Report of the Department of Lands and Forests for fiscal year ending March 31, 1950 Page 58 



DIVISION OF LAND AND RECREATIONAL AREAS 



Based on study of the results of actual practice, policy and procedure relating 

 to all forms of land disposition and use was changed from time to time during the year 

 with a view, among other things, to treating applications more rapidly and more 

 completely, having regard to the necessity of satisfying the applicant and at the same 

 time properly enforcing the provisions of The Public Lands Act and the regulations, 

 to the eventual benefit of both. The successful application of this policy dictates its 

 continuance. New regulations have been drafted and will probably be put into effect 

 during the next year. Amendments to the Act simplify the granting of Free Grant 

 patents in certain instances and pave the way for a more effective and rapid clean-up 

 of this type of land tenure. Also, the granting of pine releases in bona fide cases, 

 whether or not the land involved is in timber licence. 



Summer Resort Land 



Sales made and patents issued increased during the year, this being due in large 

 measure to the filing of a large number of surveys which in turn was the result to 

 some extent of assistance rendered to surveyors by the Department. 



Agricultural and Allied Uses 



A gratifying increase in some phases of land disposition in this category is 

 noted, largely because of improved administrative practice. The number of locations 

 made to returned soldiers is about the same as last year. A slight increase in the 

 number of both sales and patents involving land for special use is noted. This section 

 of the regulations has in the past been misused but as a result of change in policy 

 has during the past year been used primarily to clean up old outstanding cases, for 

 which purpose, specifically, it was originally designed. The number of land use permits 

 issued increased. This form of tenure is preferred and encouraged where land use is 

 temporary in such cases as hunt camps, the location of which may be moved from 

 year to year. In Crown townsites the number of sales made decreased for the reason 

 that such land is rapidly becoming scarce. On the other hand the number of patents 

 increased, due primarily to improved follow-up and inspection procedure and in some 

 cases as a result of modification of sale conditions which, as originally set up, were 

 difficult, if not impossible, to execute because of changing conditions. 



Veterans' Land 



Many applications were dealt with pursuant to the provisions of The Ontario 

 Dominion-Provincial Agreement (1946) which was made under and by virtue of the 

 provisions of the Veterans' Land Act (Dominion), section 35, 6, Geo. VI. 1942. The 

 number completed for agricultural use increased while the small holdings decreased. 

 The Department continued to co-operate most fully with the Dominion Government 

 in the placement of veterans on Crown land, and in addition to new sale agreements 

 completed there were a number of conversions from sales made in the ordinary way 

 under The Public Lands Act to Agreements for Sale. 



