Transaction Approval Limits and Conditions for the Acquisition or Disposition of Real Property

Under the Federal Real Property Regulations, a minister who has the authority for real property may transact in real property without seeking Treasury Board approval when the market value consideration paid or received does not exceed the limits and conditions set out below. Unless specifically mentioned or otherwise previously approved, the general limits apply. Real property transactions under legislation that require Treasury Board and/or order-in-council approval must seek these approvals even when the value of the property is less than the limits below.

Custody transfers do not require Treasury Board approval for the real property transaction because they are effected at nominal value.

Value-added taxes (such as the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST)) should be excluded for the purposes of the approval levels. All lease payments made to the landlord are included in the calculation of annual consideration and total consideration.

Organizations that have special limits and conditions for the acquisition and/or disposition of real property are as follows:

This repository is being managed by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat to capture authority limits that have been requested by departments and agencies and approved by the Treasury Board. This repository is not an approval mechanism and is being maintained for reference purposes only. In the case of an inconsistency between this repository and the limits and conditions approved by the Treasury Board, the Treasury Board submission proposals and approvals prevail.

General Limits for Acquisitions and Dispositions

These limits apply to all departments or agencies unless replaced by special limits or conditions as specified below.

General Limits: Acquisition
Purchase, Gift, Bequest, Transfer of Administration and Control Exchange Option to Purchase Land Lease, Licence, Transfer of Administration and Control for a Specified Term See Table 1 – Note 1 Transfer of Administration
Annual Consideration Total Consideration

Explanatory notes on acquisition conditions:

Table 1 – Note 1

Levels also apply to the surrender of the lease and to the relinquishment of the licence where the amount represents either the consideration payable under the entire lease or licence, or the value of the Crown’s interest in the unexpired term of the lease or licence.

Return to Table 1 – Footnote 1 referrer

Table 1 – Note 2

Also includes the transfer of administrative responsibility for a lease or a licence.

Return to Table 1 – Footnote 2 referrer

$500,000 $500,000 $20,000 $40,000 $400,000 $500,000 See Table 1 – Note 2
General Limits: Disposition
Sale / Option to Sell, Transfer of Administration and Control See Table 2 – Note 1 Exchange Lease, Licence, Transfer of Administration and Control for a Specified Term See Table 2 – Note 2 Transfer of Administration
Annual Consideration Total Consideration

Explanatory notes on disposition conditions:

Table 2 – Note 1

The option to sell must expire within six months.

Return to Table 2 – Footnote 1 referrer

Table 2 – Note 2

Levels also apply to the acceptance of surrender of the lease or relinquishment of the licence where the amount represents either the consideration payable under the entire lease or licence, or the value of the Crown’s interest in the unexpired term of the lease or licence.

Return to Table 2 – Footnote 2 referrer

Table 2 – Note 3

Sale to Canada Lands Company Limited.

Return to Table 2 – Footnote 3 referrer

Table 2 – Note 4

Sale or transfer to any other party.

Return to Table 2 – Footnote 4 referrer

Table 2 – Note 5

Also includes the transfer of administrative responsibility for a lease or a licence.

Return to Table 2 – Footnote 5 referrer

Table 2 – Note 6

Where the transfer is to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada for settlements under comprehensive land claims.

Return to Table 2 – Footnote 6 referrer

$500,000 $200,000 $2,000,000

Special Limits for Acquisitions and Dispositions

These special limits for acquisitions and dispositions apply as specified below. For other situations, please consult the general limits for acquisition and disposition.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

Special Acquisition Limits
Transfer of Administration See Table 3 – Note 1

Table 3 Notes

Table 3 – Note 1

For the acquisition of surplus federal real property for comprehensive land claims purposes only.

Return to Table 3 – Footnote 1 referrer

$1,000,000

Canadian Security Intelligence Service

Special Acquisition Limits
Purchase, Gift, Bequest, Transfer of Administration and Control See Table 3B – Note 1 Lease, Licence, Transfer of Administration and Control for a Specified Term See Table 3B – Note 1

Table 3B Notes

Table 3B – Note 1

For acquisitions made to pursue security investigations only that the minister determines require a special degree of confidentiality.

Return to Table 3B – Footnote 1 referrer

$700,000 Unlimited
Special Disposition Limits
Sale / Option to Sell, Transfer of Administration and Control See Table 4 – Note 1

Table 4 Notes

Table 4 – Note 1

For dispositions of property acquired to pursue security investigations that the minister determines require a special degree of confidentiality.

Return to Table 4 – Footnote 1 referrer

$700,000

Global Affairs Canada

Special Acquisition Limits See Table 5 – Note 1, See Table 5 – Note 2
Purchase Exchange Lease or Licence See Table 5 – Note 3
Annual Consideration Total Consideration

Table 5 Notes

Table 5 – Note 1

The transaction limits expire .

Return to Table 5 – Footnote 1 referrer

Table 5 – Note 2

For property outside Canada.

Return to Table 5 – Footnote 2 referrer

Table 5 – Note 3

Levels also apply to the surrender of the lease and to the relinquishment of the licence where the amount represents either the consideration payable under the entire lease or licence, or the value of the Crown’s interest in the unexpired term of the lease or licence.

Return to Table 5 – Footnote 3 referrer

Table 5 – Note 4

For staff quarters.

Return to Table 5 – Footnote 4 referrer

Table 5 – Note 5

For official residences.

Return to Table 5 – Footnote 5 referrer

Table 5 – Note 6

For staff quarters and official residences (residential accommodation).

Return to Table 5 – Footnote 6 referrer

Table 5 – Note 7

For chanceries and for multiple-unit facilities, i.e., official residences, staff quarters, other real property (portion attributable to each unit does not exceed the transaction approval limit for the individual accommodation units).

