The Manitoba government is introducing new legislation that would streamline the sale of Crown Lands.
Central Services Minister Reg Helwer said that the Crown Land Dispositions Act will make the overall process of land dispositions more efficient, effective and transparent.
“Manitobans who want to purchase surplus Crown land for economic or recreational purposes would see shorter wait times and quicker response times from the province on routine real estate transactions.”
Helwer added that a review in 2018 concluded that the province's land sales process was overly complex and costly. The new legislation aims to help reorganize the system, establish new processes and develop a more efficient governance model.
The proposed changes would give more authority to ministers to make land sales decisions. As it stands right now, all sales above $25,000 require cabinet approval as well as one statute of $500.
Under the new structure, a department minster could sell Crown land and property valued up to $200,000, the minister of finance could authorize sales between $200,000 and $1 million, and cabinet approval would be required on sales of $1 million and over.
Helwer added that the new protocol will reduce the number of transactions that require cabinet approval and speed up the process for land sales.
“Safeguards would be in place to ensure all land sales are open and transparent and free of inside influence.
Minister would review sales to employees perceived to have any influence on the decision, while the cabinet would approve sales to ministers and senior public servants.
More information on land sales or acquisitions can be found here.
