Forest and Environment News:

Changes to WorkSafeBC's Forestry Regulations to take effect Spring 2008 — At their meeting on December 11, 2007, the Board of Directors of WorkSafeBC approved amendments to the forestry section of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and directed that these new standards be deposited with the Registrar's Office as soon as possible resulting in an effective date of May 1, 2008. See News Release.

Future Forest Ecosystems Initiative — Future Forest Ecosystems (FFEI) is a Ministry of Forests and Range initiative for maintaining and enhancing the resilience of B.C.'s forest ecosystems. Adaptation is necessary to effectively manage the effects of climate change, wildfire events, bark beetle infestations, and other rapidly changing conditions in B.C.'s forest ecosystems. See Future Forests website.

Parks — As part of Bill 2, the Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2008, amendments are being proposed to the Park Act that would allow BC Parks to be more responsive to park users and provide greater ability to sell BC Parks merchandise within and outside provincial parks as well as sell advertising space. See News Release.

Compliance and Enforcement — The Ministry of Environment has released the third Quarterly Compliance and Enforcement Summary for 2007. See Summary.

Morice timber supply — Following an expedited timber supply review in response to the Morice timber supply area’s growing mountain pine beetle infestation, the new allowable annual cut for the Morice area will be 2.16 million cubic metres, effective Feb. 1, 2008. See News Release.

Health News:

Health authorities to get 19% increase over three years — Health authority budget allocations over the next three years will reach the highest levels ever, climbing to $9 billion in 2010/11, it was recently announced. See News Release.

Expenses incurred through MSP or from a hospital are likely not recoverable in BC — As published by Mike Thomas of Harper Grey LLP in the Canadian Insurance Law Blog, the question of whether a person can claim for expenses incurred under the medical services plan (MSP) or expenses paid by a hospital in British Columbia is discussed. See the Article.

Labour and Company News:

Occupational Health and Safety Regulation amendments — As of Feb. 1, 2008 a number of changes were made to the OHS Regulation. WorkSafeBC has an informative webpage, see Changes to OHS Regulation.

Consumer Taxes Section - 2008 — To see what's new see What's New.

Local Government News:

Interest Rate Regulation — The Interest Rate Regulation, (B.C. Reg. 27/2008) deposited Feb. 8, 2008, sets the interest rate to be charged on residential property taxes deferred under the Land Tax Deferment Act at 4.0% a year for the 6-month period beginning April 1, 2008. See the Order in Council.

Motor Vehicle News:

Impaired drivers could lose vehicles — B.C. drivers who have a habit of driving while impaired could see their cars seized and sold under planned new anti-drunk-driving legislation. See the Vancouver Sun article.

Real Estate News:

Climate Change and Real Estate Business Practices — Climate change is set to fundamentally alter the way British Columbia's real estate industry does business, says a new report from the David Suzuki Foundation. The report says changes in purchasing behaviour, new government regulations and to the way in which insurers calculate risks will affect the design and the location of new developments and could substantially alter property values throughout B.C. See the Press Release from the Real Estate Institute of British Columbia or the full report Hot properties: How global warming could transform BC's real estate sector.

Interest Rate Regulation— The Interest Rate Regulation, (B.C. Reg. 27/2008) deposited Feb. 8, 2008, sets the interest rate to be charged on residential property taxes deferred under the Land Tax Deferment Act at 4.0% a year for the 6-month period beginning April 1, 2008. See the Order in Council.