New Land Titles Act regulations are first of their kind in Canada

Press Release

July 5, 2016

WHITEHORSE—The Government of Yukon has proclaimed the Land Titles Act, 2015 and enacted its accompanying regulations, an unprecedented milestone for the territory and the country.

“The Yukon government is pleased to be leading the country with these groundbreaking legislative changes,” Premier Darrell Pasloski said. “We are delivering on our promise to establish a framework to protect the integrity of the land titles system, secure interests of property owners, and provide new economic development options. With the instrumental support of Kwanlin Dün First Nation, we have introduced a new mechanism for registering Settlement Land while safeguarding Aboriginal rights and title. This will create new residential and commercial development opportunities.”

Four new regulations under the act establish: rules for registering First Nation Settlement Land in the Land Titles Office; requirements for plans of survey and other plans; general administration and operations provisions; and also set transaction fees.

“First Nation governments have long contemplated the need for some form of land registry to unlock the potential of its settlement lands for the benefit of citizens and economic development. Our citizens have been clear, never is KDFN to give up Aboriginal rights and title to our Settlement Land,” Kwanlin Dün Chief Doris Bill said. “Kwanlin Dün is pleased to have reached this landmark regulation with Yukon and to have paved the way for all Yukon First Nations with self-government agreements to apply to register lands or leases with the Land Titles Office, if they wish to do so.”

New provisions enable the Land Titles Office to keep pace with the volume and complexity of modern land dealings in Yukon and provide more accessible land titles information.

“We’ve maintained the high standards of Yukon’s land titles system while establishing new processes that align with the demands of today’s land transactions,” Minister of Justice Brad Cathers said. “This is the result of years of work led by the Department of Justice and valuable involvement by key stakeholders.”

Improving Yukon’s land titles system is the objective of the multi-phase Land Titles Modernization Project. Current project priorities include preparing the Land Titles Office to transition to an electronic registration and records system and developing regulations to accompany the new Condominium Act, 2015.

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See background information below.

Contact:

Michael Edwards
Cabinet Communications
867-633-7910
michael.edwards@gov.yk.ca

Marie-Louise Boylan
KDFN Communications Manager
867-633-7835
marie-louise.boylan@kdfn.net

Megan Foreman
Communications, Justice
867-667-8050
megan.foreman@gov.yk.ca

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