July 10, 2006

We were emailed a copy of the Land Transfer Deed from Henco Industries Limited to the Ontario Government. [Deed]

One thing to note is that the deed is marked "Fee Simple Absolute" under the header Estate Qualifier. Looking up the phrase in a Law Dictionary we got the following definition:

"The most extensive tenure [ the right of holding or occupying land ] allowed under the feudal system allowing the tenant to sell or convey by will or be transfered to a heir if the owner dies intestate. In modern law, almost all land is held in fee simple and this is as close as one can get to absolute ownership in common law. "

What this appears to mean is that according to the Ministry of Goverment Services, which issued the deed, this land ownership is absolute. It was absolutely owned by Henco Industries Limited and now is absolutely owned by the Ontario Government.

Does anyone want to guess whether one day in the future, when enough people are no longer interested in what is happening in Caledonia, this land will absolutely be handed over to the Natives?