Released on April 15, 2013
Legislation was introduced today to allow a private-sector Information Services Corporation (ISC) to manage and operate public registries on behalf of the government.
“This legislation paves the way for an effective government relationship with a private-sector ISC,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Gordon Wyant said. “Though ISC’s relationship with the government will change, the secure services it provides to the public will not.”
The Operation of Public Registry Statutes Act allows for service agreements between the government and ISC that identify the division of powers and responsibilities over public registries. Affected registries include: The Land Registry, The Land Surveys Directory, The Personal Property Registry and the Corporate Registry. While the public will still access these registries through ISC, the government remains ultimately responsible for them.
“This legislation is an important milestone for ISC as it transitions to become a private-sector company,” Minister responsible for ISC Don McMorris said. “It provides a foundation for ISC to access greater opportunities to diversify and grow in an information economy.”
This transition to the private sector is expected this summer. The legal position of people using public registries will not change as a result of these amendments, and the procedures for registering documents in affected public registries remain the same.
To ensure the functions of the registry officers remain independent from ISC, the legislation establishes a new Office of Public Registry Administration within the Ministry of Justice. The existing government assurance of land titles will remain within government as well.
The Vital Statistics Registry will also be transferred from ISC to eHealth Saskatchewan.
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For more information, contact:
Noel Busse
Justice
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8959
Email: noel.busse@gov.sk.ca
Angela Bethune
ISC
Regina
Phone: 306-798-4147
Email: angela.bethune@isc.ca