The opposition NDP says the Saskatchewan government should be as flexible with its crown land lessees as it has asked financial institutions to be.
Agriculture critic Cathy Sproule raised the issue during question period March 17 when she noted that Darcy Livingston, who farms near Sintaluta, had been told in January his lease would be cancelled if he didn’t pay the overdue rent within 30 days.
Sproule said Livingston hasn’t been able to move any grain since last fall. He offered partial payment but was told he had to pay the entire amount or face losing the lease. He ended up borrowing money to make the payment.
“They shouldn’t just say they are being flexible, they should actually be flexible,” she said.
Agriculture minister Lyle Stewart noted that the rent was due Dec. 1, so lands branch was already being flexible by extending the payment date into late February.
He said only 62 of about 8,600 leases were in arrears as of March 17.
