Canada (Province). Crown Lands Dept.

• Crown Lands Department

The Department of Crown Lands for the Province of Canada has its origins in the office of the Commissioner of Crown Lands for Upper Canada, first established in 1827. By the 1840's, however, the Crown Lands Department had been established over which the Commissioner presided, and by 1860, this was renamed the Department of Crown Lands.

Between 1827 and 1867, the responsibilities of the Department of Crown Lands, and in turn, of the Commissioner, expanded to include the duties of the Surveyor General (in 1845), as well as those of the Surveyor General of Woods and Forests (in 1852). By 1867, the Department had responsibility over mines, fisheries, ordnance lands, colonization roads, and Indian affairs, as well.

In 1867, the Department of Crown Lands for the Province of Canada was replaced with the Department of Crown Lands for Ontario. Under the terms of the British North America Act (now called the Constitution Act), all laws in force in the Province of Canada at the time of Confederation were to continue unless otherwise repealed, abolished or altered. As such, the act of 1860 which governed the Department of Crown Lands remained in force as the legislative authority over the new Department of Crown Lands for the Province of Ontario.

The Department of Crown Lands for the Province of Canada was responsible for issuing licenses of occupation to intending settlers, keeping a register of assignments of claims to land, and issuing patents. In 1845, the Department acquired responsibility for the surveying of the lands of the Province, and by 1860, additional responsibility over mining claims, ordnance lands, Indian affairs, and fisheries. Ordnance lands, Indian affairs and fisheries were, however, transferred to the federal government in 1867. Prior to 1854, the Crown Lands Department also had responsibility over the development of Colonization Roads. This function was transferred to the Bureau of Agriculture in 1854, but was transferred back to the Department of Crown Lands in 1862.

Upper Canada. House of Assembly. Journal 1829, Appendix p. 2. (appointment of Peter Robinson as Commissioner for the sale and management of Crown Lands by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury - July 17, 1827)

Act for the Disposal of Public Lands, Statutes of the Province of Canada 1841, Chap. 100

An Act respecting the sale and management of the Public Lands, Statutes of the Province of Canada 1860, Chap. 2

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Bishop, Olga. Publications of the Province of Upper Canada and of Great Britain, 1791-1840 (1984)

Bishop, Olga. Publications of the Government of the Province of Quebec, 1841-1867 (1963)

The agency is found in Canadiana as "Canada. Crown Lands Department". The Archives of Ontario, however, uses Canada (Province) to distinguish between agencies of the Province of Canada (1841- 1867), and the nation of Canada (1867- ).

Archivist(s):
R. Anger