Soldier Settlement Board
The Soldier Settlement Board (SSB) came into being in 1917 with the mandate to provide land for returning war veterans. A portfolio of land was acquired by the SSB and then these lands were granted to soldiers who returned to Canada from the war in Europe. The veteran would acquire title to the surface, but the minerals were reserved in the SSB name and administered by the Government of Canada. In 2001, Alberta Justice filed a Statement of Claim on behalf of Alberta Energy for the SSB minerals and revenues earned by Canada on those minerals since October 1, 1930, the effective date of the Natural Resources Transfer Act (NRTA). Alberta believed the SSB minerals should have passed to the province pursuant to section 1 of the NRTA.
Alberta and Natural Resources Canada have negotiated an out-of-court settlement regarding SSB minerals. The Federal/Provincial Settlement Agreement (the Settlement Agreement) allows for the transfer of minerals and associated mineral leases from Canada to Alberta. On April 1, 2010, Alberta Land Titles Office registered the mineral titles in Alberta’s name.
The Settlement Agreement provides to Alberta:
- the transfer and control of 212 SSB mineral titles and 89 associated mineral leases;
- the transfer and control of 265 other federally-owned mineral titles and 7 associated mineral leases; and
- a cash settlement of approximately $31.5 million.
Map - SSB and HMQC mineral parcels
Schedule 1 Mineral titles in the name of the Soldier Settlement Board were transferred to Alberta on April 1, 2010
Schedule 2 Mineral titles in the name of Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada were transferred to Alberta on April 1, 2010
