Land Title Act

[RSBC 1996] CHAPTER 250

Part 10 — Applications for Registration and Evidence in Support

Application required

147  (1) An instrument or other document tendered for registration, filing, lodging or deposit must not be received by the registrar unless it is the original instrument or document and is accompanied by an appropriate application.

(2) The registrar may dispense with compliance with subsection (1) if

(a) no form of application is approved by the director, and

(b) in the registrar's opinion hardship might otherwise ensue.

(3) An instrument itself constitutes a sufficient form of application if

(a) the instrument is in the form approved by the director, and

(b) the registrar considers that no further information or act of the applicant is necessary for the registrar to receive an application in respect of the instrument.

Form and manner of applying

148  (1) An application under this Act must be in writing and be in or include one of the forms approved by the director or, if no appropriate form is approved, in a form satisfactory to the registrar.

(2) An application may be made by the applicant in person, or on the applicant's behalf by the applicant's

(a) solicitor, or

(b) agent residing in British Columbia who has reached 19 years of age.

(3) A solicitor or agent who has made an application may, under this Act, do all other acts and things that lie within the scope of the authority given to the solicitor or agent.

(4) A statement in an application of a solicitor or agent that he or she is the solicitor or agent of the person on whose behalf an application is made is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof that he or she is solicitor or agent of the person on whose behalf the application is made.

Address of applicant

149  (1) An applicant must

(a) include in the instrument or other document tendered for registration, filing, lodging or deposit, or

(b) deliver to the registrar a memorandum in writing containing

an address to which it will be sufficient to mail any notices that, under this Act, is required to be served on or allowed to be posted to the applicant.

(2) The applicant may from time to time, by a notice in the form approved by the director or by other writing, file with the registrar a change of address.

(3) On receiving the notice or other writing duly completed, the registrar must note the change in the register.

Particulars as to witness and parties to instrument

150  (1) The registrar may require that the given names, surname, address and occupation of the witness and of all parties to an instrument produced for registration be provided by evidence to the satisfaction of the registrar.

(2) If a party is a corporation, the registrar may require that its incorporation number be stated after the name of the corporation.

Repealed

151  [Repealed 1998-42-24.]

Description of foreign government

152  In an instrument tendered for registration to which a government of a foreign country, province or state is a party, the party must be described in a manner satisfactory to the registrar.

Time of application

153  (1) The registrar must record on each application received by the registrar

(a) the date and time of its receipt, and

(b) the serial number assigned to the instrument or other document.

(2) For the purposes of priority among purchasers, transferees, mortgagees and others, and for all purposes of this Act, the date and time recorded under subsection (1) (a) is the date and time when the application was received by the registrar and a true copy of that record must be received in all courts as conclusive proof of the date and time the application was received by the registrar.

Application for registration of fee simple

154  A person claiming to be registered as owner in fee simple of land must apply to the registrar for registration in the form approved by the director.

Application for registration of charge

155  (1) If the title to an estate in fee simple has been registered or registration has been applied for, a person not entitled to be registered in fee simple, claiming to be registered as owner of a charge on the land, whether the charge is in respect of a present and vested right or a future or contingent interest, must apply in the form approved by the director to the registrar for registration of the charge, and if registration of the fee simple has been applied for by an application that is pending, the application for registration of a charge must await the result of the application for registration of the fee simple.

(2) If, before June 1, 1921, an estate less than the fee simple has been granted by the Crown and a charge has been registered in respect of it, a person claiming under a subsequent dealing with the charge may apply for registration in the form approved by the director and adapted to suit the circumstances.

(3) If a registered charge

(a) is transferred either absolutely or conditionally, or

(b) by agreement between the parties,

(i)  is modified or extended, or

(ii)  is postponed to another charge,

the transferee or a party to the agreement may apply for registration in the form approved by the director and adapted to suit the circumstances.

Application must be for all lands or charges comprised in instrument

156  (1) A person producing an instrument in support of an application for registration must apply to register the title dealt with by the instrument to the full extent to which the instrument is effectual.

(2) If application is made to register the title to a part of the land or to an undivided portion of the interest comprised in and effectually dealt with by an unregistered instrument, the registrar must not register the application unless registration of the title to the remainder of the land, or to the remaining interest comprised in the instrument and located in the registrar's land title district is concurrently applied for.

(3) In case of a transmission of property by reason of death, the registrar may, if in the registrar's opinion hardship might otherwise ensue, accept an application for the registration of the title to a portion of the property.

(4) Subsection (1) applies to an instrument purporting to create, assign or otherwise deal with 2 or more charges on land.

(5) Subsection (4) does not apply to a lease or agreement for lease for a term not exceeding 3 years if there is actual occupation under the lease or agreement so as to require the tenant, on applying to register an option to purchase or right of first refusal contained in the lease or agreement, to register the lease or agreement.

Forms

157  (1) If an application is made in the appropriate approved form, the form must appear on the first page at least 1 1/2 inches from the top of the instrument tendered for registration unless the registrar allows the form to appear elsewhere, and must be signed by the applicant or the applicant's solicitor or authorized agent.

