REGINA – The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission has allowed the agriculture department to give preference to younger farmers when allocating Crown lease land.
Last week the commission granted the agriculture department a two-year exemption from a section of the human rights code which normally prohibits age discrimination in the purchase or acquisition of property.
Agriculture minister Darrel Cunningham said he was pleased with the decision.
Widespread support
“The age criteria for allocating lease land has been around for 50 years. I think it has got wide support in rural communities, wide support from farm groups and we don’t think it’s discriminatory.”
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Earlier this year some farmers opposed the policy of awarding more points to farmers between 23 and 35 years of age than to those over 35 when determining lessees.
In making its decision, the human rights commission said: “The department’s policy tries to assist younger farmers, not because of any animosity toward older farmers, but because of a recognition that establishing and maintaining young farmers plays an important role in the viability of rural communities and the continued vitality of the agricultural economy.”
