Greg French
@gregfrench.bsky.social
39 followers 10 following 26 posts
Property law enthusiast.
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gregfrench.bsky.social
Thread. Thank you for your support at the beginning of this adventure!
gregfrench.bsky.social
After considerable thought and discussion with friends and family, I’ve decided to put my name forward to seek the Liberal nomination for the District of Terra Nova. (thread)
gregfrench.bsky.social
The nomination requires the endorsement of 25 Liberal party members in the Terra Nova District. If you are a member and I have your endorsement, please contact me. Should you decide to become a member to support me in the nomination process, I can assist.
gregfrench.bsky.social
Reach out to me and let me know if I have your support. Even if I don’t have your support, I want to hear your voice about the issues that matter to you.
gregfrench.bsky.social
Simply by putting my name and voice forward, I bring these issues to the door of government.

I’m not asking for donations. If you live in the Terra Nova district or know people who do, spread the word. If I am to succeed, this will be a team effort.
gregfrench.bsky.social
Just as in all of life, there are no guarantees in politics. I may not win the nomination. If I get the nomination, I may not win the seat. Still, I want to be able to look back in the coming years and say that I gave my best efforts to improve our province.
gregfrench.bsky.social
I’ve known John Hogan as a lawyer, and I have faith in him to keep on the right course. I’m putting my name forward to offer my knowledge and experience to help our province as best I can with the hard work ahead.
gregfrench.bsky.social
I’m not a career politician. I’m a career advocate. But I have done all I can do on the sidelines, and it is time for me to step into the game.

It is my belief that the ship of government is on the right course, but it’s a ship that turns slowly. There is so much more to be done.
gregfrench.bsky.social
Over the past thirteen years, I’ve made a name for myself as a lawyer fighting to fix what’s broken in government. I’ve taken the government to task in the courtroom, in the media, and in academia on behalf of those affected.
gregfrench.bsky.social
After considerable thought and discussion with friends and family, I’ve decided to put my name forward to seek the Liberal nomination for the District of Terra Nova. (thread)
gregfrench.bsky.social
We used to have that show at 11:30 every morning.
gregfrench.bsky.social
You’ve just sold two more containers because of this!
gregfrench.bsky.social
Latest on the Crown Lands portfolio:

Legislation to shorten squatters rights got royal assent on Dec 4.

Primary Residence Title Program is in effect: www.gov.nl.ca/crownlands/p.... Unfortunately, you pay $1000 in fees for your own house. Wish govt would not monetize the solution to this problem.
Primary Residence Land Title Program - Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
About the program Eligibility How to apply for a quitclaim under the Primary Residence Land Title Program Completing the application Supporting documents Declaration of applicant Application process F...
www.gov.nl.ca
gregfrench.bsky.social
Well, it's finally happened. The Lands Act has been amended. Bit of a longer thread on Linkedin, since it doesn't have a character limit.

There's only a few small changes that can be cleaned up by regulations, and we could solve the biggest mess in the province once and for all.
Gregory French on LinkedIn: Changes to Crown Lands Act Passed in Legislature
It's finally happened!! The Lands Act has been reformed. The legislation passed this morning. Is it perfect? Nope. Is it better than the status quo? Yes…
www.linkedin.com
gregfrench.bsky.social
Since I can only be in one place at a time, I am live-tweeting my comments on the House of Assembly debate on the Lands Act amendments on The Former Place:

x.com/GregFrenchNL...

There's a lot to be said on this topic and it's important that govt and the public get it right.
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gregfrench.bsky.social
If government can do that and move away from the notion of recovering some percentage of market value on properties for resolving this problem, I think this could finally fix the Crown Lands issues in NL once and for all. (end)
gregfrench.bsky.social
Make this for all land - whether vacant, or commercial, or whatever. That'll reconcile the Registry of Deeds title records with Crown Lands records, along with recognized ownership and possession in communities and on municipal tax rolls. (next)
gregfrench.bsky.social
It's a simple process - file the paperwork proving (1), (2) or (3), and if you can provide it, your claim is legitimate and should be entitled to a certificate. (next)
gregfrench.bsky.social
Where a lawyer can certify title on that basis, or where an applicant can prove those things, the documentation can be filed to Crown Lands, and on the basis of that paperwork, Crown Lands can execute the discretionary Certificate. That's how we get de facto amnesty. (next)
gregfrench.bsky.social
Then you can keep the 1977 abolition of adverse possession, but it provides an outlet for people with noncompliant title: where it's proven at the Registry of Deeds, proven by affidavits of ownership, or proven by payment of municipal taxes. (next)
gregfrench.bsky.social
The preconditions? (a) Municipal tax assessments; (b) title registered before Nov. 19/24; OR (c) affidavits of possession back 20 years before Nov. 19/24. The Minister *may* provide a discretionary Certificate to a landowner in those circumstances. (next)
gregfrench.bsky.social
Pass a regulation under the new 41.1(h), for the Minister to issue a discretionary Certificate under 39(1)(b), where preconditions are met. Speak to the Law Society to establish the guidelines for the certificate. That's how you do amnesty, without complication, for free. (next)
2023 Bill 68
www.assembly.nl.ca
gregfrench.bsky.social
Draft Crown Lands legislation is available AT LONG LAST!
It's not perfect. Still have 1977 cutoff. Market value issues are problematic of me. A five year cutoff could pose a problem depending on what's going to happen at the end.

Now let me tell you how to fix this.(next)
2023 Bill 68
www.assembly.nl.ca
gregfrench.bsky.social
And here's the draft legislation for anyone interested in reading it: www.assembly.nl.ca/HouseBusines...
2023 Bill 68
www.assembly.nl.ca
gregfrench.bsky.social
Crown Lands reform legislation is being debated in the House of Assembly right now! Going to burn through my roaming data on the drive home.
gregfrench.bsky.social
And since I can't edit my typo in the link: x.com/GregFrenchNL...
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