75% of the total number of applications received were for lots shown on 

 registered subdivision plans. 



The decentralization of summer resort sales to district offices mentioned in 

 last year's report has proven satisfactory and was extended to include individual 

 lots, the transfer and cancellation of sales, and the granting of extensions of time 

 to fulfil building requirements. Head Office continues to prepare and issue patents. 



Several subdivision control areas were established under section 15(2) of 

 The Public Lands Act. These will be studied carefully to select suitable locations 

 for public use and plan proper subdivisions into lots for future disposition for 

 summer cottage purposes. The Departments of Health and Municipal Affairs 

 have continued to co-operate in providing the benefit of their experience in 

 the establishment of subdivisions and other land use considerations. 



Following receipt of a report from the Department of Mines to the effect 

 that the Lake of the Woods was a potentially valuable mineral area, the Depart- 

 ment of Lands and Forests agreed to the staking, under The Mining Act, of 

 islands having an area of 500 acres or more, subject to the reservation in all cases 

 of the surface rights on 400 feet back from the shoreline of the lake. 



Several areas in territory without municipal organization were established as 

 restricted areas under the provisions of section 16 of The Public Lands Act. 

 This authority vests in the Minister the power to prevent the erection of dwellings 

 and other buildings or the use of buildings by squatters on abandoned mining 

 properties where lack of facilities such as roads, hydro, schools, churches, water 

 and proper sewage disposal makes such occupation undesirable. 



Close liaison with the Department of Highways resulted in more positive 

 control over sites adjacent to the King's highways for which authorities are issued 

 by the Department of Lands and Forests for the purpose of construction camps. 

 This will result in the removal of buildings and restoration of the site to more 

 natural condition on completion of the project. 



Application for leasing of Crown lands for trailer parks may now be made 

 if the land is within an organized municipality and the application is approved 

 by the municipality and the local medical officer of health. 



Arrangements were concluded providing for the leasing of Crown land to 

 the timber industry for logging communities, depot camps or other semi- 

 permanent establishments not covered under The Crown Timber Act and 

 regulations. 



The policy of leasing rather than selling land fronting on highways for 

 commercial purposes was continued. Several leases issued for gasoline stations 

 and motels in areas where these services are most required by the travelling 

 public. In some cases the areas involved were offered for lease by public tender. 

 Suitable locations on highways, such as Highway 17, are selected, marked on the 

 ground and shown on maps for the purpose of easy identification and inspection 

 by intending lessees. 



At the second Session of the 1960-61 Legislature, those sections of The 

 Public Lands Act dealing with the disposal of Crown land for agricultural pur- 

 poses, being sections 44 to 61, were repealed. Section 43b, enacted at the same 

 Session, provided for the establishment of The Public Agricultural Lands Com- 

 mittee. The chairman and members of the committee were appointed by the 

 Minister and several meetings have been held to formulate policy and procedure. 

 Selection of land suitable for agricultural use was confined largely to the Districts 

 of Cochrane and Temiskaming, where, to date, some 200 lots have been inspected, 

 soil-tested and classified as to agricultural suitability. 



In the matter of land disposition under the Ontario-Dominion Agreement 



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