(2) If no instrument is required to be produced in support of an application under section 154 or 155, the approved form may be included in a letter or other document satisfactory to the registrar.

(3) The signature of a person to the form implies a statement by the signatory that he or she or, as the case may be, the person on whose behalf the application is made,

(a) is applying for registration under this Act,

(b) is entitled to be registered

(i)  as the owner in fee simple of the land described, or

(ii)  as the owner of the charge specified over the land described, and

(c) claims registration accordingly.

(4) A signatory to the form, unless he or she is the applicant, must state whether he or she is acting as solicitor or the authorized agent for the applicant, and if the signatory fails to so state, he or she is deemed to state that he or she is the duly authorized agent for the applicant.

(5) Unless otherwise stated in the form, the address of the person entitled to be registered as owner is deemed to be that shown in the instrument.

(6) If a signatory to the form is an agent, his or her signature to the application is deemed to state that he or she is the duly authorized agent for the applicant and has reached 19 years of age.

Restrictions as to scope of application

158  (1) An application for the registration of the fee simple must not include

(a) subdivided and unsubdivided land,

(b) parcels shown under different subdivision plans,

(c) more than 5 parcels of subdivided land,

(d) several parcels of unsubdivided land that are not contiguous, or

(e) several parcels of unsubdivided land, whether or not they are contiguous, if the total area of the parcels included would exceed 800 ha.

(2) Despite subsection (1), one single parcel containing in excess of 800 ha may be included in a single application.

(3) For the purpose of this section, a highway, dike, stream or statutory right of way is not a break in the contiguity of land that is otherwise contiguous.

(4) The Board of Directors may make regulations amending the restrictions imposed by this section.

Registrar may require deposit of instruments

159  The registrar may require an applicant to produce or deposit an instrument or other document in the applicant's possession or in the applicant's control in any capacity affecting the land covered by the application or evidencing title to it.

Summons to produce instruments

160  The registrar may, by summons in the form approved by the director, require a person to produce an instrument in the person's possession or in the person's control in any capacity affecting land or a charge, or evidencing the title to it, and, if the instrument is required to complete registration, the registrar may require the person to deposit the instrument.

Application to court to compel production or deposit of instruments

161  (1) If a person summoned by the registrar to produce or deposit an instrument or other document refuses or neglects to do so, the registrar may apply to the Supreme Court, calling on the person to appear and show cause why the person should not obey the summons.

(2) If a person, after being served with notice of the application under subsection (1), refuses or neglects to attend before the court at the time and place set in the notice, the court may

(a) issue a warrant authorizing and directing the person so summoned to be apprehended and brought before the court for examination, or

(b) make any order that may be just.

Powers of court on hearing

162  (1) The court may examine on oath the person summoned under section 160 and, after the examination or in the person's absence, may order the person to produce or deliver up the instrument or other document requested by the registrar.

(2) If the person summoned

(a) refuses or neglects to comply with the order, or

(b) cannot be found and the summons or warrant cannot be served on the person,

the court may

(c) direct the registrar to proceed with the application pending before the registrar without the production of the instrument or other document,

(d) declare that the instrument or other document is deemed to be cancelled, amended or endorsed, in whole or to the extent that the registrar would have had authority to cancel, amend, or endorse it if it had been produced to the registrar on the application under section 161 (1), and

(e) make any further order that the circumstances of the case may require.

Notice of intention to register

163  (1) If an applicant is unable to comply with a requisition of the registrar that a particular instrument or document, including an absolute certificate of title, a duplicate indefeasible title or a certificate of charge, be produced or deposited, because it is in the possession of the registered owner or another person who refuses or neglects to produce the instrument, the registrar may,

(a) instead of proceeding under section 160, and

(b) on being satisfied that the applicant has otherwise established a good safe holding and marketable title to the land in question,

give notice in the form approved by the director to the person who has possession of the instrument.

(2) If a duplicate indefeasible title for land affected by an expropriation notice is issued at the time the notice is filed, the registrar must

(a) cancel the duplicate indefeasible title, and

(b) give notice of its cancellation to the person to whom it was delivered at the person's address specified in section 176 (5)

and the registrar must not issue another duplicate indefeasible title for the land until a vesting notice or notice of abandonment respecting the expropriation has been filed in accordance with the Expropriation Act.

Registration after notice

164  (1) The period stipulated in the notice in the approved form or an extension of that period is in the discretion of the registrar.

(2) Unless a good and valid objection in writing from the person served with the notice is received within the period stipulated in the notice or in an extension of it, the registrar may proceed with the registration of the title claimed by the applicant.

(3) If the title claimed is an estate in fee simple, an outstanding absolute certificate of title or duplicate indefeasible title, the nonproduction of which is mentioned in the notice, is deemed conclusively to be cancelled as to the land so registered in the name of the applicant.

Corporate powers assumed

165  (1) For the purpose of this Act, a corporation, including a strata corporation, is deemed to have the power and capacity of a natural person of full capacity in acquiring and disposing of land despite a stipulation, restriction or qualification expressed or imposed in any other Act or law, charter or memorandum and articles of association of the corporation, or in any other document.

