STANDING
COMMITTEE ON
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
Thursday, October 16, 2025
MINUTE NO. 10
10:00 a.m. — māmawapiwin náyati room
(Room 8)
1.
Present: Trent Wotherspoon in the chair
and members Chris Beaudry, David Chan, Brad Crassweller,
Hugh Gordon, Joan Pratchler, and Sean Wilson.
Provincial Auditor’s Office
Tara Clemett, Provincial Auditor
Jason Shaw, Deputy Provincial Auditor
Trevor St. John, Deputy Provincial Auditor
Kim Lowe, Senior Principal
Nicole Dressler, Principal
Dane Reimer, Principal
Provincial Comptroller’s Office
Brent Hebert, Provincial Comptroller
Jane Borland, Assistant Provincial Comptroller
2. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 2, chapter 11, Farm Land Security Board — Regulating Foreign Ownership of Saskatchewan Farmland.
The following officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Farm Land Security Board
Kim McLean, General Manager
Ministry of Agriculture
Amy Standish, Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Programs
Robert Pentland, Executive Director, Corporate Services
Kim McLean, Director, Board Governance and Operations
3. The following document was tabled:
Farm Land Security Board: Status update, dated October 16, 2025
(PAC 56-30)
4. The committee concurred with recommendation 1 made at page 82 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 2, chapter 11, Farm Land Security Board — Regulating Foreign Ownership of Saskatchewan Farmland:
We recommend the Farm Land Security Board update its statutory declaration form templates to require permanent residents provide proof of residency when submitting statutory declaration forms.
The committee noted that the Farm Land Security Board has complied with the recommendation.
5. The committee concurred with recommendation 2 made at page 83 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 2, chapter 11, Farm Land Security Board — Regulating Foreign Ownership of Saskatchewan Farmland:
We recommend the Farm Land Security Board set an expected timeframe for staff to review farmland transactions to assess compliance with The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act and related regulations.
The committee noted that the Farm Land Security Board has complied with the recommendation.
6. The committee concurred with recommendation 3 made at page 84 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 2, chapter 11, Farm Land Security Board — Regulating Foreign Ownership of Saskatchewan Farmland:
We recommend the Farm Land Security Board follow its established procedures to request statutory declarations for individuals and corporations to assess compliance with The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act and related regulations.
The committee noted that the Farm Land Security Board has complied with the recommendation.
7. The committee concurred with recommendation 4 made at page 85 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 2, chapter 11, Farm Land Security Board — Regulating Foreign Ownership of Saskatchewan Farmland:
We recommend the Farm Land Security Board work with the Ministry of Agriculture to determine how to enforce restrictions on foreign leasing of farmland under The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act.
The committee noted that the Farm Land Security Board has complied with the recommendation.
8. The committee concurred with recommendation 5 made at page 87 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 2, chapter 11, Farm Land Security Board — Regulating Foreign Ownership of Saskatchewan Farmland:
We recommend the Farm Land Security Board document in its meeting minutes declared conflicts of interest as required by its Board manual.
The committee noted that the Farm Land Security Board has complied with the recommendation.
9. The committee concurred with recommendation 6 made at page 89 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 2, chapter 11, Farm Land Security Board — Regulating Foreign Ownership of Saskatchewan Farmland:
We recommend the Farm Land Security Board provide adequate notice to exemption applicants informing them as to when the Board will discuss farmland ownership exemption applications.
The committee noted that the Farm Land Security Board has complied with the recommendation.
10. The committee concurred with recommendation 7 made at page 91 of the
Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 2, chapter 11, Farm Land Security Board — Regulating Foreign Ownership of
Saskatchewan Farmland:
We recommend the Farm Land Security Board provide timely communication to individuals and corporations about requirements to sell land when not in compliance with The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act.
The committee noted that the Farm Land Security Board has complied with the recommendation.
11. The committee concurred with recommendation 8 made at page 92 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 2, chapter 11, Farm Land Security Board — Regulating Foreign Ownership of Saskatchewan Farmland:
We recommend the Farm Land Security Board formalize procedures for the escalation of enforcement actions to address identified non-compliance with The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act.
The committee noted that the Farm Land Security Board has complied with the recommendation.
12. The committee concurred with recommendation 9 made at page 93 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 2, chapter 11, Farm Land Security Board — Regulating Foreign Ownership of Saskatchewan Farmland:
We recommend the Farm Land Security Board use sufficient performance indicators to monitor effectiveness of its regulatory activities related to foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland.
The committee noted that the Farm Land Security Board has complied with the recommendation.
13. The committee concurred with recommendation 10 made at page 94 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2024 report volume 2, chapter 11, Farm Land Security Board — Regulating Foreign Ownership of Saskatchewan Farmland:
We recommend the Farm Land Security Board enhance its public reporting of all of its key regulatory activities related to foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland.
The committee noted that the Farm Land Security Board has complied with the recommendation.
14. The committee recessed from 11:27 a.m. until 11:31 a.m.
15. The committee considered the Provincial Auditor’s 2023 report volume 1, chapter 6, Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board — Monitoring Safety Associations’ Use of Funding.
The following Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Phillip
Germain, Chief Executive Officer
Dale Markewich,
Chief Financial Officer
Sophie Ferré,
Chief Legal Officer
16. The following document was tabled:
Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation
Board: Status update, dated October 16, 2025
(PAC 57-30)
17. The committee concurred with recommendation 1 made at page 87 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2023 report volume 1, chapter 6, Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board — Monitoring Safety Associations’ Use of Funding:
We recommend Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board formally document its review of key financial planning information provided by safety associations, including discussions with safety associations and resolution of any identified issues.
The committee noted that Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board has complied with the recommendation.
18. The committee concurred with recommendation 2 made at page 89 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2023 report volume 1, chapter 6, Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board — Monitoring Safety Associations’ Use of Funding:
We recommend Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board set detailed guidelines on eligible expenses for safety association funding.
The committee noted that Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board has complied with the recommendation.
19. The committee concurred with recommendation 3 made at page 95 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2023 report volume 1, chapter 6, Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board — Monitoring Safety Associations’ Use of Funding:
We recommend Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board formally evaluate the key performance results reported by safety associations to determine whether performance meets planned expectations, and resolve any identified issues.
The committee noted that Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board has complied with the recommendation.
20. The committee concurred with recommendation 4 made at page 96 of the Provincial Auditor’s 2023 report volume 1, chapter 6, Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board — Monitoring Safety Associations’ Use of Funding:
We recommend Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board periodically verify safety associations provide key information (e.g., financial statements, budgets, key performance measures) to employer members.
The committee noted that Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board has complied with the recommendation.
21. The committee recessed from 11:52 a.m. until 1:01 p.m.
The following Ministry of Finance officials appeared before the committee and answered questions:
Witnesses
Max
Hendricks, Deputy Minister
Brent Herbert, Provincial Comptroller
Rod Balkwill, Assistant Deputy Minister, Provincial Treasury Office
Jeff MacDonald, Assistant Deputy Minister, Treasury Board Secretariat
Cullen Stewart, Assistant Deputy Minister, Fiscal Policy
23. The committee concluded consideration of the Public Accounts 2023–24 Volume 1 and Public Accounts 2024–25 Volume 1.
24.
It was moved by Brad Crassweller:
That this committee do now adjourn.
The question being put, it was agreed to.
25. The committee adjourned at 2:50 p.m. until Friday, October 17, 2025 at 9:15 a.m.
Trent Wotherspoon, Chair
Miranda Gudereit, Committee Clerk
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