YORKTON - When you have been writing in the agriculture field for well over three decades you are rather aware that the issue of wetlands and whether farmers should be able to drain them is a long-standing issue that is often rather divisive as well.
So one has to applaud Erika Ritchie the NDP critic for Environment, SaskWater, and the Water Security Agency who is at least willing to wade into the issue in a significant way.
When it comes to the management of wetlands in Saskatchewan something is missing suggested Ritchie the NDP critic for Environment, SaskWater, and the Water Security Agency.
Ritchie notes Saskatchewan is the only province without a wetland conservation policy, adding the Provincial Auditor has flagged the need to develop policies around wetland retention and water quality.
That there is no over arching policy in the province suggests a couple things to this writer.
To begin with a Ritchie herself noted in a recent interview with Yorkton This Week, “it’s such a complex issue.”
It’s the complexity of the issue that no doubt has factored into no policy/act being brought forward before. It’s a hornet’s nest where someone will be looking to sting whoever creates legislation because not everyone can possibly be happy.
If you are a farmer with wetlands you feel you should be able to drain the water and grow crop, it’s hard to appease that vision. You would like to think on your own land you could make such decisions.
Of course that is dream world stuff. We live in a world where rules abound regarding our own property. Things from not being allowed backyard chickens to produce food, how high fences around our homes can be, and how many non-licensed cars we might have, are typical rules in a city like Yorkton.
So what farmers can do with wetlands being legislated is not beyond expectation.
Of course, if the province feels a wetland should not be drained the most straight forward solution is to acquire those acres, make it crown land, and manage it.
But there seems little suggestion that is seriously being considered.
Ritchie is however looking to rectify the lack of a provincial policy introducing a Private Member's Bill 615 (The Comprehensive Wetland Conservation Policy Act).
As part of Ritchie’s effort she is undertaking a series of eight Wetlands Conservation Consultations. The first in the series was in Regina, and the second held in Yorkton Wednesday with about a dozen in attendance.
In the process of building on any framework though, there needs to be discussion with stakeholders, who have an interest in what ultimately is created. And in that it’s important “to engage in a dialogue,” said Ritchie, adding that was what the meetings she is undertaking is about.
That is at least a good start to create something palatable to at least most involved in the issue, farmers, environmentalists, recreation users and others.
