
The Law of the Land: The advent of the Torrens System in Canada
by Greg Taylor, Professor, Faculty of Law, Monash University, Australia
Published for the Osgoode Society by the University of Toronto Press.
Cost: $40.00
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Description
The Torrens system of land titles registration was introduced to what is now British Columbia in the mid-nineteenth century, and later spread to the rest of western Canada and to Ontario. In telling the story of the various receptions of the system, this book explains why it was considered such an improvement on the previous method of land registration, and why in addition it took so long for the reform to win public acceptance in some provinces. This is a fascinating account of interest groups and the reform of Canadian private law, one that demonstrates how the different histories of the various parts of Canada have shaped, and continue to shape, their law.
Dr. Taylor ... has done an admirable job in making the story of Torrens in Canada come to life in an authoritative ... exploration of the subject.... Dr Taylor describes the drivers behind the adoption of the particular brand of Torrens in each of the provinces or regions. It is an engaging review that showcases the author's attention to detail and gift for tying salient facts together. Mark Coffin, Dalhousie law Journal, vol 31, 2008