(2) Subsection (1) does not relieve a person who under an Act or law is responsible for or in control of a corporation from liability for acts of the corporation that, despite subsection (1), are beyond the powers of the corporation.

(3) If a corporation holds land in a fiduciary capacity, subsection (1) is subject to section 180 and does not

(a) extend the powers of the corporation in respect of that land, or

(b) relieve the corporation or a person who by statute or law is responsible for or in control of the corporation from liability to the beneficiaries for an act of the corporation that is beyond its powers, or is contrary to the trusts under which the corporation holds the land.

(4) Despite

(a) any other Act or law,

(b) the charter, memorandum, notice of articles and articles or other constating documents of a corporation, or

(c) any other document,

an instrument executed by a corporation is, in favour of all persons dealing in good faith with the corporation, conclusively deemed to be properly executed and the instrument takes effect accordingly if

(d) the instrument is executed for the corporation by an individual whose signature is represented in the instrument as the signature of an authorized signatory of the corporation,

(e) the execution of the instrument is witnessed or proved in accordance with Part 5, and

(f) in the case of a strata corporation, the instrument is accompanied by a Certificate of Strata Corporation in the prescribed form under the Strata Property Act stating that the execution of the instrument has been approved by a resolution at an annual or special general meeting in accordance with the requirements of the Strata Property Act, and that the instrument conforms to the resolution.

(5) The registrar may accept the signature of an officer under Part 5 or an affidavit under section 49 as sufficient evidence that a corporation existed at the time an instrument was executed by it, or the registrar may require further evidence of that fact.

Disposal of instruments deposited

166  (1) Subject to subsection (3), all instruments and other documents deposited with the registrar must remain on deposit in the land title office or in some other location approved by the Board of Directors.

(2) If an application to register or deposit an instrument is refused by the registrar or withdrawn, the instrument produced in support of the application must be returned to the applicant.

(3) An instrument or other document may be destroyed if

(a) there is a duplicate, as defined in section 38, of the instrument or other document,

(b) the instrument or other document has no significant historical value, and

(c) the destruction is authorized by the bylaws of the Land Title and Survey Authority.

Withdrawal of application

167  (1) If an application has been made, and no other pending application is affected by it, the applicant may withdraw the application as to all or a part of the land comprised in it at any time before registration, on terms the registrar considers proper.

(2) If the person making the application is

(a) an agent who is not a solicitor, or notary public under the Notaries Act, or

(b) one of several owners acting on behalf of himself or herself and the other owners,

the registrar may refuse to allow the applicant to withdraw the application until the applicant produces the written consent, properly verified, of his or her principal or, as the case may be, the other owners.

(3) If a caveat has been lodged contesting the applicant's right to registration, the registrar may refuse to allow the application to be withdrawn until the applicant has paid the caveator a sum the Supreme Court on application may set, and the court may, by order, direct the applicant to pay reasonable compensation for the costs and expenses to which the caveator has been put because of the application.

(4) An application that has been withdrawn is void.

Summary rejection of defective application

168  (1) The registrar may cause an application and an instrument or other document presented with it

(a) to undergo a preliminary inspection, or

(b) to be received without preliminary inspection.

(2) An application may be summarily rejected if, in a preliminary inspection under this section,

(a) the instrument or other document

(i)  does not qualify in substance and in form for registration, filing or deposit,

(ii)  is not on sufficiently durable paper,

(iii)  is illegible in any respect, including the signature of a witness or an official authorized to take an affidavit,

(iv)  is in whole or in part a carbon copy of a typewritten document, or

(v)  is not capable of being satisfactorily microfilmed or photocopied or of being scanned and stored electronically using equipment in the land title office,

(b) the supporting application or other document is incomplete or not in proper form, or

(c) obvious defects in title are discovered.

(3) Whether or not there has been a preliminary inspection, the application is received when the registrar has complied with section 153.

(4) Every application received must be examined without delay and, except for an application to register a certificate of pending litigation or to lodge a caveat, must be given consideration in order of its receipt.

Part 10.1 — Electronic Filing

Division 1 —  Interpretation and Application

Definitions

168.1  In this Part:

"certificate" means a computer-based record created by a certification authority and issued to a subscriber for the purposes of permitting the subscriber to sign one or more of the following:

(aelectronic applications;

(belectronic instruments;

(celectronic plan applications;

(delectronic plans;

(eelectronic returns under the Property Transfer Tax Act;

"certification authority" means a certification authority recognized by the director under section 168.79;

"certification practice statement" means the statement approved by the director under section 168.79;

"deposit", in relation to the deposit of a plan or an electronic plan, includes file and register;

"electronic application" means an application in electronic format other than an electronic plan application;

"electronic instrument" means

(aan instrument in electronic format, and

(bthe electronic form of any other document that is required or permitted to be filed, lodged, registered or deposited in the land title office under this or another enactment,

but does not include

(can electronic plan,

(dan electronic plan application,

(ean electronic declaration referred to in Division 2.1, and

(fa supporting document, as defined in section 168.741;

"electronic plan" means a plan in electronic format;

