Bijural Terminology Record

Common Law

interest or right in real property or land

Civil Law

immovable, right in an immovable, right of a lessee in respect of any immovable

Title of the Legislative Text

National Energy Board Act, R.S., ch. N-7

Provision

 2. "lands" means lands the acquiring, taking or using of which is authorized by this Act or a Special Act, and includes real property, messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments of any tenure, and any easement, servitude, right, privilege or interest in, to, on, under, over or in respect of the same;

Problem

The English version of the definition of "lands" uses uniquely common law concepts. Some of the terms used are archaic or of little practical application, and the meaning of many others overlaps.

The French version, on the other hand, is much more general, but also contains confusing terminology for the civil law audience (for example, "privileges" ).

Solution

In the English version, the phrase "messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments of any tenure, and any easement, servitude, right, privilege or interest in, to, on, under, over or in respect of the same" is replaced by "and any interest or right in real property or land and, in the province of Quebec, any immovables, any rights in immovables and the rights of a lessee in respect of any immovables. Those interests and rights may be in, to, on, under, over or in respect of those lands."

In the French version, the phrase "biens-fonds, bâtiments et dépendances de toute sorte qui s'y trouvent et aux droits, servitudes et privilèges grevant la surface ou le sous-sol des terrains et ces biens" is replaced by "biens réels ou intérêts fonciers, ainsi qu'aux droits ou intérêts afférents et, dans la province de Québec, aux immeubles ainsi qu'aux droits afférents et aux droits des locataires relativement aux immeubles. Ces droits et intérêts peuvent porter sur la surface ou le sous-sol de ces terrains."

Harmonized Provision

 2. "lands" means lands the acquiring, taking or using of which is authorized by this Act or a Special Act, and includes real property and any interest or right in real property or land and, in the Province of Quebec, any immovable, any right in an immovable and the right of a lessee in respect of any immovable. Those interests and rights may be in, to, on, under, over or in respect of those lands;

Federal Law-Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 2, S.C. 2004, c. 25, s. 147(1).