On April 23, 2026, the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2026  was introduced in the legislature, proposing 79 amendments to the Alberta Land Titles Act.  In this article, we highlight the key features of the proposed modernization of the Alberta Land Titles registry system and outline how municipalities can start to prepare for the new digital frontier coming to the Land Titles Office (LTO). 

On April 23, 2026, Bill 31 - the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2026 – was introduced in the legislature. Bill 31 is the 11^th red tape reduction bill since 2019. As of the date of this article, Bill 31 received its third reading and is awaiting Royal Assent.

In addition to proposing an elimination of seasonal clock changes, Bill 31 proposes 79 amendments to the Alberta Land Titles Act, many of which are designed to bring digital concepts into a traditionally paper-based system.  

This article is the first in a series of updates we plan to publish for municipal clients. As Bill 31 moves through the legislature and the transition towards electronic filings is initiated in December, we will provide additional updates to help municipalities be ready for the new digital frontier coming to the LTO.   

WHAT IS CHANGING: A MODERN APPROACH TO LAND TITLES REGISTRATIONS 

The goal of Bill 31 is to modernize Land Titles and Surveys’ registry services by supporting greater digital service delivery through the Alberta Registry for Land Online system (ARLO). While ARLO is already available to municipalities and the general public, its current functions are limited to searching and purchasing certificates of title. For other documents and more search options, SPIN2 is the system that must be used. Eventually, ARLO will completely replace the SPIN2 system.    

If passed, Bill 31 will allow Alberta to catch up to a shift that is already underway across Canada, joining provinces like British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where electronic land titles submissions have become a standard part of service delivery. 

The following is a list of key changes proposed by Bill 31 in order to increase registration efficiencies and service delivery: 

    1) Electronic Filing of Instruments and Caveats

During the first phase of the ARLO transition, "authorized users" will be able to electronically submit the following most commonly registered documents to the LTO for registration:

1. Transfers
2. Caveats
3. Discharges
4. Change of Address
5. Mortgages
6. Writs of Enforcement
7. Transmission of Land 

More instruments and caveats will be added to the above list, as the ARLO transition progresses.

    2) Only "Authorized Users" Can File Documents Electronically

Under Bill 31, all electronic filings submitted to the LTO must include the digital signature of an "authorized user" in order to certify that the instrument or caveat filed for registration is deemed to be an original. During the initial phases of the transition, only lawyers will be approved as "authorized users", meaning that only lawyers will have initial access to the electronic filing system. 

Once electronic submissions are available on ARLO, electronic submissions of specific documents will become mandatory for all lawyers after a 45-day transition period. 

We anticipate that the Registrar will establish rules respecting the use of digital signatures and their incorporation into electronic filings as well as who will qualify as additional "authorized users."  

    3) Digital Execution of Documents

In addition to allowing for electronic filing of instruments, certain submissions will be accepted if signed digitally by transferors, caveators and other registrants, rather than by wet ink signature.  That said, it is anticipated that all required Affidavits accompanying digitally signed forms will still need to be completed with wet ink signatures. This means that a registration package may include, for example, a Transfer of Land with digital signatures, and wet ink signatures on the accompanying Affidavit. 

    4) Automated Forms, Reduced Errors

The new ARLO system has been built to allow users to automatically populate certain Land Titles forms, based on existing title data. The aim of these new features is to reduce manual data entry requirements and minimize errors. The system has also been designed to provide real time validation and to catch clerical errors, with the system preventing submission until errors are fixed. This will greatly reduce registration times because examiners will no longer spend significant time manually reviewing documents for clerical errors.

    5) Updated Notice Provisions

The amendments include the option for registered documents to reference the electronic address (i.e. email) of a party for the purpose of giving notice. Previously, only notice via mail was authorized. Documents sent electronically will be deemed received 24 hours after being sent by the Registrar. 

PREPARING FOR THE TRANSITION

Even though the amendments to the Land Titles Act are not yet in force, municipalities should start preparing for the option of digitally signing documents and proceeding with electronic filings, in order to benefit from registration efficiencies. Initial steps might include:

• Reviewing internal workflows for document preparation and submission
• Securing external legal support for registrations
• Preparing staff for the new ARLO system requirements and standards
• Establishing a centralized email for LTO notices 

STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES

As Bill 31 continues through the legislative process, the above key features remain subject to amendment and refinement. Our office will continue to monitor Bill 31's progress through the legislature and we will provide important updates as they become available. 

For more information on this topic and how Bill 31 may impact municipal processes, please reach out to Marny S. Paul in Calgary, or any member of our Municipal Commercial Group.