"electronic plan application" means an electronic application that relates to an electronic plan;

"electronic signature" means a signature in electronic format that is

(a) created by a subscriber using a private cryptographic key under the control of the subscriber that corresponds to a public cryptographic key contained in a certificate, and

(b) incorporated into

(ielectronic applications and electronic instruments,

(i.1electronic plan applications and electronic plans, and

(ii)  electronic returns under the Property Transfer Tax Act;

"officer" has the same meaning as in Part 5;

"subscriber" means an individual who is authorized by a certificate to sign one or more of the following:

(aelectronic applications;

(belectronic instruments;

(celectronic plan applications;

(delectronic plans;

(eelectronic returns under the Property Transfer Tax Act;

"transferor" includes any person authorized by or under an enactment to execute an instrument or other document that is required or permitted to be filed, lodged, registered or deposited in the land title office.

Application of this Part

168.11  This Part applies only to the land title districts designated by the director and to those applications, instruments and other documents the electronic form of which is designated by the director for the purposes of this Part.

Division 2 —  Electronic Applications and Instruments

Provisions inapplicable to electronic instruments and applications

168.12  (1Sections 148 [form and manner of applying] and 157 [forms] do not apply in relation to electronic applications.

(2Sections 35 [admissibility of instruments] and 166 (2) [return of instrument if application refused or withdrawn] do not apply in relation to electronic instruments.

(3Section 38 (4) and (5) [admissibility of certified copy of original instrument or document] does not apply in relation to electronic applications or electronic instruments.

Effect of electronic applications and instruments

168.2  Except as provided in this Division, an electronic application or electronic instrument that meets the requirements of this Division and is received by the registrar under section 153 has the same effect for all purposes as an application or instrument in writing that meets the requirements of this Act and is received by the registrar under section 153.

Form and manner of completion

168.21  (1) Electronic applications and electronic instruments submitted under section 168.4 must be in the form designated by the director, contain the information required by the director and be completed in the manner established by the director.

(2If another enactment prescribes the form and legal effect of a document referred to in the definition of "electronic instrument", that document in the electronic form designated under subsection (1) has the same legal effect as under the other enactment despite any differences between the electronic form and the form prescribed under the other enactment.

Signing requirements

168.3  (1) An electronic instrument must be signed in accordance with this section before it is submitted under section 168.4.

(1.1) This section does not apply in relation to an electronic declaration required under section 168.41 or 168.42 in relation to a document submitted under section 168.4.

(2) An electronic instrument is signed for the purposes of this section when a subscriber incorporates his or her electronic signature into the instrument in accordance with the requirements established by the director.

(3) A subscriber must not incorporate his or her electronic signature into an electronic instrument unless

(a) if Part 5 applies in relation to the electronic instrument, a true copy of the electronic instrument has been executed and witnessed in accordance with Part 5, and otherwise, a true copy of the electronic instrument has been executed in accordance with the enactment that applies in relation to the electronic instrument, and

(b) the true copy referred to in paragraph (a), or a copy of that true copy, is in the possession of the subscriber.

(3.1) Subsection (3) does not apply in relation to an electronic instrument if the enactment that applies in relation to the instrument does not require that it be

(a) executed in a particular manner, or

(b) witnessed.

(3.2Subsection (3) does not apply in relation to an electronic instrument that purports to release a charge in whole or in part if the subscriber incorporates his or her electronic signature into the instrument in accordance with the requirements established by the director.

(4) The incorporation of the electronic signature of a subscriber into an electronic instrument is a certification by the subscriber that the requirements established under subsection (2) are met and,

(a) if in accordance with subsection (3), that the requirements in subsection (3) (a) and (b) are met,

(bif subsection (3.1) applies to the electronic instrument, that a true copy of the electronic instrument, or a copy of that true copy, is in the possession of the subscriber, or

(cif subsection (3.2) applies to the electronic instrument, that the requirements established under that subsection are met.

(5) If Part 5 applies and the execution of a true copy of an electronic instrument is witnessed by an officer who is not the subscriber, the subscriber, in incorporating his or her electronic signature into that instrument, is entitled to rely on the applicable certification of the officer under Part 5 unless the subscriber knows that

(a) the person who signed the instrument as the transferor or officer is not the person named in the instrument as transferor or officer, or

(b) the person named in the instrument as the officer is not an officer.

(6) Despite any enactment or rule of law to the contrary, an electronic instrument that has been signed by a subscriber in accordance with this section is conclusively deemed to be in writing and signed by the transferor.

(7) An electronic instrument executed in accordance with subsection (3) is conclusively deemed to have been executed on the date recorded as the execution date on the electronic instrument, regardless of the date on which the electronic signature of the subscriber was incorporated into the instrument.

(8) [Repealed 2004-12-15.]

Delivery of electronic instruments

168.31  The delivery by the transferor to the transferee, or the solicitor or agent of the transferee, of the true copy of an electronic instrument that has been executed and witnessed in accordance with Part 5, or a copy of that true copy, satisfies the transferor's obligations under the Property Law Act or any other rule of law to deliver an instrument in registrable form.

