Rent on Agricultural Crown Lands will remain frozen through at least the 2026 growing season, following an announcement from the provincial government and Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn today.
According to a release, the provincial rate will remain fixed at $3.66 per animal unit months, which the province said is the lowest rate in Western Canada.
“Manitoba producers are the backbone of the provincial economy and our government is committed to keeping life affordable for the hard-working Manitobans who put food on our tables,” said Kostyshyn. “Continuing this rent freeze provides financial stability for producers and reflects our commitment to affordability.”
In their release, the province said the ACL program supports approximately 1,750 leaseholders across Manitoba who rely on Crown lands for grazing, haying and cropping activities. Kostyshyn also said the lands in question were “a vital public asset, supporting the livestock sector, advancing sustainable land use, and respecting treaty and Indigenous rights”.
In addition to the rent freeze, the province also announced they have launched the first phase of a public engagement process to help shape the future of the ACL program. Through an online survey on EngageMB, Manitobans can provide feedback on three areas: lease allocation methods, limits on the total amount of land a single leaseholder can hold, and renewal options for modern leases.
Manitobans interested in sharing their views are encouraged to visit https://engagemb.ca/ag-crown-lands to complete the survey by Nov. 24.
