Land Acquisition Processes [Global Transportation Hub]

The Special Report includes the results of the following two audits:

  • Global Transportation Hub Authority—Acquiring Land from the Private Sector
  • Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure—Acquiring Land for the Regina Bypass

Download the Special Report: Land Acquisition Processes

Media Advisory: Special Report: Land Acquisition Processes

Media Release: GTH News Release

Media Release: Special GTH MHI News Release

Land Acquisition Processes [Global Transportation Hub]

Over the past year, the Office received a number of queries and requests about land transactions related to the Global Transportation Hub Authority (the GTH) and the Regina Bypass Project. These requests included Cabinet’s February 9, 2016 request (and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts’ support thereof) for the Office to “examine whether the Government of Saskatchewan followed appropriate procedures and received appropriate value” in the GTH’s purchase of two separate parcels of land. In this Report, the Office refers to these as the East Parcels.

In response, the Office did two audits concurrently about processes to acquire land— one of the GTH’s processes to buy land from the private sector (3rd parties) for the transportation logistics hub, and one of the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure’s processes to buy land to construct the Regina Bypass—a major highway improvement project.

In both audits, the Office found not enough was done to buy land in a financially responsible way. Delays in buying land the GTH viewed as essential for its commercial success (the East Parcels) and the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure’s practice of not buying land until it finalized the route and design of the highway improvement exposed taxpayers to paying for increased land values. The Office recommends the Government explore alternate approaches to optimize the timing of land acquisitions for major public improvement projects (like the Regina Bypass Project).