News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

December 3, 2019

New Legislation Introduced That Would Streamline Crown Land Sales

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Process would be More Efficient, Effective and Transparent: Helwer

The Manitoba government is introducing new legislation that would streamline and improve government oversight for Crown land sales, Central Services Minister Reg Helwer announced today.

“The Crown Land Dispositions Act will make the overall process of land dispositions more efficient, effective and transparent,” said Helwer.  “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 noted a detailed review in 2018 concluded Manitoba’s land sales process was overly complex and costly.  The new proposed legislation aims to help reorganize the system, establish new processes and develop a more efficient governance model.

The proposed changes would delegate more authority to ministers to make land sales decisions.  Currently, all sales above $25,000 require cabinet approval (along with one statute of $500).  Under the new structure:
•    a department minister 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 valued at $1 million and over.

“This will reduce the number of transactions that require cabinet approval and speed up the process for land sales,” said Helwer.  “Safeguards would be in place to ensure all land sales are open and transparent, and free of inside influence.”

Ministers would review sales to employees perceived to have any influence on the decision, while cabinet would approve sales to ministers and senior public servants.

To increase transparency, the province launched an interactive online mapping tool where Manitobans can find information on land sales or acquisitions at www.manitoba.ca/openmb/infomb/index.html.


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