Bill 613: The Saskatchewan Farm Security (Foreign Farmland Ownership) Amendment Act

This primarily affects foreign individuals or entities — including foreign corporations, state-owned enterprises, and non-resident investors — who own or attempt to acquire farmland in Saskatchewan. Any foreign party currently holding Saskatchewan farmland in violation of existing restrictions faces vastly higher financial exposure: fines jump from as low as $1,000 to $1,000,000 for certain violations, and corporate penalties can reach $10,000,000. Domestic farm operators, land agents, and legal or financial intermediaries involved in farmland transactions should also take note, as the Minister is now required (not just permitted) to act on violations, signaling more aggressive enforcement. If a court orders a forced sale of illegally held land, it can now also seize the net proceeds — meaning a violator could lose both the land and any profit from the transaction.