The provincial government is looking to technology to connect rural property owners with those seeking to use the owners’ land.
At the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) convention in Saskatoon on Wednesday, Premier Scott Moe announced the launch of an Innovation Challenge to address the issue.
According to a media release, the challenge “stems from proposed changes to The Trespass to Property Act, which would require people to get permission from rural property owners to use their land for hunting and other recreational activities.”
SARM is asking companies, entrepreneurs, researchers and students to find a way to use technology to connect individuals with property owners to ask permission to get on their land.
After a winner is selected, they will receive up to $10,000 in funding and will work with SARM over four months to create a prototype of their technological innovation.
“Providing the public a tool to assist with receiving permission from rural property owners is important,” SARM president Ray Orb said in a media release. “SARM hopes this initiative will assist in finding an innovative solution.”
The deadline for applications is April 30. Application forms and more details on the program can be found online. As well, information sessions are to be held online and in Regina and Saskatoon before the deadline.
Meanwhile, Moe also announced at the conference that the provincial government is investing $5 million in the Saskatchewan Conservation and Development Association (SCDA).
The goal is to help move forward the Agricultural Water Management Strategy (AWMS) to assist the province’s agricultural producers.
“When Saskatchewan introduced its new Agricultural Water Management Strategy in 2015, the vision was to support our agriculture sector, while mitigating the negative impacts of drainage,” Moe said in a media release.
“This investment will ultimately allow more local producers to take greater responsibility over local projects, providing them with the professional help and assistance they need.”