Leading the way in electronic commerce

by Malcolm McAvity

Electronic filing of land titles will become a reality in BC in spring 2001. The electronic filing system will link legal professionals into the cutting-edge world of electronic commerce–with its digital signatures, the Internet, and e-com procedures.

In January, the Land Titles Branch conducted client design workshops in Victoria, Kelowna, New Westminster and Vancouver. The purpose of the workshops–attended by lawyers, notaries, paralegals and registry agents–was to review the proposed automated support for the electronic process and allow users to provide direct input to the system designer and architects.

The Electronic Filing System
The new land titles electronic filing system will enable paperless preparation of land title documents, digital signatures and submission to the land title office for registration. The proposed electronic filing system will essentially provide a full service land title office on every workstation in the province that is connected to BC OnLine.

By eliminating the need to attend in person at a land title office to make an application to register, legal professionals will have equal access to land registry service, regardless of where they reside or carry on business in the province.

Electronic Commerce
Nationally and globally, electronic commerce is growing exponentially. This growth is being driven by business and consumer demand and is facilitated by the rapid development of enabling technology. The digital signature technology that is being developed for signing paperless land title documents is the first of its kind in British Columbia and will create a model for other BC government proposed electronic filing systems.

Consumers are demanding streamlined business systems that take advantage of current technology. Electronic land title filing will meet that demand. It will enable legal advisors to deliver a range of electronic services including secure communications and financial transactions, using valid, verifiable digital signatures on which all third parties can rely with confidence.

For More Information
The executive sponsor of the land titles electronic filing system project is Malcolm McAvity, Director of Land Titles, Ministry of Attorney General. For more information, visit the Land Titles web site at www.gov.bc.ca/ag

Malcolm McAvity is director of Land Titles at the Ministry of Attorney General.

This article was published in the February 2000 issue of BarTalk. © 2000 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.