LA\A/ BRANCH 



OBJECTIVES 



1. To provide legal counsel and services for the Department. 



2. To maintain services of the Patents Office. 



ORGANIZATION 



The duties and responsibilities of Law Branch may be sum- 

 marized as follows: 



Policy: establishing and reviewing Department policy with 

 respect to legislation, regulations and administration; and 

 integrating Department policies into those of the Govern- 

 ment. 



Interpretation of statutes and regulations. 

 Advice to Branches and field offices on the legal position of 

 the Department in all matters affecting it. 

 Preparation and Processing of agreements; briefs, opinions 

 and memoranda on special subjects; leases; legislation; 

 licences; office consolidations of statutes and regulations; 

 pleadings; recommendations to Council; and regulations 

 under the various statutes administered by the Department. 

 Services (miscellaneous): collection of bad accounts; con- 

 ducting litigation; conveyancing; representing the Depart- 

 ment as Counsel in Provincial Land Tax Appeals; settle- 

 ments of claims and disputes; and title searching. 

 Liaison with federal officials on matters concerning fish- 

 eries; federal canal systems, harbours and lands; and Indian 

 reserves and rights of Indians, particularly regarding hunt- 

 ing and fishing. 



Patents Office: maintenance of records of Crown land; advis- 

 ing the public on records; compilation of statistics; cancel- 

 lation of Crown land sales; domesday books; forfeitures; 

 leases; licences; and preparation and engrossing of docu- 

 ments disposing of Crown land including leases, letters 

 patent and licences of occupation. 



Legislation 



At the Session of the Legislature, which convened on the 

 25th day of January, 1967, and prorogued on the 15th day 

 of June, 1967, amendments were made to five statutes 

 administered by the Department. 

 THE FORESTRY AMENDMENT ACT, 1967 

 The definition of "forestry purposes" was amended to pro- 

 vide that the term includes the production of wood and 

 wood products, provision of proper environmental conditions 

 for wildlife, protection against floods and erosion, recreation, 

 and protection and production of water supplies. 

 THE GAME AND FISH AMENDMENT ACT, 1967 

 Subsection 3 of Section 6 of The Game and Fish Act, 1961-62, 

 was re-eriacted to provide for management agreements with 

 owners of land respecting hunting and fishing rights, habitat 

 improvement work, protective measures, stocking pro- 

 grams, fencing and erection of signs and other management 

 practices. On registration, such agreements are binding 

 upon subsequent owners. 



Subsection 8 of Section 34 of the Act was amended to pro- 

 vide that holders of a class of licence designated by the 

 regulations shall wear a badge which clearly shows the 

 number of the licence. Section 83 of the Act was amended 

 to provide for regulations designating such licences. 

 THE PUBLIC LANDS AMENDMENT ACT, 1967 

 Section 43 of The Public Lands Act was amended by adding 

 two subsections which provide for the entering into of 

 agreements with owners of land respecting the erection, 

 maintenance and operation thereon of a public work within 

 the meaning of The Public Works Act and provide that upon 

 registration, such agreements are binding upon subsequent 

 owners. 



THE SURVEYS AMENDMENT ACT, 1967 

 Section 60 of The Surveys Act was amended by adding a 

 clause which authorizes the making of regulations estab- 

 lishing, governing and regulating systems of co-ordinate 

 surveys. 



THE TREES AMENDMENT ACT, 1967 

 The definition of "forestry purposes" was amended in the 

 same manner as the definition in The Forestry Act. 



