On October 7, the Government of Saskatchewan announced that they had paused the sale of 18 parcels of Crown land totalling 4,480 acres that were up for auction. The announcement came in response to growing public pressure after the Province lifted its two-year moratorium on Crown land sales this summer. While the Province stated that the moratorium had been lifted following revisions to its First Nations and Métis Consultation Policy Framework (CPF), concerns remain about violations of Treaty and Inherent Rights, as well as impacts on agricultural producers, recreational users, and ecologically sensitive wildlife habitat.  

In a CBC story, Premier Scott Moe explained that “We got a little bit ahead of ourselves in that process starting again.” According to an interview with Moe in the Regina Leader-Post, the decision to remove the 18 listings does not, however, indicate a change in “overall government direction as it relates to Crown land.”

The Saskatchewan government has already sold nearly 2 million acres of Crown land that previously belonged to the people of this province and to future generations. This land includes formerly protected grasslands, wetlands, and aspen parkland that are the territories of the Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota, Dakota, Lakota, and Métis Peoples.

Upwards of 85% of land south of Saskatchewan’s forest fringe is already privately owned or leased under terms that exclude public access. In fact, Saskatchewan has nearly a quarter of all of the private property in Canada, despite making up only 6% of the land mass. Further decreasing the land available for shared use and stewardship moves us in the opposite direction of reconciliation. It undermines our ability to honour and implement the frameworks that allow for our coexistence in these territories. 

To voice your concerns about privatizing Crown land, you can contact Minister Daryl Harrison at 306-787-0338 or ag.minister@gov.sk.ca.