QUEBEC - Ottawa has finally accepted Quebec's demands to cede the lands adjacent to its national assembly to the province.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper noted Wednesday the move corrects a historical abnormality.

"Only in Quebec does the federal government still own the grounds of the provincial legislature," he said while in Quebec City for St-Jean-Baptiste-Day celebrations.

"This is an anomaly, it should be corrected and I'm sure that reasonable people in Ottawa and Quebec City should be able to negotiate a resolution of this situation quickly."

Harper said this initiative was part of an open approach to federalism practised by the Tory government, which includes respecting areas of provincial jurisdiction.

Following the prime minister's speech, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Josee Verner said that federal bureaucrats had been given the order to prepare the paperwork for the land transfer.

"This makes sense," the federal minister said, noting there were still technical details to be settled before the official transfer takes place.

"(The land) belongs to the national assembly. As a Quebecer, I'm convinced that this file is worth settling soon. I think there's a lot of interest from the population to see the titles notarized, but it will be done quickly over the next few months."

The province has been renting the land from Ottawa for $50 a year as part of a lease agreement signed in 1867 by the two governments.

"I think we can surrender the land over to them for $1, no tax," Harper said.

Premier Jean Charest's political attache offered only a cautious reaction, noting that although the provincial government was delighted with the announcement, it was awaiting more details.

"Ottawa's intentions need to conform to the motion adopted by the national assembly," said Hugo D'amours.

In May, members of the national assembly unanimously passed a motion calling for the Harper government to cede the lands over to the province.

Action democratique du Quebec member Gerard Deltell, who tabled the motion, said he was happy with Harper's announcement.

"Quebec's new Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Claude Bechard, will have a great opportunity to show he's got Quebec's interests at heart by settling this matter with the same openness that the feds have shown," he said.

Bechard was shuffled from the natural resources portfolio Tuesday by Charest following two Liberal wins in provincial byelections.

This isn't the first time Quebec has asked for ownership of the lands adjacent to the provincial legislature, on which stand statues of former premiers and a monumental fountain.

In 2006, former provincial intergovernmental affairs minister Benoit Pelletier sent a letter to Ottawa on with the same request. It went unanswered.