Top 7 Largest Landowners In Canada In 2024 (2024)

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If you’re looking for land in Canada, your search may be far and wide.

Canada is the second biggest country in the world, with Russia taking the lead, but more than 80% of its land is uninhabited.

Most Canadians live in large numbers in cities located near the American border. For example, morethan 90% of Canadians live within 155 miles of the US border.

You are most likely familiar with the country’s two largest provinces, Ontario and Quebec. These areas are densely populated, as are Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.

These are in the southern part of the country, leaving the northern territories largely unused. Canada is also the location of the well-known Rocky Mountains.

The country’s northeast neighbor is the equally isolated State of Alaska.

Who Owns The Land In Canada?

Table of Contents

Ever wondered who owns the vast lands of Canada?

Canada boasts the world's longest coastline and international border, covering a whopping 3.8 million square miles.

Despite its immense size, only about 10-12% of the country is privately owned. Most of the land is government-owned, making land ownership in Canada quite unique.

With its breathtaking natural beauty and resources, Canada stands out as the second-largest country globally.

Let's explore the top landowners in this vast nation.

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Top 7 Largest Landowners In Canada In 2024 (1)$5,000+View InvestmentsYesCommercial Real Estate Properties
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Top 7 Largest Landowners In Canada In 2024 (3)$15,000+View InvestmentsYesUS Farmland

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Crown Lands and Ownership

Approximately 89% of Canada's land is known as Crown lands, owned by the monarchy but leased to provincial and federal governments.

This unique arrangement gives legal control to the Canadian authorities while still technically belonging to the Crown.

Top Landowners In Canada

Here are some of Canada's biggest landowners.

  1. Provincial Governments: These governments own about 48% of Canada's land, with control granted to local authorities. Much of this land includes protected wilderness areas and forests.
  2. Canadian Federal Government: Roughly 41% of the land is owned by the federal government, encompassing national parks, resource regions, railroads, and Indigenous land.
  3. Indigenous Peoples: Around 11,000 square miles are reserved for Indigenous peoples, governed by their own governments, despite technically being owned by the Crown.
  4. Private Landowners: Despite the predominantly government-owned landscape, some private landowners exist.
  5. Stan Kroenke: With an estimated 270,000 acres, he owns Douglas Lake Ranch, the largest private holding in the country.
  6. Robert Andjelic: Acting as a landlord over 225,000 acres of farmland, he leases plots to Canadian farmers, contributing to the country's agriculture.
  7. Travis Heide: The largest organic farm owner in Canada, with 40,000 acres in Saskatchewan, focusing on organic farming.

While most of Canada's land is owned by the government, a small percentage is in private hands, contributing to the country's diverse landscape and resource use.

Top 7 Largest Landowners In Canada In 2024 (2024)

FAQs

Who are the largest landowners in Canada? ›

The largest single landowner in Canada by far, and by extension one of the world's largest, is the Government of Canada. The bulk of the federal government's lands are in the vast northern territories where Crown lands are vested in the federal, rather than territorial, government.

Who owns 90% of the land in Canada? ›

Crown Land

Most of the land within Canada's borders is not privately owned, nor held by Indigenous Peoples. The majority of land, about 90 percent, is either federal or provincial Crown land.

Who owns major land in Canada? ›

Though the monarch owns all Crown land in the country, it is divided in parallel with the "division" of the Crown among the federal and provincial jurisdictions, so that some lands within the provinces are administered by the relevant provincial Crown, whereas others are under the federal Crown.

Who owns the 9.7 of land in Canada? ›

The land of Canada is solely owned by Queen Elizabeth II who is also the head of state. Only 9.7% of the total land is privately owned while the rest is Crown Land. The land is administered on behalf of the Crown by various agencies or departments of the government of Canada.

How much land does Queen Elizabeth own in Canada? ›

The Queen of Canada holds the legal title to all the “Crown Lands”. That makes up 89% of Canada. Currently Elizabeth is both Queen of the UK and Queen of Canada, but those are separate positions and could diverge in the future.

Does the Queen own most land in Canada? ›

The Crown land is really public land

While Queen Elizabeth is mainly a legal figurehead in Canada, the vast majority of Crown Land in Canada is owned by the Crown as an institution. About half of the land is administered by the provincial governments and the rest by the federal government.

Who is the richest farmer in Canada? ›

Robert Andjelic is Canada's largest farmland owner.

How much land does the United States own in Canada? ›

Other than the site of their embassy in Ottawa, the US government owns no land in Canada.

Does the royal family own land in Canada? ›

The Crown land is really public land

While Queen Elizabeth is mainly a legal figurehead in Canada, the vast majority of Crown Land in Canada is owned by the Crown as an institution. About half of the land is administered by the provincial governments and the rest by the federal government.

Who owns the most private land in Canada? ›

The largest land owner in Canada is the Crown. In simple words the government.

Does the US own land in Canada? ›

No! The USA does not own any territory in Canada.

Who owns the most land in the USA? ›

The largest private landowner in the United States is the Emmerson family, which owns and operates Sierra Pacific Industries, one of the largest lumber producers in the country.

Who technically owns Canada? ›

The Queen of CANADA reigns in Canada. Any Crown Land technically is owned by the Queen of CANADA, although the Federal and Provincial Governments take responsibility for the day to day operation and management of those lands.

Is Canada bigger than the US? ›

The land area of Canada is 3, 855, 103 square miles compared to America's 3, 794, 083, making Canada 1.6% larger that the States.

Who runs Canada? ›

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada.

Who is the largest residential landlord in Canada? ›

As of 2022, CAPREIT owns or has interests in approximately 67,000 residential apartments, townhomes and manufactured housing units across Canada, the Netherlands and Ireland.

Who is the largest private landowner? ›

The largest private landowner in the United States is the Emmerson family, which owns and operates Sierra Pacific Industries, one of the largest lumber producers in the country.

Who is the largest landowner in North America? ›

Editor, The Land Report

The Emmersons became America's largest landowners in 2021 when they acquired 175,000 acres in Oregon from Seneca Timber Company. With that acquisition, the Emmersons surpassed Liberty Media chairman John Malone's 2,200,000 acres.

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