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.
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Occupations
Control area
Authority record identifier
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.