COVER STORY
A Message from Al-Karim Kara NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE LAND TITLE AND SURVEY AUTHORITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
I
am honoured and humbled to take on responsibility for leading the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA) into its next chapter as President and Chief Executive Officer. My relationship with land and security of ownership started long ago with my childhood experience in East Africa; it seems rather serendipitous that I now have this opportunity to expand my impact in the public interest.
Information Officer. I saw the potential to improve confidence in our services through the use of technology to bring consistency, efficiency, and transparency into the land registration process. During my time here, we have made it possible to process a registration in 4 days’ time—95 per cent of application submissions are now conducted digitally, and LTSA has re-invested over $80 million in revenues to ensure British Columbians continue to benefit from this world-leading system that we have built together.
When and where I grew up, there was no Torrens system— nor any reliable system—to provide certainty about who owns what. As you can imagine, this can make life difficult and insecure for citizens; it explains a lot about the challenges developing countries face to create wealth. It saddens me to see that remains a problem today. We are very fortunate to live in Canada, a country that consistently ranks among the highest in the world for quality of life, due in no small part to our commitment to the principles of pluralist society and rule of law. Here in British Columbia, we have the benefit of a dynamic and diverse economy backed by effective regulation, including the Torrens registry system. It was with that appreciation for the important role the LTSA provides to British Columbians that I joined the organization in 2009 as Vice President of Business Transformation and Chief
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Your dedication to providing essential legal services with integrity and accountability is deeply appreciated. Without question, my first priority will be to nurture the already strong relationships between LTSA and our colleagues in the legal and real property community, ensuring we support each other to navigate toward a new reality together. I know I am stepping into the very big shoes of Connie Fair who has led LTSA over the past 5 years to become a world-leading land title and survey authority. I’ll be guided by our Board of Directors and Stakeholder Advisory Committee members to continue delivering on the LTSA’s Strategic Plan, working to improve transparency and efficiency while reducing risk and streamlining processes. I am committed to our customercentric approach, delivering solutions to address customer and stakeholder feedback and ensuring all that we undertake is in the public interest. Our focus on operational excellence will be maintained, ensuring the LTSA continues to meet turnaround times and maintain cost-efficient operations.
Al-Karim Kara
I also recognize the success of LTSA has only been possible with the ongoing support of BC Notaries and other real property stakeholders. Notaries have always played an important role in our collective and ongoing work to ensure our land title and survey systems are trusted by all British Columbians. BC Notaries Association
Thank you to all Notaries for continuing to provide essential services to British Columbians. From updating office protocols to responding to changes in legislation and technology, you have risen to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The year 2020 has been unique and has required us all to reconsider what is important and what is possible. I hope you will join me in looking to the future with a clear frame of mind and refreshed perspective, eager to continue our journey together. s Volume 29 Number 4 Winter 2020
