Foreign Ownership and Canada

[wmoebis]

I think RB should be told what we think of such statements. I think that if someone wants to come here to farm they should be allowed. If they become Canadian citizens like the rest of us.

I would hate to see the guys that are having thier auctions suffer because of this but I think that RB should know that if we were to have a sale they would be way down the list for choise of auctioneers.

A simple E Mail to them might make them wake up. But, they are in 21 countries with over 100 offices so what are a few broke Canadian farmers to them?

[ghan]

Well said RB. It's about time someone supported the changes needed for foreign ownership.Ger rid of the damed socialist attitude here in Saskatchewan and move forward.What the hell does it matter who owns the land as long as someone is farming it.Wouldn't it be terrible if our land value was to increase but then we cannot possibly be succesfull in a socialist system.

[WoolyBear]

there is a HUGE difference between foreign ownership of farmland, and encouraging immigration.

IN MY OPINION, there should be NO foreign ownership, without the owner physically coming to "work in the trenches". What would stop characters like those that bought The Bay from buying and raping the land, to take any profits out of the country? Real immigration is MUCH more desireable, (again in my opinion). The ones that I know are generally hardworking, generous individuals (and families) that are will ing to contriute to their new Canadian communities. Just like our own families that came to Canada in past generations, these folks are giving up it all to come to work along side those of us that choose to remain farming in Canada.

If you aren't willing to do the time...... then theres no need to whine for foreign (ABSENTEE) landowners.

[cowman]

I don't know...I always figured...there is a buyer and a seller...and what do you need the government involved for?
Everyday we buy and sell the resources of this country and no one puts a gun to your head and says you must buy or sell?
If you are old Joe Farmer with X amount of acres...shouldn't you be able to sell to the highest bidder? Or is Canada an "old boys" club where only the "chosen few" have the right to invest in the country? Isn't that basically protectionism...which we like to beat up on the Americans about?
I don't think you can put forth the argument that you should have a God given right to sell your grain to whoever you wish....while arguing that your neighbor doesn't have the right to sell his property to whomever he wishes?
Property rights mean just that? That you have the right to sell to who ever you wish! You can't pick and choose which "property" is excempt or allowed? Maybe Trudeau knew that "property rights" shouldn't have been included in the charter, as obviously a lot of people don't understand the concept?

[cowman]

Ah, something like the statement that ' everyone should be able to do what they want on their own land', this is the war cry when people want to subdivide in areas where ag land is protected.
But, just let someone want to build a hog barn and everyone decides they should have a say in what goes on that particular piece of land !!!

Cowman, you are right about selling our resources, and most of them are foreign owned !!

[cowman]

Well Emerald, maybe a wee bit of difference between who can buy and sell and the concept of you can do whatever you wish with the land?
Obviously when someone infringes on my rights to enjoy and profit from my property is a little different than selling a property that won't infringe on my rights?
So if Farmer A sells to farmer B and the farm continues to be operated in a similar manner then there isn't a problem? However if Farmer B decides to build a huge hog barn or feedlot then obviously he is infringing on my rights? And yes the same thing could be said for subdivisions...if I owned an ILO! The perfect solution...get rid of the ILO! Actually rising land values usually do this? The land becomes too valuable to raise hogs or steers on? You can really see this west of Red Deer where the former feedlot owners are now developers!
In my area a farmer might as well not even try to build a hog barn or feedlot. Despite all the drivel about how the NRCB now runs the show...it just isn't going to happen! Which personally I think is a good thing, as this land is heading towards being a playground, despite the best efforts of the county planners! We don't need no stinking pigs or steers screwing up our land values?
I see on one thread where you indicated living along the highway II corrider is not all its cracked up to be? I would beg to differ as we have the best of both worlds? Our net worth goes up every year, we are minutes from every major machinery dealer, every amenity you might possibly want? How do you put a price on that?
The funny thing is all the European farmers coming in think this is just a good place to be...until they find out no one wants their dairy cows or pigs! They don't want to live out on the frontier or something and think living beside a stinking hog barn is just peachy! I think a lot of them get a reality check real fast!

[cowman]

I did not say that the land isn't worth more, if you read my post you will see that I said the peace and quiet afforded in places not along the corridor is priceless, at least to me.

There is going to be a huge influx of hog operations in northern AB., not many people and lots of land and water in some places.

There are still numerous operations being approved in central AB. cowman, in fact the Red Deer Region has the most applications for new or expanded operations annually.

[northfarmer]

sure lets open the border for foreign ownership of farmland, but lets say we only do so with countries that reciprocate the deal...meaning we can own farmland in their nation....and lets also say that only if we harmonize all ag subsidies and ag policy so that we can have a free flow of products and capital......to say those that would oppose foreign ownernship of farmland are socialist - give me a break....

[ivbinconned]

Remember that our packing plants are American owned, and for only one reason, the low Canadain dollar made them atractive to buy.

If you are convinced that freedom for anyone to own is consistant with free-enterprise you are sadly mistaken. As long as our governments alow the Canadain dollar to be be weak against foreign investors currency then our government has created a climate in which our competeters have an advantage over Candaian buyers.

I would support complete freedom of commerce as long as monetarily and tax wise and subsidy wise we are at par!

[cowman]

Emerald: I'm pretty close to Red Deer and highway II, so I was basically talking my local area not the whole county? Without a doubt there are places that a hog barn would work...about twenty miles out!
I am also classed "primary Agriculture" by two miles, so no big developements for me in the near future? However recently a bare quarter within three miles sold for $1.5 million to a developer and also the county bought 40 acres for a transfer site at $800,000, about the same distance from me. Of course it was within the "primary agriculture" line, so maybe so much for this primary agriculture garbage? Or don't the rules apply to the county? Or for that matter the oil and gas companies? How come the municipality can come up with these land use rules...but excempt themselves and the oil industry? Doesn't sound very fair does it?
I can't subdivide out, or lease three acres so someone can build a home or run a business, but hey we have no problem letting the oil company build a compressor station or a tank farm? And definitely no problem for the county to build a dump! Save the farm land...yea right.

[cowman]

The municipality has no control over the oil industry, with the exception of auxiliary buildings. They do however, have control over the siting of a tank farm. When I was on council we allowed one to locate about 12 miles from town, he had to build berms, have a separate approach and service road etc., this year the county approved one that hadn't ever had a permit and was no where even close to being in compliance !!

[cakadu]

Cowman, you mean to tell me that the County paid $20,000/acre to buy the land where the dump is going to be situated? That is sound fiscal management?