I would like to comment on your article by Sean Pratt (WP, May 20) regarding the Saskatchewan Land Act.
My parents migrated from Ontario in 1901, the then North West Territories, and I still own a farm grandfathered before this ill advised and restrictive Land Act was passed. Roy Romanow told me that it was basically passed to stop Europeans from buying up large chunks of farmland.
This never made sense to me, because I grew up with Germans and Ukrainians who became excellent farmers and their now educated children run the province. What is wrong with Europeans?
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No one seems to realize that interprovincial trade barriers are ruining this great Canada. P.E.I. has restrictions on potato farm ownership, Quebec restricts Ontario contractors from bidding on Quebec projects, B.C. wants all its provincial work done by its own labor force, lawyers have to write new exams to practice in another province and doctors are also restricted. Actually I am told we have more interprovincial trade restrictions than we have with U.S.A.
Why are we so parochial? Is it because we are stupid, narrow minded and ignorant? Or is it because we are greedy, petty and selfish?
Or are we lazy and never stop to think things through?
Canadians should be able to have the right to own land anywhere in Canada and in any amount they can afford, and all trade barriers should be abolished for the good of all Canadians. The economic benefits would be fantastic. In the meantime I’m not holding my breath.
– R.H. Conlin,
Vancouver, B.C.
