Updated exploration regulations wanted
MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Saskatchewan ranchers want the provincial government to modernize legislation that governs what energy companies can do on private land.”We need an independent body so we can go appeal some of the things that oil companies do,” Lloyd Thompson of Carnduff, Sask., said during the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association’s annual meeting, while seconding a resolution calling for change.The province has a surface rights arbitration board but it likely does need an overhaul, agreed Brian Weedon of Swift Current, who once sat on the board.”I learned a lot about the industry but where we are now hasn’t changed much in the last three or four years.”
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Delegates look for full funding of project
The SSGA wants full funding for research done through the beef science cluster.Lynn Grant, a Val Marie rancher and representative to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, said $6.5 million was made available for phase one of the research project and federal officials were negotiating with the Beef Cattle Research Council for phase two.”It looks like the federal government would not be fully funding all of phase two,” he told the association’s annual meeting. “Even though that cutback isn’t firm … we would like to use this as a method of encouraging the federal government.”Paul Jefferson of the Western Beef Development Centre and a newly elected SSGA board member from Humboldt, said that the process of setting up the science clusters has been slow.”We were a year into this five-year federal planning cycle for the science cluster process before the first funds were awarded,” he said. “We can’t have Ottawa dragging their feet on getting these programs implemented.”The meeting passed a motion to lobby Ottawa for full funding.
Resolution asks for increase to penalty
SSGA delegates want the penalty for bringing cattle with horns to market raised to $10 per head from $2.The provincial government passed legislation to that effect eight years ago, but the bill was never proclaimed. It has been asking stakeholders whether the deduction is still necessary.The SSGA said last week that the deduction should rise over a four-year period.Shane Jahnke of Gouldtown said the money collected from horned cattle pays for worthwhile research and should continue in some way.As well, damage from horned cattle causes significant economic loss.”We’re raising meat and food, not cattle,” he said.Murray McGillivray of Radville said the increase is just too great and unlikely to be implemented by government.