Submitting electronic applications and instruments

168.4  (1) An electronic application or electronic instrument is submitted for the purposes of this section when the application or instrument is transmitted electronically to the land title office in the manner established by the director using the technology established by the director.

(2) Any of the following persons may submit an electronic application or electronic instrument under this section:

(a) an applicant;

(b) the solicitor or agent of an applicant;

(c) any other person authorized by a person referred to in paragraph (b) to submit the application on his or her behalf.

(3) The submission of an electronic application under this section implies a statement by the person submitting it that he or she or, as the case may be, the person on whose behalf the application is made

(a) is applying for registration under this Act,

(b) is entitled to be registered as the owner in fee simple of the land described or as the owner of the charge specified over the land described, or is entitled to cancellation of the interest or charge specified over the land described, and

(c) claims registration accordingly.

(4) [Repealed 2004-12-17.]

(5) An electronic instrument submitted for registration under this section must be accompanied by an electronic application unless

(a) the application is part of the electronic instrument, or

(b) the instrument itself constitutes a sufficient form of application under section 147 (3).

Supporting documents

168.41  (1) In this section, "supporting document" means a document required by this Act or any other enactment to be filed, lodged, registered or deposited in the land title office in conjunction with an application for registration.

(2) If a supporting document is a requirement of an electronic application, the submitter must include with the electronic application an electronic declaration in the form established by the director.

(3) An electronic declaration must contain

(a) a description of each supporting document adequate to identify the document,

(ba statement that the subscriber

(ihas possession of each supporting document referred to in paragraph (a), or

(iiin relation to a class of supporting documents designated by the director, has possession of a true copy of the supporting document referred to in paragraph (a), and

(c) a summary, satisfactory to the registrar, of the material facts set out in each supporting document.

(4) The electronic signature of a subscriber must be incorporated into the electronic declaration in accordance with the requirements established by the director.

(5) The electronic signature referred to in subsection (4) is a certification by the subscriber that the summary of material facts set out in the declaration accurately reflects the material facts set out in each supporting document.

(6) The certification under subsection (5) satisfies any requirement under this Act or any other enactment to file, lodge, registered or deposit the supporting document in the land title office.

Corrective declarations

168.42  (1) If a person referred to in section 168.4 (2) (a) or (b) discovers an error, omission or misdescription in an electronic application or electronic instrument he or she, or a person on his or her behalf, is submitting, or has submitted, under section 168.4, the person may submit or have submitted on his or her behalf an electronic declaration in the form approved by the director bringing the error or misdescription to the registrar's attention.

(2) The electronic signature of a subscriber must be incorporated into an electronic declaration under subsection (1) in accordance with the requirements established by the director.

(3) The incorporation under subsection (2) of the electronic signature of the subscriber is a certification by the subscriber that

(a) based on the subscriber's personal knowledge, the electronic declaration sets out the material facts accurately, or

(b) based on the subscriber's reasonable belief, the electronic declaration sets out the material facts accurately.

Electronic instrument taking effect as a deed

168.5  If an electronic instrument submitted in accordance with this Division contains a statement that the transferor intends it to take effect as a deed, the electronic instrument takes effect as a deed.

Production of evidence

168.51  The registrar may, before the registration or cancellation of an estate, interest or claim evidenced by an electronic instrument, require that an applicant do one or more of the following:

(a) produce for inspection

(i)  the executed true copy of the electronic instrument referred to in section 168.3 (3) (a),

(ii)  a supporting document referred to in section 168.41 or a true copy of a supporting document, and

(iii)  the executed true copy of the electronic instrument referred to in section 168.3 (3.1);

(b) produce evidence, satisfactory to the registrar, to verify that a transferor

(i)  if Part 5 applies in relation to an instrument, executed a true copy of the electronic instrument in the presence of an officer and made the applicable acknowledgement under that Part, and

(ii)  if Part 5 does not apply in relation to an instrument, executed a true copy of the electronic instrument in compliance with the applicable enactment;

(cproduce evidence, satisfactory to the registrar, to verify that the requirements established under section 168.3 (3.2) are met.

Evidentiary matters

168.6  (1) An electronic instrument that has been received by the registrar under section 153 is conclusively deemed to be the original of the instrument.

(2) [Repealed 2004-12-21.]

(3) A copy of an electronic application or electronic instrument that is

(a) obtained from the records of the land title office, and

(b) certified by the registrar to be a true copy of the original instrument or application

is conclusive evidence of the original and is admissible in a court to the same extent as the original.

(4) A certification of the registrar under subsection (3) is conclusive evidence that

(a) the technology and procedure used by the registrar to receive, store, retrieve and copy the electronic application or instrument is capable of recording and reproducing all significant details of the electronic application or instrument without any additions, deletions or changes, and

(b) the electronic application or instrument was received, stored, retrieved and copied by the registrar in the usual and ordinary course of business.

(5) If there is a difference between a copy of an electronic application or instrument certified under subsection (3) and a copy of the application or instrument obtained from a source other than the records of the land title office, the former prevails over the latter whether or not the latter contains an original signature of a transferor, transferee or other person.

