Under the Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables 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. Departments seeking to undertake real property transactions under legislation that require Treasury Board and/or Governor-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 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 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:
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Table 1 – Note 1
-
The total consideration limit also applies to the acceptance by the Crown of a surrender or resiliation of a lease of federal real property or federal immovable, or acceptance of the relinquishment of a licence. Treasury Board approval is required when the additional gross nominal amount the Crown would have received, had the tenant stayed for the duration of the lease or licence, exceeds the limit. The market rent at the time of the acceptance or surrender, resiliation or relinquishment should be part of the justification for the consideration received.
Return to Table 1 – Footnote 1 referrer
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Table 1 – Note 2
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Also includes the transfer of administration of a lease and transfer of administrative responsibility for a licence.
Return to Table 1 – Footnote 2 referrer
|
| $500,000 |
$500,000 |
$20,000 |
$40,000 |
$400,000 |
The greater of $500,000 or Net Book Value 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
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Table 2 – Note 2
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The total consideration limit also applies to the acceptance by the Crown of a surrender or resiliation of a lease of federal real property or federal immovable, or acceptance of the relinquishment of a licence. Treasury Board approval is required when the additional gross nominal amount the Crown would have received, had the tenant stayed for the duration of the lease or licence, exceeds the limit. The market rent at the time of the acceptance or surrender, resiliation or relinquishment should be part of the justification for the consideration received.
Return to Table 2 – Footnote 2 referrer
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Table 2 – Note 3
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Sale to Build Canada Homes.
Return to Table 2 – Footnote 3 referrer
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Table 2 – Note 4
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Sale or transfer to any other party.
Return to Table 2 – Footnote 4 referrer
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Table 2 – Note 5
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Also includes the transfer of administration of a lease and transfer of administrative responsibility for a licence.
Return to Table 2 – Footnote 5 referrer
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Table 2 – Note 6
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Where the transfer is to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada for settlements under negotiation of treaties, self-government and other constructive arrangements.
Return to Table 2 – Footnote 6 referrer
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|
|
$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.
Dollar-based Special Limits
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 |
Crown-Indigenous Relations 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 the purpose of negotiation of treaties, self-government and other constructive arrangements.
Return to Table 3 – Footnote 1 referrer
|
| $1,000,000 |
National Research Council Canada
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 |
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 |
|
|
| $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 |
Risk and Capacity-based Special Limits
A department with an assessed level of capacity has the authority to transact real property based on the assessed risk of the transaction. The following departments have capacity and risk-based Special Limits:
Global Affairs Canada
- Under the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ authority – Global Affairs Canada may execute real property transactions (acquisitions, disposals):
- Up to $5 million dollars
- All lease renewals, replacements and extensions
- For real property transactions exceeding $5 million, the Department must assess the risk and complexity using the methodology established by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. The Minister of Foreign Affairs may only exercise authority to manage transactions whose risk and complexity assessment falls within the assessed organisational maturity and capacity.
National Defence
- Under the Minister of National Defence’s authority – National Defence may execute real property transactions (acquisitions, disposals):
- Up to $10 million dollars
- All lease renewals, replacements and extensions
- For real property transactions exceeding $10 million, the Department must assess the risk and complexity using the methodology established by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. The Minister of National Defence may only exercise authority to manage transactions whose risk and complexity assessment falls within the assessed organisational maturity and capacity.
Public Services and Procurement Canada
- Under Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement’s authority – Public Services and Procurement Canada may execute real property transactions (acquisitions, disposals):
- Up to $10 million dollars
- All lease renewals, replacements and extensions
- For real property transactions exceeding $10 million, the Department must assess the risk and complexity using the methodology established by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. The Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement may only exercise authority to manage transactions whose risk and complexity assessment falls within the assessed organisational maturity and capacity.
