Energy and Mines News:

Mining and Aboriginal Communities
Pierre Grattan, president and C&O of the Mining Association of BC recently gave a speech at the BC Natural Resources Forum. In the speech Mr. Grattan highlights a number of things that can be done by industry, Aboriginal communities and governments in order to forge a stronger and healthier working relationship in this sector. See the entire speech.

BC Hydro Revises Standing Offer Program (SOP)
Following a two year review of the Standing Offer Program (SOP), BC Hydro has revised the SOP in key areas related to eligibility, pricing, interconnections, EPA terms and the general SOP process. The SOP, launched in 2008 was intended to encourage the development of small and clean or renewable energy projects throughout British Columbia. The SOP pricing has been increased between 14% and 29%, depending upon the location of the project. BC Hydro estimates that the new pricing will attract a cumulative total of approximately 1,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year of energy over two years under the SOP. BC Hydro currently has approximately 190 GWh/year of energy under contract from the SOP. See the Full Article as posted by the Climate Change Law Practice Group of Davis LLP.

Family, Wills and Estates News:

Young Parents Get Child-Care Subsidy Boost
It's not easy being a young parent, especially if you're trying to complete your secondary school education. But thanks to a $150 increase in the monthly subsidy rate to B.C.'s Young Parent Programs, these young adults will now have a greater opportunity to receive their high school diploma and create a better future for themselves and their children. See the News Release.

New Incapacity Planning Legislation Coming this September
Legislation giving adults more options when making their own plans in the event of incapacity comes into force Sept. 1 it was recently announced. Incapacity (or personal) planning provisions are part of the Adult Guardianship and Planning Statutes Amendment Act, 2007. The act will be phased in, with other changes such as those related to adult abuse and neglect and health care consent legislation, taking effect at the same time. Adult guardianship provisions are not included in this phase. The new incapacity planning legislation will provide simple, cost-effective planning options through advance directives, enduring powers of attorney and representation agreements. See the News Release.

The Ins and Outs of Separation
A "section 57 declaration" is a judicial declaration, pursuant to s. 57 of the Family Relations Act, that a married couple have "no reasonable prospect of reconciliation with each other" and is often made when a couple have started a legal action. This sort of declaration probably seems a bit pointless, and it would be completely pointless except for s. 56 of the Act. For further details, see the Full Article as posted by JP Boyd's BC Family Law Resource.

Forest and Environment News:

Softwood Lumber Dispute Heats Up Over Salvage Timber
The softwood lumber dispute is the longest-running and most significant dispute in the otherwise peaceful relationship between Canada and the United States. At issue this time is the way the province prices timber killed by the mountain pine beetle. The U.S. alleges that sawmills are using timber that has been classified as Grade 4 salvage timber and getting a sizable amount of lumber out of the log, more than should be the case. It doesn't matter how the companies have done it, if they are getting a better yield of lumber out of the log, then it is obviously not a salvage log in the first place. See the Full Story as posted by the Vancouver Sun.

$1.2-Million Program Will Boost First Nations Forestry
$1.2 million in federal-provincial funding for the First Nations Forest Sector Technical Support Program will help First Nations with economic development in the forest and wood products industries, it was recently announced. The Technical Support Program will help First Nations groups develop new and existing forest-related businesses. See the News Release.

Zero Net Deforestation – Draft Discussion Paper
The BC Ministry of Forests, Mines and Lands has recently released its draft Proposed (Zero Net Deforestation) Implementation Plan which provides objectives, guiding principles and actions to meet the Province's goal of zero net deforestation (ZND) by 2015. While the draft is meant to be for discussion purposes only, it is expected to provide the basis of an implementation plan which is expected to be developed by the spring of 2011. The Plan is the next step in the Province's process for implementing the objectives of the Zero Net Deforestation Act which achieved Royal Assent on June 3rd 2010 but has not yet come into force. The Act defines deforestation, provides for reporting on net deforestation and allows for regulations establishing: the timing, form and content of reports and records; scientifically-based methodology for calculating deforestation and afforestation and other matters. See the Draft Plan.

Health News:

New Regulations Ban Chemicals in Toys
Canadian retailers will have until June to get rid of products, including children's soft vinyl toys, containing a toxic chemical that can be harmful to kids it was recently announced. The new regulations, to take effect at the end of spring, take aim at six phthalates, a family of chemicals known to cause reproductive harm and commonly used to make vinyl plastic soft and flexible. The additive will no longer be permitted to be used in a slew of items that are designed or are likely to be put in the mouths of children under four. These include bath toys, squeeze or inflatable toys, teethers, rattles and vinyl bibs. See the Full Story as posted by canada.com.

