A British Columbia man is expected to drop his challenge of
Saskatchewan’s farmland ownership legislation after changes were made
to the law last week.
David Dutcyvich challenged the Farm Security Act under the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms, saying its restrictions on Canadian
citizens were unconstitutional.
Amendments passed July 3 removed the 320-acre limit on Canadians who do
not live in the province.
Joel Hesje, Dutcyvich’s Saskatoon lawyer, said July 8 he had not spoken
to his client, but expected the changes would satisfy him.
“It does appear it will be abandoned,” he said.
Under the amended law, there are no restrictions placed on the amount
of Saskatchewan farmland Canadians can own.
There are also no restrictions on agricultural corporations engaged in
farming and owned by a majority of Canadian resident farmers, or
Canadian-owned entities such as syndicates, joint ventures and
co-operatives that are not publicly traded.
The law retains a 10-acre limit on individual and corporate foreign
owners even though the all-party agriculture committee had recommended
that limit be increased.