(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Saskatchewan Minister Jeremy Cockrill has called on Canada‘s Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault to comment on allegations that federal agents trespassed on private property to perform a soil test.
“We’re still unsure which federal department they’re a part of, but they actually were taking samples out of a private dugout and when approached and queried as to why they were there, they said that they were checking for pesticide residues and nitrates,” Cockrill said.
According to the Post Millennial, Cockrill discovered that the provincial government has received several reports of government agents out and about, testing soil and treading on private property without permission by the owners.
“When approached by producers, these employees indicated that they were testing water sources for pesticide/nitrate levels,” Cockrill said in a recently released letter. “The lands and water body, a producer’s dugout, are both privately owned.
“Government of Canada representatives did not request permission to enter from the landowner, nor did they seek to perform testing or advise landowners of any other purpose.”
Liberals loyal to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have started a war on nitrogen fertilizer, forcing cutbacks in order to “prevent climate change,” despite warnings from industry professionals.
Cockrill confronted Guilbeault in a Facebook post, demanding to know why federal agents were trespassing on private land.
“We have advised the federal government that this should cease immediately and if it does not, it will be considered a violation of the province’s Trespass Act,” he said.
Violation of the act includes a maximum penalty of $25,000 for repeat offenders, up to six months of imprisonment and a $200,000 maximum penalty for a corporation that requests their workers trespass on private property.
Cockrill also stated that it seems “too convenient” that federal agents are testing the water for nitrates and “also talking about fertilizer emissions as well.”
Guilbeault’s office said they are addressing the matter “internally,” and that his department will be reviewing sampling protocols before doing any more testing.