Return to Table 5 – Footnote 7 referrer

Table 5 – Note 8

For emergency or national security transactions.

Return to Table 5 – Footnote 8 referrer

Table 5 – Note 9

For freehold and leasehold staff quarter interests in London, United Kingdom. No annual consideration limit.

Return to Table 5 – Footnote 9 referrer

$1,000,000
Special Disposition Limits See Table 6 – Note 1, See Table 6 – Note 2
Sale / Option to Sell Exchange Lease, Licence and Sublease See Table 6 – Note 3
Annual Consideration Total Consideration

Table 6 Notes

Table 6 – Note 1

The transaction limits expire May 2, 2022.

Return to Table 6 – Footnote 1 referrer

Table 6 – Note 2

For property outside Canada.

Return to Table 6 – Footnote 2 referrer

Table 6 – Note 3

Levels also apply to the acceptance of surrender of the lease and to the relinquishment of the licence where the amount represents either the consideration payable under the entire lease or licence, or the value of the Crown’s interest in the unexpired term of the lease or licence.

Return to Table 6 – Footnote 3 referrer

$25,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $10,000,000

National Defence

Special Acquisition Limits
Purchase, Gift or Bequest Lease, Licence, Permit of Occupation, Easement or Right-of-Way See Table 7 – Note 1
Total Consideration

Table 7 Notes

Table 7 – Note 1

For leases and licences other than single-family residences and in response to an initial authorized operational deployment abroad.

Return to Table 7 – Footnote 1 referrer

$5,000,000 $5,000,000
Special Disposition Limits
Sale

Table 8 Notes

Table 8 – Note 1

A limit of $6,000,000 for the disposition of real property by sale to an external party.

Return to Table 8 – Footnote 1 referrer

Table 8 – Note 2

A limit of $15,000,000 for the disposition of real property by sale to Canada Lands Company Limited.

Return to Table 8 – Footnote 2 referrer

National Research Council

Special Acquisition Limits
Lease
Annual Consideration Total Consideration
$500,000 $2,500,000
Special Disposition Limits
Licence
Annual Consideration Total Consideration
$400,000 $2,000,000

Parks Canada Agency

Special Acquisition Limits
Purchase, Gift or Bequest Pre-Paid Lease (total consideration) See Table 11 – Note 1

Table 11 Notes

Table 11 – Note 1

Acquisitions by pre-paid lease are limited to transactions involving territorial, municipal and Aboriginal organizations or not-for-profit organizations whose objectives are to advance Aboriginal priorities.

Return to Table 11 – Footnote 1 referrer

$3,800,000 $4,000,000
Special Disposition Limits
Lease or Licence

Table 12 Notes

Table 12 – Note 1

$8,400,000 total consideration for dispositions by lease or licence, and an exemption from the general limit of $150,000 annual consideration.

Return to Table 12 – Footnote 1 referrer

$8,400,000 total consideration See Table 12 – Note 1

Public Services and Procurement Canada

Special Acquisition Limits
Purchase, Gift or Bequest Exchange Option to Purchase Land Lease or Licence (total consideration) Transfer of Administration and Transfer of Administration and Control

Table 13 Notes

Table 13 – Note 1

For purchase of property for PSPC program purposes.

Return to Table 13 – Footnote 1 referrer

Table 13 – Note 2

For purchase of property for non-PSPC program purposes.

Return to Table 13 – Footnote 2 referrer

Table 13 – Note 3

For gift or bequest.

Return to Table 13 – Footnote 3 referrer

Table 13 – Note 4

For property within Canada.

Return to Table 13 – Footnote 4 referrer

Table 13 – Note 5

For option to acquire an interest in real property in Canada.

Return to Table 13 – Footnote 5 referrer

Table 13 – Note 6

For lease or licence with private sector and non-agent Crown corporations: total consideration for real property in Canada.

Return to Table 13 – Footnote 6 referrer

$1,000,000 See Table 13 – Note 4 $600,000 See Table 13 – Note 5 $36,000,000 See Table 13 – Note 6 $350,000
Special Disposition Limits
Sale / Option to Sell Exchange Lease, Licence (total consideration) Transfer of Administration and Transfer of Administration and Control

Table 14 Notes

Table 14 – Note 1

For properties within Canada.

Return to Table 14 – Footnote 1 referrer

Table 14 – Note 2

For lease or licence with private sector and non-agent Crown corporations for PSPC office accommodation.

Return to Table 14 – Footnote 2 referrer

Table 14 – Note 3

Total consideration for a disposition of real property related to non-PSPC program purposes.

Return to Table 14 – Footnote 3 referrer

$6,000,000 $1,000,000 See Table 14 – Note 1 $350,000

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Special Acquisition Limits
Purchase, Gift, Bequest, Transfer of Administration, and Transfer of Administration and Control Exchange Lease and Licence: Transfer of Administration and Control
Annual Consideration Total Consideration

Table 15 Notes

Table 15 – Note 1

For acquisitions made to pursue security or criminal investigations that the minister determines require a special degree of confidentiality. These limits do not expire.

Return to Table 15 – Footnote 1 referrer

Table 15 – Note 2

For leases and licences with provinces, municipalities and local airport authorities.

Return to Table 15 – Footnote 2 referrer

Table 15 – Note 3

For leases and licences with the private sector.

Return to Table 15 – Footnote 3 referrer

$2,000,000 $2,000,000
Special Disposition Limits
Sale / Option to Sell, Transfer of Administration, and Transfer of Administration and Control Exchange
$2,000,000 $2,000,000

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