Sale of Crown Lands
Authority
Under Section 16(1)(a) of the Crown
Lands Act, the Minister of Natural Resources, with the approval of
the Governor in Council, may issue a grant, deed, lease, license or other
conveyance for the disposition of Crown lands or any interest in Crown
lands.
Definitions
"Crown lands" means all or any part of land
under the administration and control of the Minister of Natural Resources.
"Sale", in this policy, means a conveyance of
a fee simple interest in exchange for monetary consideration. This
policy does not apply to transfers of administration and control to
other Provincial Departments or to the Federal Government. This policy
does not apply to the issuance of leases, licences, rights of way or
easements.
Requirements
The Province of Nova Scotia has adopted a Real Property Disposal Policy
which applies to all Departments. All sales of Crown lands must be considered
within the context of this policy. Furthermore, Crown lands may only be
sold:
- in accordance with any other formal Department policy; or
- by way of public offering, generally tender, if the land has been
determined to be surplus to the needs of the Department of Natural Resources
and, upon notification, no other Provincial government department requests
that it not be sold; or
- by direct sale, at market value
- to a municipality, agency, non-profit group or community organization
when a public benefit can be demonstrated;
- to support or promote economic activity when all other reasonable
alternatives have been canvassed by the applicant; or
- by direct sale, at market value or at a negotiated price which may
be more or less than market value, to alleviate undue hardship or in
extenuating circumstances, and where it is demonstrated as being in
the best interests of the Province.
The sale of any Crown land is subject to Integrated Resource Management
(IRM) review and must be approved by Governor in Council (Cabinet).
Crown land is not sold for private recreational or residential purposes.
For more information, please contact Harry Ashcroft,
Manager, Crown Land Disposals & Coastal Permits, phone: (902) 424-3160,
or e-mail at: ashcroht@gov.ns.ca
