General Questions about the LTSA
Q: Is the LTSA Part of the Provincial Government?
A: No. The LTSA is an independent body formed in 2005 by statute with the specific responsibility of ensuring the continued integrity of BC's land title and survey systems.
The LTSA, however, continues to have a close relationship with the province. We have an Operating Agreement with the province which sets out various terms and performance standards for LTSA operations. Also, the province retains all responsibility for establishing legislation and regulations which govern land title and survey systems.
Q: To Whom is the LTSA Accountable?
A. The LTSA is accountable to the users of British Columbia's land title and survey systems. Accountability and transparency of LTSA operations is achieved through a variety of means, including:
- Five-year provincial reviews of LTSA operational performance
- Statutory procedures for appointing the LTSA's Board of Directors, and qualification criteria for Directors
- Legislative safeguards on how LTSA revenues are spent and how service fees are established
- Establishment of an independent 'Stakeholder Advisory Committee' to provide counsel on operational questions
- Public right of access to all business plans and key policies and decisions
- Public release of audited financial statements and annual report on LTSA achievements
- Annual public meeting that anybody may attend and raise any questions
- Adoption of a public complaints procedure
Q: How is the LTSA Funded?
A: All LTSA operations are funded from revenues earned from land title and survey services provided to customers. Service fee levels are established in compliance with requirements set out in an Operating Agreement with the BC Government. Under the terms of the Operating Agreement, 69% of all service fee revenue collected by the LTSA are remitted back to the BC Ministry of Finance.
All of the Property Transfer Tax fees collected by the LTSA's Land Title Offices are remitted back to the province.
Q: What is the LTSA Doing to Protect Historic Land Title and Survey Records?
A: The LTSA gives high priority to preserving the extensive collection of historic land title and survey records under its care.
The LTSA is approaching this challenge through a multi-year program. The initiative initially involved cataloging records and assessing their condition. An independent, professional records archivist was retained to conduct the historic records inventory and make recommendations for long-term management and preservation of the records. This has been followed by conservation actions needed to protect the records, while still enabling reliable access to critical information in them.
The preservation and security of historical records is regarded as an ongoing process and will continue to be a key deliverable reflected in the LTSA's annual Business Plan in coming years.
Read more about the LTSA's Management of Archival Collections to a new modern, secure facility in mid-2010.
Q: Which days will the LTSA be closed in 2010?
A: The LTSA is closed weekends and will be closed for the following statutory holidays in 2010:
- January 1 (New Years Day)
- April 2 and April 5 (Good Friday and Easter Monday)
- May 24 (Victoria Day)
- July 1 (Canada day)
- August 2 (BC Day)
- September 6 (Labour Day)
- October 11 (Thanksgiving)
- November 11 (Remembrance Day)
- December 27 and 28 (Christmas and Boxing Day)
If you haven't found the answer to your question here, take a look at our other Frequently Asked Questions pages.
