REGINA — Amendments recently introduced in Saskatchewan will aim to make it easier for land owners to punish unwanted trespassers, beginning in 2022.
The changes introduced by the The Trespass to Property Amendment Act will create stronger penalties for trespassers and make it easier for land owners to take legal action.
"The vast majority of people in Saskatchewan seek permission to access a property," Justice Minister and Attorney General Gordon Wyant said. "These changes will support and extend that best practice by creating a statutory tort of trespass and providing for increased penalties for trespassers."
The new Trespass to Property Act has now set the maximum penalty for repeated trespassing on the same property at $25,000, in addition to possible six months in prison.
It also introduces a maximum $200,000 penalty for a corporation that is explicit in a trespassing offense.
Land owners can also now take civil legal action against individuals who enter their property without permission.
The act places responsibility on the alleged trespasser to justify their presence on a property. Under previous legislation, it was up to landowners to prove an individual trespassed on their property without permission.
This amendment will come into force on Jan. 1.
Legislators say the changes were prompted by requests from landowners who expressed concerns about repeated trespassing on their property.
