SARM President Bill Huber told delegates that the association had received a verbal commitment from Ottawa to review the use of strychnine in emergencies, with support from provincial and municipal governments. “We also asked for the reinstatement of strychnine to manage Richardson’s ground squirrels,” Huber said. “They’re not just a nuisance, they’re a plagu

Foreign ownership of farmland a hot topic at Sask. Legislature

The issue of foreign ownership of farm land rose to the surface again at the Saskatchewan Legislature. During Question Period on Thursday, NDP Leader, and Agriculture Shadow Minister, Carla Beck accused the Sask. Party government of not taking the issue seriously.  "Mr. Speaker, the (Provincial) Auditor and SARM (Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities) have both sounded the alarm when it comes to the wide gaps in the system that supposed to ensure that only Canadians can buy Saskatchewan farmland. Will the Premier finally admit what most people on coffee row already understand, and that is that his government has failed to ensure that...those foreign interests can't buy up Saskatchewan farmland." Beck asked. In response, Moe noted "increases in the stringency on ownership in this province" and ensured that "there is an ongoing discussion and a committee that is going to be engaging with (land) owners to ensure that we have this right all the time in this province."  The p

2026 regional Outstanding Young Farmer nomination deadlines approaching

Most nominations are due by the end of 2025

Ag in the House: Nov. 3 – 7

Conservatives targeted the industrial carbon tax and its effect on Canadian ag and food