Changes to the Provincial Lands Act won’t be made during this session of the Saskatchewan legislature.
The government consulted during the summer, saying it wanted input as it moves to improve and modernize the legislation last updated in 1978.
However, the Oct. 23 throne speech did not mention the act, and agriculture minister Lyle Stewart said the government isn’t ready to introduce changes.
“There’s a lot of work and consultation involved in getting ready, and we’re just not quite there,” he said.
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The ministry’s lands branch is also busy handling the transfer of federal pastures to the province.
The act allows the agriculture and environment ministries to administer provincial crown lands.
Agricultural stakeholders said they are in no rush for changes but are ready for them.
“We actually encouraged them to go ahead,” said Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association chair Mark Elford.
“If they don’t do it, it’s not an issue.”
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association president Harold Martens said his organization made sure to ask for control over access of lease lands.
“In all of the things that relate to biosecurity that the federal government is pushing in Saskatchewan, and the provinces, the beef industry is going to be the most difficult one to handle all that stuff,” he said.
He said animal health and weed control are two good reasons for lessees to have that control.
One of the suggestions the province put forward during consultation is that lenders be able to use lease land as security. Martens said there is still more discussion to be had on that and other issues.
