What CLC Does

Canada Lands Company (CLC) is an arm’s length, self-financing federal Crown corporation. CLC's parent company and sole shareholder, CLCL, reports to the Parliament of Canada through the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada. 

As a Crown corporation, we strive to be an important resource to the Government of Canada, and be recognized as pre-eminent in our fields, providing innovative solutions to complex real estate challenges, leadership in tourism development, and bringing value and a sense of legacy to every stakeholder.

WHAT WE DO

CLC optimizes the financial and community value from strategic properties that are no longer required by the Government of Canada. It purchases these properties at fair market value, then holds and manages them or improves and sells them. The company’s goal in all transactions is to produce the best possible benefit for both local communities and the Government of Canada, CLC’s parent corporation’s sole shareholder. Indeed, the company’s experience has been that the pursuit of community-related goals, such as good environmental stewardship and commemorating heritage, can often improve the financial returns of its projects.

HOW WE DO IT

Canada Lands Company purchases surplus strategic government property and follows the process outlined below to create strong, vibrant communities that add lasting value for future generations of Canadians. In all the work we undertake, we are always mindful of our organizational motto of Innovation, Value and Legacy.

Analyze – Let us begin with a hypothetical scenario in which a government department has identified a particular real estate property as being surplus to its needs. That department alerts CLC, which initiates an analysis of market conditions, location and a variety of other factors. The goal of this analysis is to determine how the property can best generate community and financial value.

Acquire – CLC works with the relevant government department to determine a fair market price for the property and then purchases it. At this point, the government’s real property disposal process commences. Once this process is complete, CLC receives title to the property.

Consult – What distinguishes CLC from other development companies is the undertaking of a consultation process. CLC project managers meet with municipal officials to introduce the company and discuss how community consultations will take place. Some examples of CLC’s community consultation processes include: meeting with community organizations, holding open houses and establishing local advisory committees to get public input on potential uses for the property. Depending on the project, one or a number of these consultations will take place. The public is invited to attend and participate at all community consultations.

Visualize – After completing the consultation process, CLC creates a master development plan for the property. In keeping with CLC’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, the plan will incorporate sustainable development principles and meet the needs of the local community. This plan is submitted to the local city or town council for consideration and approval.

Prepare – Once the approvals are received, CLC typically carries out site servicing. Depending on the site, this may involve the removal of debris and contaminated soil or other environmental hazards, the renovation of existing roads, the demolition of unsafe structures and the installation of new roads and other municipal services (for example: sewers, streetlights, etc.).

Develop/Sell/Retain – There are three options for the property development in this final phase. CLC, on occasion, undertakes the development itself, constructing the buildings after site servicing. More typically, CLC markets and sells the property in phases to builders. The builders then carry out construction consistent with CLC’s master development plan. Finally, certain properties that are of investment value to CLC’s sole shareholder are retained, and CLC manages those on behalf of the government. The most prominent property managed by CLC is Canada’s National Tower, the CN Tower.