Saskatchewan. Lands Branch

Identity area

Type of entity

Secondary Agency

Authorized form of name

Saskatchewan. Lands Branch

Parallel form(s) of name

Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

Other form(s) of name

  • Lands Branch
  • Lands and Regulatory Management Branch

Identifiers for corporate bodies

Description area

Dates of existence

1931-

History

From 1930 to 1947 the Lands Branch, and grant and lease functions, were part of the Department of Natural Resources (later the Department of Natural Resources and Industrial Development.) The initial legislation (The Provincial Lands Act, 1931 and The Land Utilization Act, 1935) and the legacy of the Federal Department of the Interior, which previously held jurisdiction over these responsibilities, provided the framework for Crown Land lease and sale accounting and administration. While the Lands Branch was part of the Department of Natural Resources, the Provincial Lands Division and then (in 1932) the Lands Patent Division carried out the grants and transfer of land. This included handling enquiries, application forms, payments, agreements and recording the disposition of land.

In 1948, control of the Lands Branch was transferred to the Department of Agriculture, which subsequently changed the responsibility for many of the functions from the Land Utilization Division to the Inspection Services Division. During the 1960s, The Agriculture Rehabilitation and Development Act resulted in many of the grants and leases only being permitted for projects related to the development and conservation of water supplies, soil improvement, and /or agricultural efficiency.

In 1975, the Lands Disposition and Records Division of the Lands Branch became responsible for land grants and transfers - by advertising land for lease/sale, by preparing land transfers, and by maintaining the records of lands. In 1984-1985, a reorganization of the Lands Branch saw many of these functions split between the Field Operations and Support Services divisions.

The transfer of the Lands Branch back to the Department of Agriculture and Food in 1993 resulted in another reorganization, splitting the control of leases and sales amongst geographically oriented divisions (i.e. northwest, south). In 1993-1994 the Branch operated under the Financial Support and Program Management Division as part of the Lands and Regulatory Management Branch. This Branch had a broader mandate, including livestock health and operations. With the abolishment of the Crow's Nest Pass annual railways subsidy in February 1995, Lands Branch assumed responsibility for management of the provincial share of the federal payout and amended rental rates on Crown agricultural leases.

In 1996, the splitting of the Lands and Regulatory Management Branch into three branches (Livestock and Veterinary Operations, Pasture, and Lands) resulted in Lands Branch becoming part of the Program and Services Division, where it remained until April 2005. This change marked the first time that the Lands Branch did not hold responsibility for the administration of provincial pastures and the Community Pastures Program. The responsibility was returned to the Branch in 2001 with the amalgamation of Pastures and Lands Branches.

In 2000, the stated mandate of Lands Branch was "to promote the sustainable and integrated use of Crown land while providing opportunities for diversification and economic growth." Between April 2002 and May 2004 the Department operated as the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization. Currently (2011) Lands Branch resides in the Ministry of Agriculture. While the Branch has experienced changes in its structure and in policy and program development, the basic function regarding the administration, sale and lease of Crown lands has not substantially altered throughout its history.

Places

Legal status

Functions, occupations and activities

Since 1931 one of the primary functions of the Lands Branch has been the granting and transferring of Crown Land to individuals for agricultural and pastoral purposes. This includes handling enquiries, application forms, payments and agreements, recording the disposition of land and examining conservation implications for land use.

Mandates/sources of authority

The Provincial Lands Act (S.S. 1931, c. 14)

Internal structures/genealogy

General context

Dates of existence based on initial legislation date, 1931.

This branch is widely known as Lands Branch, despite variations in its name during the course of its history. This is the basis for choosing the agency name.

Relationships area

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Ministry of Agriculture

Identifier of related entity

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Dates of relationship

2007-

Description of relationship

Saskatchewan. Ministry of Agriculture is the controlling agency for Saskatchewan. Lands Branch

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization (2002-2004)

Identifier of related entity

GA 102

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Dates of relationship

2002-2004

Description of relationship

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization is the controlling agency for Saskatchewan. Lands Branch

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Department of Natural Resources and Industrial Development (1944-1950)

Identifier of related entity

GA 13

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Dates of relationship

1944-1947

Description of relationship

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Natural Resources and Industrial Development is the controlling agency for Saskatchewan. Lands Branch

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Department of Natural Resources (1930-1944)

Identifier of related entity

GA 12

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Dates of relationship

1930-1944

Description of relationship

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Natural Resources is the controlling agency for Saskatchewan. Lands Branch

Related entity

Canada. Lands Patent Branch (1881-1930)

Identifier of related entity

GA 5

Category of relationship

temporal

Dates of relationship

Description of relationship

Canada. Lands Patent Branch is the predecessor of Saskatchewan. Lands Branch

Related entity

Canada. Dept. of the Interior. School Lands Branch (1879-1930)

Identifier of related entity

GA 167

Category of relationship

temporal

Dates of relationship

Description of relationship

Saskatchewan. Lands Branch is the successor of Canada. Dept. of the Interior. School Lands Branch

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture and Food (1989-2002, 2004-2007)

Identifier of related entity

GA 49

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Type of relationship

Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture and Food

controls

Saskatchewan. Lands Branch

Dates of relationship

2004-2007

Description of relationship

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture and Food (1989-2002, 2004-2007)

Identifier of related entity

GA 49

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Type of relationship

Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture and Food

controls

Saskatchewan. Lands Branch

Dates of relationship

1993-2002

Description of relationship

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Rural Development (1983-1993)

Identifier of related entity

GA 41

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Type of relationship

Saskatchewan. Dept. of Rural Development

controls

Saskatchewan. Lands Branch

Dates of relationship

1988-1993

Description of relationship

Related entity

Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture (1905-1989)

Identifier of related entity

GA 38

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Type of relationship

Saskatchewan. Department of Agriculture

controls

Saskatchewan. Lands Branch

Dates of relationship

1948-1989

Description of relationship

Access points area

Subject access points

Place access points

Occupations

Control area

Authority record identifier

GA 37

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Rules for Archival Description (RAD)

Status

Final

Level of detail

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Authority record created on 2008-03-05. Approved 2012-01-24. Last modified on 2017-11-29.

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

The Provincial Lands Act, 1931; The Land Titles Act 2000; The Provincial Lands Act; The Sale or Lease of Certain Lands Act; The Forest Resources Management Act; The Land Bank Repeal and Temporary Provisions Act; Agriculture Rehabilitation and Development Act.
AMICUS Authorities - no entry found.
Administrative Histories Binder, GRB (Saskatchewan Archives Resource Binder).
Departmental Annual Reports.
Saskatchewan Executive and Legislative Directory.
Ministry of Agriculture website.

Maintenance notes

  • Clipboard

  • Export

  • EAC

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