It appears the federal government is just beginning the process to sell its tree nursery at Indian Head, Sask., a year after it announced it was accepting offers for the facility.
A coalition of farm organizations and municipalities interested in operating the nursery met with a federal official last week, who told them the legal process for asset divestiture is only now underway.
The federal government must first offer any assets to other federal departments, and that has just recently happened.
However, officials told a public meeting in Indian Head last year that they would accept offers until the end of August. It was later extended to February 2013.
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“It’s a very confusing picture,” said Regina Liberal MP Ralph Goodale, who has questioned agriculture minister Gerry Ritz about the matter in Parliament.
“I think this flows from the fact that they’ve actually from the very beginning had no plan whatsoever.”
Ottawa announced in its 2012 budget that the tree nursery would be sold and the federal government would no longer distribute free tree seedlings for shelter belts and farmyard plantings.
About 610 million trees and shrubs have been distributed throughout the Prairies and the Peace River area of British Columbia since 1901.
Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz said in a statement last week that shelter belts are a well-established practice and it’s now time for the private sector to deliver the service “should the demand exist.”
About 10,000 people have signed petitions to keep the centre open, and Goodale and others have said the farm must be offered as a going concern.
Ritz also said last week the federal department would continue to operate it until the end of this year.
However, layoff notices issued to some staff, effective June 15, elicited confusion about how the centre could effectively operate until Dec. 31 and remain viable for a potential buyer.
Norm Hall, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, said he spoke to Ritz several times last week and was assured staff will remain on as necessary.
He said the minister told him there would be a fall planting and a harvest.
APAS is part of the coalition looking at the tree farm.
“We’re in the process of doing some due diligence,” said Hall.
“It has to be a cost-recovery entity whether it’s a co-operative or whatever.”
When asked to clarify the situation, the federal agriculture department issued an email stating activity has been winding down and the property declared surplus.