Admissibility of true copy of electronic instrument

168.61  (1) [Repealed 2004-12-22.]

(2) Except to the extent necessary to prove the authenticity of a signature or other writing, mark or impression, a true copy of an electronic instrument that contains an original signature or other writing, mark or impression is not admissible in a court for any purpose.

Disposal of electronic applications and instruments

168.7  (1) [Repealed 2004-12-23.]

(2) If an electronic application relating to the registration of an electronic instrument is void as a result of the registrar's refusal to register or a withdrawal by the applicant, the registrar may delete that application and instrument from the records.

Division 2.1 —  Electronic Plan Applications and Electronic Plans

Provisions applicable to electronic plan applications and electronic plans

168.712  (1Provisions in this Act and any other enactment that apply in relation to plans apply to electronic plans except as provided in this Division.

(2Sections 148 [form and manner of applying] and 157 [forms] do not apply in relation to electronic plan applications.

(3Section 245 (e) [copies accompanying strata plan tendered for deposit] of the Strata Property Act and the following sections of this Act do not apply in relation to electronic plans:

(asection 35 [admissibility of instruments];

(bsection 67 (s) [copies accompanying plan tendered for deposit];

(csection 144 (2) (b) [copies accompanying air space plan tendered for deposit];

(dsection 147 (2) [dispensing with need for application] and (3) [instrument as sufficient form of application];

(esection 166 (2) [return of instrument if application refused or withdrawn].

(4Section 38 (4) and (5) [admissibility of certified copy of original instrument or document] does not apply in relation to electronic plan applications or electronic plans.

Effect of electronic plan applications and electronic plans

168.72  Except as provided in this Division, an electronic plan application or electronic plan that meets the requirements of this Division and is received by the registrar under section 153 has the same effect for all purposes as an application or plan in writing that meets the requirements of this Act or any other enactment and is received by the registrar under section 153.

Form and manner of completion

168.721  (1Electronic plan applications and electronic plans submitted under section 168.74 must be in the form designated by the director, contain the information required by the director and be completed in the manner established by the director.

(2If another enactment prescribes the form and legal effect of a document referred to in the definition of “electronic plan”, that document in the electronic form designated under subsection (1) has the same legal effect as under the other enactment despite any differences between the electronic form and the form prescribed under the other enactment.

(3Unless the director otherwise permits, all information in an electronic plan must be depicted in black on a white background.

Assignment of serial deposit numbers to electronic plans

168.722  (1If the director requires an electronic plan to contain a serial deposit number, a British Columbia land surveyor must incorporate a serial deposit number into the electronic plan before signing the plan under section 168.73.

(2The incorporation of a serial deposit number into an electronic plan under subsection (1) satisfies the requirement in any Act that a serial deposit number be assigned to a plan.

(3For the purposes of this section, a registrar may allocate serial deposit numbers to a British Columbia land surveyor.

Signing requirements for electronic plans — British Columbia land surveyor

168.73  (1In this section, "subscriber" means a British Columbia Land Surveyor who is authorized by a certificate to sign electronic plans.

(2An electronic plan must be signed in accordance with this section before an electronic plan application in relation to the electronic plan is signed under section 168.731 and before the electronic plan application is submitted under section 168.74.

(3An electronic plan is signed for the purposes of this section when a subscriber incorporates his or her electronic signature into the electronic plan in accordance with the requirements established by the director.

(4The incorporation of the electronic signature of a subscriber into an electronic plan is a certification by the subscriber

(athat the requirements established by the director are met, and

(bthat the information contained in each notation, endorsement, statement or certification made by the subscriber and set out in the electronic plan is correct.

(5Despite any enactment or rule of law to the contrary, an electronic plan that has been signed by a subscriber in accordance with this section is conclusively deemed to be in writing and signed by the British Columbia land surveyor.

(6An electronic plan signed in accordance with this section may only be submitted for deposit under section 168.74.

Signing requirements for electronic plan applications — persons other than subscribers

168.731  (1An electronic plan application that is to accompany an electronic plan must be signed in accordance with this section before it is signed under section 168.732 if

(athe electronic plan has been signed under section 168.73, and

(bthis Act or another enactment requires a person, other than the subscriber who signed the plan under section 168.73, to sign or endorse the plan.

(2An electronic plan application is signed for the purposes of this section when the person signs a true copy of the electronic plan application in accordance with the requirements established by the director.

(3A person who signs an electronic plan application in accordance with this section satisfies any requirement in this Act or another enactment that the person sign or endorse the plan that is to be accompanied by the application.

(4If the electronic plan application relates to a plan for which this Act requires a signature on the plan to be witnessed,

(athe signature of a person signing a true copy of the electronic plan application must be witnessed in accordance with the requirements in this Act that apply to the plan, and

(bthe information respecting the witness required by this Act to be stated on the plan must be stated on the true copy of the electronic plan application.

(5A person who witnesses, in accordance with this section, the signing of an electronic plan application satisfies any requirement in this Act that the person witness the signing or endorsement of the plan that is to be accompanied by the application.

