Crown Land

[80watts]

Years ago someone told me in passing most land in Canada is still owned by the government.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/crown-land

interesting video about licensing on crown land. Interesting comment about gravel pit...
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...BB17FDFFCD385BFA3B60BB17FDFFCD385&FORM=VDQVAP

Now if the Canadian/Provincial governments own over 88% of the land, how the fuck are they broke and in debt.

 

[VinVan]

Except in most of BC where almost no agreements were signed with First Nations. The Supreme Court of Canada ordered BC to figure it out more than 20 years ago and I believe 7 treaties have been signed as of 2017. So let’s do the math: 7 treaties in 20 years; 190 more established First Nations to negotiate with; so another 500 years or so at this pace and BC treaties will be settled.

 

[MissingOne]

... Years ago someone told me in passing most land in Canada is still owned by the government ...

Crown land isn't owned by the government. It is held by "The Crown". A discussion of what "The Crown" stands for in Canada is beyond the scope of a simple PERB post, and beyond me to explain anyway, but in simplistic terms it's somewhat like public land. Crown land is administered by agencies of the provincial governments, but those governments don't "own" it. They administer it on behalf of The Crown. As Vincent noted, most lands in B.C. are subject to aboriginal land claims, most of which have not yet been settled.

As I recall, governments in BC have from time to time tried to solve some of their financial problems by selling off Crown lands, but the public tends to object loudly and fervently to alienating Crown lands. And again, attempts to sell off Crown lands are complicated by aboriginal land claims. Having the administration of Crown lands is hardly a "get out of debt free card" for governments in Canada.

 

[sybian]

Except when they log the timber, and collect stumpage rates.....which has increased 250% since the 2017 wildfires.
Funny how the NDP stated that all the timber that was burned would be harvested.
the salvage stumpage rate was about 50 cents.....it was increased to 20 dollars, closing lumber mills on a wholesale rate...there are entire towns up here that are unemployed.
almost all the trees have been left to rot away...the ones that have been harvested are being chipped to fuel a boiler in Merrit that produces Hydro.

 

[MissingOne]

Being that the vast majority of Canada is barren/undeveloped wilderness, "owning" Crown Land means little to the Government. It's not as though there's any way to generate revenue from unused land...

Well, Sybian already mentioned stumpage. Then there's mining, which in BC usually takes place on Crown lands, and which generates considerable revenue for the province. There's oil and gas production in northeastern BC. One of these days we may be able to generate geothermal power from locations in the Garibaldi volcanic field. Hunting, especially non-resident hunting, generates some revenue for the province. Ranchers like Sybian pay something for grazing rights on Crown land.

Whatever one thinks of these various industries making use of Crown lands, they do pay substantial taxes, royalties and other fees to the province. If those revenues didn't exist, we'd all be paying more in personal income taxes and property taxes to the province, to keep government services going.

 

[80watts]

So it is simple to say that the land belongs to the Fed and Provincial governments. Why else are they managing it? Who are they managing it for? The Queen, not likely; she is a figure-head and no real power in Canada.
Some where along the line someone/group/political party will have to say that the "crown lands" belong to the people of Canada. Citizens of Canada; not some "royality" or rich elite.

 

[MissingOne]

So it is simple to say that the land belongs to the Fed and Provincial governments. Why else are they managing it? Who are they managing it for? The Queen, not likely; she is a figure-head and no real power in Canada.
Some where along the line someone/group/political party will have to say that the "crown lands" belong to the people of Canada. Citizens of Canada; not some "royality" or rich elite.

From The Canadian Encyclopedia:
"In a monarchy, the Crown is an abstract concept or symbol that represents the state and its government. In Canada, a constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the source of non-partisan sovereign authority and an integral part of the legislative, executive and judicial powers that govern the country. Under Canada’s system of responsible government (or democracy), the Crown performs each of these functions on the binding advice, or through the actions of, members of parliament, ministers, or judges."

In my view "The Crown" is an abstract concept that does, in effect, represent the people of Canada. We don't need any political party to say it. I prefer that political parties keep their grubby paws off the concept of The Crown.