YORKTON, Sask. — Twenty-five people demonstrated in front of the Yorkton court house on April 4 to support the Rural Municipality of Churchbridge’s legal battle with the Saskatchewan government over drainage.
The RM and four of its councilors are facing charges laid by the environment department for land ditching activities.
“We actually called farmers from around the province who we were aware were interested and following this situation,” said Darwyn MacKenzie, one of the four councilors on trial.
MacKenzie said the demonstration was designed to educate the public about the case.
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“The goal is to let the general public know it’s just not one RM and four troublemakers on council. It is the farmers of Saskatchewan.”
MacKenzie said there are basic principles at stake in the case, including farmers having a say in policy that affects their ability to farm.
“We’ve been trying through the years to have some input into decisions that are affecting our lives.”
MacKenzie said he was happy with the turnout.
“It shows a lot of people are really concerned about this.”
He said he hopes the support might send a signal to the provincial government that the courts are an inappropriate place to settle the issue of farmer rights and water drainage.
MacKenzie said he would like to discuss the situation with the environment department directly, but “so far they’re saying they can’t talk to us because of the court case. We want to send a message to the politicians that it’s not over, and we need to get back to the table.”
He said the case won’t solve the problem no matter how the court rules.
“It’s very frustrating,” he said, suggesting the case deals with a specific aspect of the issue, “and we haven’t got to the heart of the problem.”
