Overview Of Part 23.1

Part 23.1 of the Land Title Act and s. 44 of the Property Law Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 377 establish the authority of First Nations to acquire, hold, and dispose of land in British Columbia and to have their ownership of land and interests in land registered in the land title office in their First Nation name.

Section 44 of the Property Law Act declares that a First Nation has the power and capacity of a natural person to acquire and dispose of land in British Columbia, including in joint tenancy.

Part 23.1 of the Land Title Act establishes:

1. administrative requirements for First Nations to be registered in the land title office in the name of the First Nation as owners of land and interests in land; and
2. the authority of the registrar to rely and act on applications that have been executed and witnessed in accordance with Part 23.1.