(6A subscriber may transmit electronically an electronic plan application and electronic plan to a person who may sign a true copy of the electronic plan application under this section.

Signing requirements for electronic plan applications — subscribers

168.732  (1An electronic plan application must be signed in accordance with this section before it is submitted under section 168.74.

(2An electronic plan application is signed for the purposes of this section when a subscriber incorporates his or her electronic signature into the electronic plan application in accordance with the requirements established by the director.

(3A subscriber must not incorporate his or her electronic signature into an electronic plan application unless

(aa true copy of the electronic plan application

(ihas been signed by the persons specified on the application, and

(iiif this Act requires the signature to be witnessed, the required information respecting the witness is stated on the application,

(bany annotations, approvals, certificates, endorsements or statements required by this Act or any other enactment are set out on the electronic plan application above the signature of the required person, and

(cthe true copy referred to in paragraph (a), or a copy of that true copy, is in the possession of the subscriber.

(4The incorporation of the electronic signature of a subscriber into an electronic plan application is a certification by the subscriber that the requirements in subsection (3) are met.

(5Despite any enactment or rule of law to the contrary, an electronic plan application that has been signed by a subscriber in accordance with this section is conclusively deemed to be in writing and signed by the persons who signed a true copy of the electronic plan application.

Submitting electronic plan applications and electronic plans

168.74  (1An electronic plan application or electronic plan is submitted when the application or plan is transmitted electronically to the land title office in the manner established by the director using the technology established by the director.

(2An electronic plan submitted for deposit must be accompanied by an electronic plan application.

(3Any of the following persons may submit an electronic plan application or electronic plan under this section:

(aan applicant;

(bthe solicitor or agent of an applicant;

(cany other person authorized by a person referred to in paragraph (b) to submit the application on his or her behalf.

(4The submission of an electronic plan application under this section implies a statement by the applicant submitting the electronic plan application that the applicant or, as the case may be, the person submitting the electronic plan application on behalf of the applicant

(ais applying to deposit an electronic plan in the land title office, and

(bis entitled to submit the electronic plan for deposit.

Supporting documents

168.741  (1In this section, "supporting document" means a document required or permitted by this Act or any other enactment to be filed, registered or deposited in the land title office in conjunction with an application to deposit a plan, but does not include a document designated by the director.

(2If a supporting document is a requirement of an electronic plan application, the submitter must include with the electronic plan application an electronic declaration in the form established by the director.

(3If a supporting document is permitted to be filed, registered or deposited in conjunction with an electronic plan application, the submitter may include with the electronic plan application an electronic declaration in the form established by the director.

(4An electronic declaration must contain

(aa description of each supporting document adequate to identify the document,

(ba statement that the subscriber

(ihas possession of each supporting document referred to in paragraph (a), or

(iiin relation to a class of supporting documents designated by the director, has possession of a true copy of the supporting document referred to in paragraph (a), and

(ca summary, satisfactory to the registrar, of the material facts set out in each supporting document.

(5The electronic signature of a subscriber must be incorporated into the electronic declaration in accordance with the requirements established by the director.

(6The electronic signature referred to in subsection (5) is a certification by the subscriber that the summary of material facts set out in the declaration accurately reflects the material facts set out in each supporting document.

(7The certification under subsection (6) satisfies any requirement under this Act or any other enactment to file, register or deposit the supporting document in the land title office.

Corrective declarations

168.742  (1If a person referred to in section 168.74 (3) (a) or (b) discovers an error, omission or misdescription in an electronic plan application or electronic plan he or she, or a person on his or her behalf, is submitting or has submitted under section 168.74, the person may submit or have submitted on his or her behalf an electronic declaration in the form established by the director bringing the error, omission or misdescription to the registrar’s attention.

(2The electronic signature of a subscriber must be incorporated into an electronic declaration under subsection (1) in accordance with the requirements established by the director.

(3The incorporation under subsection (2) of the electronic signature of the subscriber is a certification by the subscriber that

(abased on the subscriber’s personal knowledge, the electronic declaration sets out the material facts accurately, or

(bbased on the subscriber’s reasonable belief, the electronic declaration sets out the material facts accurately.

(4If an electronic declaration is submitted under subsection (1), the registrar may, in the manner designated by the director, exercise the registrar’s powers under section 106 or 383 in relation to an electronic plan.

(5The registrar must replace, in the manner established by the director, the original electronic plan in the records of the land title office with an electronic plan that depicts any changes made as a result of the exercise of the registrar’s powers in accordance with subsection (4).

Amendments to electronic plans

168.743  (1The registrar may, in the manner designated by the director, exercise the registrar’s powers under this Act or another enactment to amend, alter, correct or cancel an electronic plan.

(2The registrar must replace, in the manner established by the director, the original electronic plan in the records of the land title office with an electronic plan that depicts any changes made as a result of the exercise of the registrar’s powers in accordance with subsection (1).

Production of evidence

168.75  The registrar may, before the deposit of an electronic plan, require that an applicant

(aproduce for inspection

(ian executed true copy of the electronic plan application referred to in section 168.731, and

(iia supporting document referred to in section 168.741 or a true copy of a supporting document, and

(bproduce evidence, satisfactory to the registrar, to verify that a person signed a true copy of an electronic plan application in compliance with this Act.

