B.C. land transactions streamlined and modernized

Oct. 01, 2018

VICTORIA – British Columbians will benefit from changes to a number of statutes that streamline, modernize and improve the security of B.C.’s land title and survey systems.

“We’re improving services that people count on by making land title transactions more efficient and secure,” said Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “We’re also making life more affordable, because people will be able to make simple land title transactions without paying legal fees.”

Bill 37, the Land Statutes Amendment Act, proposes updating electronic filing provisions by making changes to a number of statutes to create a more robust system that adapts to technology over time. These include:

• Changes to the Land Act to enable more efficient electronic filing of survey plans that eliminate the need to print and sign paper copies of forms.
• Land Title Act changes, along with new technology, to enable broader access to electronic filing and eliminate the need for print and ink-signed paper documents. As a result, the public would no longer have to pay a lawyer or notary to authorize a simple land title change. Other proposed changes will make additions to treaty settlement lands easier and less administratively burdensome for Treaty First Nations.
• Changes to the Property Transfer Tax Act to align the electronic filing of property transfer tax returns with the changes being made to the Land Title Act, thereby improving these services for the general public.
• Boundary Act amendments to make it easier to clarify technical boundary descriptions along the B.C.-Alberta border.

The new system changes enabled by Bill 37 are planned to be phased in starting in 2020.

Learn More:

To view a copy of the bill and its progress through the legislature, visit: https://www.leg.bc.ca/parliamentary-business/legislation-debates-proceedings/41st-parliament/3rd-session/bills/progress-of-bills

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
250 356-7506

NT5