Some Saskatchewan farms changed hands over the decades, leaving mineral rights behind. Many families may be entitled to subsurface revenue without knowing it, creating challenges for potash companies trying to identify the owners.

“We are running into those situations, which are then causing us to have to mine in ways that are very inefficient and we leave those minerals behind stranded forever. We can’t go back and mine at a later date,” said Marnel Jones, director of government and public affairs at the Mosaic Company.

The provincial government is proposing the Mineral Resources Amendment Act, which would allow potash companies to mine underground ore when mineral rights holders cannot be located. Revenue from these resources would go into the province’s General Revenue Fund, with royalties held in trust only for those who can be identified later.

“There’s a five-year period where they must do an intense search to try to find the land owners and if after that point in time that I’ll be able to provide a ministerial order for them to proceed,” energy and resources minister Colleen Young explained.

Families or individuals who believe they may be eligible for resource royalties can contact the Ministry of Energy and Resources. Once a minister’s order is published, it will include the location of affected mineral parcels so potential owners can identify any interest.

If a court confirms a mineral title, or if an individual can prove they are the legal beneficiary, the ministry will issue payment to the mineral owner.

The legislation has support from the New Democrats.

“It looks like a common-sense approach that will help the industry do what it needs to do, keep building the economy and create good jobs,” said NDP MLA Sally Housser.

Jones estimates that about half a billion dollars of mineral rights could be accessed under the new legislation.