Food chains fail to meet self-declared fat content limits
As public-health advocates and legislators push chain restaurants to post nutrition information on menu boards so customers can get nutritional data before ordering, the results beg the question: can consumers trust what the companies tell them? The answer, in short, is no. Are more stringent reporting regulations required? See the Full Story as posted by canada.com.

Labour, Company and Finance News:

Employee Resignation vs Firing in the View of the Courts
An underperforming employee is disciplined, warned and finally, resigns, to avoid a firing on their record. What satisfaction often accompanies these words: "I accept your resignation. " But are all such resignations valid? See the Full Story as posted by the Vancouver Sun.

Local Government News:

Online Voting Coming to B.C. Cities as Early as Fall
The two largest municipalities in British Columbia are looking at the possibility of allowing voters to cast their ballots over the Internet in November's civic election. Both Vancouver and Surrey councils will discuss what it will take to bring in so-called e-voting for the next election. The plans come as a small but growing group of B.C. municipalities explore a concept in online voter engagement that is already well-established in Ontario elections and is gaining a foothold in other provinces. See the Full Story as posted by the Times Colonist.

CRD Imposes Ban On Tanning Beds
Young people in Greater Victoria have been banned from using indoor tanning beds. Capital Regional District politicians voted 18-1 to approve the prohibition, which applies to people under 18 years old. The recommendation by Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Richard Stanwick has been controversial, and the public gallery was packed as 46 speakers took 5 1/2 hours to address the board. Under the bylaw, tanning facility operators would be required to ask for ID from anyone who appears to be under the age of 25 before allowing them to use tanning equipment. The bylaw would carry penalties of between $250 and $2,000. See the Full Story as posted by the Vancouver Sun.

Environmentalists Question Metro Vancouver's Regional Grown Strategy
Metro Vancouver has given second reading to its new Regional Growth Strategy (RGS), and sent the plan to its member municipalities for approval. But the plan is coming under attack from critics concerned about urban sprawl and the protection of agricultural lands. Most of the critics of the RGS have focused on changes to the Urban Containment Boundary and the creation of Special Study Areas. See the Full Story as posted by Andrew Gage, staff lawyer at West Coast Environmental Law.

Miscellaneous News:

New Act and Regulations Target Gangster Vehicles
Jail time could await B.C. gangsters who drive behind bulletproof glass after the Armoured Vehicle and After-Market Compartment Control Act (2010 Bill 16, chap. 8) came into effect February 1. The law, which was first announced last spring, includes fines up to $10,000 and six months in jail for people convicted of driving an armoured vehicle or having a secret compartment in their vehicle. See the Full Story as posted by the Province.

Motor Vehicle and Traffic News:

New Act and Regulations Target Gangster Vehicles
Jail time could await B.C. gangsters who drive behind bulletproof glass after the Armoured Vehicle and After-Market Compartment Control Act (2010 Bill 16, chap. 8) came into effect February 1. The law, which was first announced last spring, includes fines up to $10,000 and six months in jail for people convicted of driving an armoured vehicle or having a secret compartment in their vehicle. See the Full Story as posted by the Province.

Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement news
The CVSE website has been redesigned, see the new website.

Real Estate and Builders Lien News:

Relief for Real Estate Investment Trusts
On December 16, 2010, the Federal Minister of Finance announced proposed amendments to the provisions in the Income Tax Act (Canada) concerning real estate investment trusts (REITs). These changes are welcomed by the REIT industry because it will make it easier for a REIT to qualify for exemption from entity-level taxation under the specified investment flow-through rules (the SIFT Rules). See the Full Story as posted by Blakes.

Effect of the New Mortgage Rules on Residential Real Estate Sales
Changes to the mortgage qualification rules could have a significant impact on residential real estate sales, particularly condominium pre-sales. There have been six changes to the rules, the first three having been announced on April 19, 2010 and others having been announced on January 17, 2011. See the Full Story as posted by Harper Grey.

Strata Properties Grow in Number and Complexity: Analysis
The Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association's analysis of recent data from the BC Assessment Authority provides new information about growth in strata units and the composition of those strata units. See the News Release.