Abolition of Perpetuities Law, Final Report 110

The rule against perpetuities is an ancient and complex set of legal rules designed to prevent people from indefinitely tying up land and assets via successive contingent interests of title so that future generations cannot sell, mortgage or enjoy full use of the property. In 1972, Alberta reformed the worst excesses of the rule against perpetuities in our current Perpetuities Act, seeking a reasonable balance between competing interests. Following public consultation, the Alberta Law Reform […]

March 1, 2017

A New Trustee Act for Alberta, Final Report 109

Trusts are used by many Albertans as a way to manage property and assets, both before and after death. Having modern and clear rules for setting up and handling trusts is important to allow Albertans to manage and distribute their property. The current Trustee Act is outdated and has not kept pace with the modern world. ALRI has just released Final Report No. 109 – A New Trustee Act for Alberta. The Report sets out ALRI’s […]

January 1, 2017

Perpetuities Law: Abolish or Reform? Report 29

Perpetuities law is a complex set of legal rules designed to prevent people from indefinitely tying up land and assets for an excessive period of time so that future generations cannot deal freely with the property. But has the time come to abolish perpetuities law in Alberta? Do other modern legal rules now exist which could handle the situation better or more simply? Or should perpetuities law be retained but extensively reformed? Have your say […]

April 1, 2016

Contracts for the Sale and Purchase of Land: Purchasers’ Remedies, Final Report 97

Under the present law of Alberta, specific performance of a contract for the sale and purchase of land will not be granted to the purchaser under the contract unless the land is unique in the sense that no substitute is readily available. In 1996, the Supreme Court of Canada, in Semelhago v Paramadevan, said that it is no longer the case that every piece of real estate is unique and that it therefore cannot be assumed […]

October 29, 2009

Limitations Act – Adverse Possession and Lasting Improvements, Final Report 89

This report considers the effect of the Limitations Act on the areas of adverse possession and lasting improvements under the Law of Property Act. In considering how best to resolve disputes regarding the ownership and use of land, this report looks to the objectives of protecting future ownership of land, ensuring land’s transferability, and preventing the revival of stale claims. Recommendations to avoid the effect of claims being postponed by a continuing course of conduct include to subject […]

May 29, 2003

Creditor Access to Future Income Plans, Consultation Memorandum 11

This project addresses the question of whether registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), deferred profit-sharing plans (DPSPs) and registered retirement income funds (RRIFs) should be exempt from the remedies of creditors. The present law is examined in depth, and looks at the conflicting policies relevant to the present study, as well as issues that arise from these conflicts. Issues raised in the memorandum are the pros and cons of whether Alberta law should recognize any exemption […]

June 4, 2002

Occupiers’ Liability: Recreational Use of Land, Final Report 81

The Minister of Justice requested this report regarding the liability of occupiers of land to recreational users permitted on their premises without payment of a fee. This is not a typical ALRI report, as a recommendation as to whether this aspect of occupiers’ liability law should be reformed is not given due to a lack of adequate information about the potential problem to be solved and resources to compile that information. The report suggests matters […]

February 29, 2000

Mortgage Remedies in Alberta, Final Report 70

This report considers mortgages of land in Alberta, and the remedies that the law makes available to both the lender and the borrower in the event of default under such a mortgage. It reviews the existing Alberta law and practices. This report recommends that Alberta retain judicial supervision of the foreclosure actions as it is needed to ensure price adequacy in foreclosure sales in times of fluctuating land prices and ensures fair treatment to parties […]

June 29, 1994

Proposals for a Land Recording and Registration Act for Alberta, Final Report 69 Volume 2

October 29, 1993

Proposals for a Land Recording and Registration Act for Alberta, Final Report 69 Volume 1

Volume 1 of this report recommends that a new Land Recording and Registration Act be enacted to provide a modern and more efficient system of land recording and registration for Alberta. The new Act would replace the Land Titles Act (Alberta). The report contains a draft of the proposed Act. Parts 1 to 8 of the draft Act establish a reformed system of recording and registering interests in land which preserves the beneficial aspects of the existing system of […]