Government Aims to Simplify Land Titles Clarification Act

The province is moving to simplify land title clarification though legislation introduced today, Oct. 29.

The first amendment will speed up the process for people adversely affected when a certificate of title is issued under the Land Titles Clarification Act. An example of someone being adversely affected is a person seeking compensation for a land ownership claim where the province has issued a certificate title to someone else.

The second amendment will help people seeking to clarify title to specific ungranted Crown lands they believe they own.

"The current procedures are complex, time-consuming and unnecessary," said Minister of Natural Resources John MacDonell. "These amendments to the act will streamline the guidelines, while saving government time and resources."

The first amendment will allow the Natural Resources Minister to appoint an independent reviewer to determine if a person was adversely affected by the granting of a certificate of title. Formerly, the Governor in Council led such investigations.

The proposed bill will let the minister recommend to the Governor in Council whether compensation should be paid to an applicant who has been adversely impacted, and the amount.

The second amendment makes it easier for government to release its ownership of certain ungranted Crown lands that have been occupied and used for a number of years.