Privatization fears over pasture program

Apr 12, 2012 | 3:48 PM

There is a lot of talk between those people working on community pastures – they’ve heard that the program is the victim of federal budget cuts.

But, nothing has been confirmed leaving people wondering if they will be privatized or passed over to the provincial government, said Scott Sigfusson, who works at a community pasture near Davidson.

They run about 4,000 acres of pasture, which has almost returned to its natural grassland state, even with around 80 cattle grazing in it.

Keeping that area for the endangered species living there is important, said Sigfusson.

“It would be better (if the province took over) than privatizing completely, I’m kind of worried about short-sightedness of the provincial side of the government. I’m worried about the impacts,” he said.

“If it’s privatized there is no guarantee that the grassland is going to stick around.”

These pastures are the only place where a number of endangered species live such as burrowing owls and western spiderwort flower, he said.

If given the opportunity and if he could find the financial backing, Sigfusson said he would consider buying land, if it were privatized.

There are 85 community pastures across the country. Saskatchewan is home to 60 of them.

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