Evidentiary matters

168.76  (1An electronic plan application that has been received by the registrar under section 153, along with any corrective declaration that has been received by the registrar in relation to that electronic plan application, is conclusively deemed to be the original of the application.

(2Subject to subsection (3), an electronic plan that has been received by the registrar is conclusively deemed to be the original of the plan.

(3An electronic plan that is placed in the records of the land title office under section 168.742 (5) or 168.743 (2) is conclusively deemed to be the original of the plan.

(4A copy of an electronic plan application or electronic plan that is

(aobtained from the records of the land title office, and

(bcertified by the registrar to be a true copy of the original plan application or plan

is conclusive evidence of the original and is admissible in a court to the same extent as the original.

(5A certification of the registrar under subsection (4) is conclusive evidence that

(athe technology and procedure used by the registrar to receive, store, retrieve and copy the electronic plan application or electronic plan is capable of recording and reproducing all significant details of the electronic plan application or electronic plan without any additions, deletions or changes, and

(bthe electronic plan application or electronic plan was received, stored, retrieved and copied by the registrar in the usual and ordinary course of business.

(6If there is a difference between a copy of an electronic plan application or electronic plan certified under subsection (4) and a copy of the electronic plan application or electronic plan obtained from a source other than the records of the land title office, the former prevails over the latter, whether or not the latter contains an original signature of any person.

Admissibility of true copy of electronic plan application or electronic plan

168.761  Except to the extent necessary to prove the authenticity of a signature or other writing, mark or impression, a true copy of an electronic plan application or electronic plan that contains an original signature or other writing, mark or impression is not admissible in a court for any purpose.

Disposal of electronic plan applications and electronic plans

168.77  If an electronic plan application relating to the deposit of an electronic plan is void as a result of the registrar’s refusal to accept the electronic plan for deposit or a withdrawal of the application by the applicant or the solicitor or agent of the applicant, the registrar may delete that application and plan and any supporting documents, as defined in section 168.741, from the records.

Division 3 —  Certification of Subscribers

Repealed

168.71  [Repealed 2006-24-39.]

Certification authority

168.79  For the purposes of this Act and the Property Transfer Tax Act, the director may recognize a person as a certification authority if

(athe person has adopted and published a certification practice statement that has been approved by the director, and

(b the director is satisfied that

(ithe person is capable of administering the certification practice statement, and

(iisubscribers named in certificates issued by the person are required to observe and comply with the certification practice statement.

Certification practice statement

168.8  A certification practice statement must contain

(a) the policies, practices and procedures to be used by a certification authority in

(i)  issuing, administering, suspending and revoking a certificate,

(ii)  providing access to the information contained in a certificate, and

(iii)  establishing and maintaining the security and validity of electronic signatures of subscribers, and

(b) other provisions that the director considers necessary, including provisions relating to the form and content of certificates and provisions to ensure

(i)  that an electronic signature is unique to a specific subscriber,

(ii)  that a subscriber named in a certificate is eligible to be a subscriber under the requirements established by the director, and

(iii)  the security of the electronic filing system contemplated by this Part and the Property Transfer Tax Act.

Warranties of certification authorities

168.81  (1) The issuance of a certificate by a certification authority constitutes a warranty by the certification authority of the following matters:

(a) the information contained in the certificate is, to the knowledge of the certification authority, true;

(b) the certificate was issued in accordance with the certification practice statement;

(c) the subscriber to whom the certificate was issued has agreed to observe and comply with the requirements of the certification practice statement;

(d) the subscriber named or identified in the certificate is eligible to be a subscriber under the requirements established by the director;

(e) the certification authority will act promptly to suspend or revoke a certificate in accordance with the requirements of the certification practice statement.

(2) Both the registrar and the administrator under the Property Transfer Tax Act are entitled to rely on the warranties referred to in subsection (1).

Immunity

168.82  In the absence of an unlawful or negligent act or omission by a certification authority in relation to its powers or duties under this Act, no action for damages lies or may be brought against a certification authority in respect of any loss or damage arising out of an unlawful or negligent act or omission of a subscriber under this Act or the Property Transfer Tax Act.

Division 4 —  General

Offences

168.9  A person commits an offence if the person

(a) incorporates his or her electronic signature into an electronic application, electronic instrument, electronic plan application or electronic plan without first complying with the provisions of this Part, or

(b) incorporates the electronic signature of another person into an electronic application, electronic instrument, electronic plan application or electronic plan.

Power to make regulations

168.91  (1) The Board of Directors may make regulations for the purposes of this Part.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Board of Directors may make regulations as follows:

(a) to (l[Repealed 2006-24-43.]

(m) exempting or authorizing the director to exempt any person, instrument, document or thing from any of the provisions of this Part, other than section 168.9, or from any of the provisions of the regulations made under this Part;

(n ) to (r[Repealed 2006-24-43.]

(3[Repealed 2006-24-43.]

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