COMPANY
& FINANCE |
Company and Finance News: Corporate Governance: New Corporate Rules and Enhanced Societal Expectations There
have been rapid developments in ESG-related corporate governance over the past year, including increased ESG-related activism, evolving
expectations relating to mandatory climate-related disclosure and developments in diversity. We discuss these developments further in our ESG article.
At the same time, several ongoing and new corporate law changes are affecting, in a less dramatic fashion, the ways corporations are
governed. These include changes to the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) in relation to director elections and shareholder proposals, as well as amendments to the Alberta Business Corporations Act
(ABCA) in relation to unanimous shareholder agreements, shareholder resolutions and other matters intended to reduce administrative burdens.
We review the impact of these changes as well as a number of other developments in areas such as financial institution legislative reform,
universal proxy requirements in the U.S. and board diversity. Read the full article by John Valley, Andrew MacDougall and Justin Sherman with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP.
Canadian Securities Administrators to Strengthen Rules for Crypto Trading Platforms On December 12, 2022,
the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) announced the expansion of existing requirements for crypto trading platforms operating in Canada
(CTPs) in an effort to strengthen its approach to oversight of such platforms, which changes are said to be in response to recent events in
the crypto market. It is important to note that CTPs located outside of Canada but which are accessible by Canadians are regarded as operating
in Canada for the purposes of securities regulation. Previously, on August 15, 2022,
the CSA announced that CTPs operating in Canada and pursuing registration are required to provide a pre-registration undertaking
(PRU) in favour of their principal regulator, in which they agree to comply with terms and conditions that address investor protection
concerns and are consistent with requirements applicable to registered CTPs. The CSA has announced that deadlines will soon be introduced with
respect to the delivery of a PRU by a CTP and that if a CTP does not deliver a PRU to its principal regulator prior to such deadline or
otherwise cease operating in Canada, then the CTP may face enforcement action. Read the full article by Sydney Kert with DLA Piper.
Revisiting the "New" Testamentary Donation Rules The
legal landscape for testamentary charitable gifts underwent a significant sea-change in 2015. In that year, amendments to the Income Tax Act
(Canada), R.S.C. 1985, c.1 (5th Supp.) ("Tax Act") were implemented that apply to deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2016. Under what
we now call the "old rules" – which applied to deaths occurring prior to January 1, 2016 – the Tax Act deemed a testamentary charitable gift
made by will to have been made by the deceased taxpayer immediately before death, and the gift was valued as of the date of death. Since the
gift was deemed to have been made immediately before death, the donation tax credits arising from the gift could be used to reduce or
eliminate the deceased taxpayer's tax liability on their terminal tax return. The Tax Act also permitted the donation tax credit to be applied
to the year immediately preceding the year of death. Read the full article by Darren Lund with Miller Thomson LLP.
Bank of Canada Releases Retail Payments Supervisory Framework The Bank of Canada (the "BoC") has released its supervisory framework for retail payments under the Retail Payment Activities Act
(the "RPAA"). In June 2021, the Federal Government enacted the RPAA, a
new legislative framework to regulate retail payment activities in
Canada. Pursuant to the RPAA, the BoC has been designated as the
authority responsible for retail payments governance (see Federal Government Releases Draft Legislation to Regulate Retail Payments). The BoC's new supervisory framework
explains how it will assess Payment Service Providers ("PSPs") for
compliance with the RPAA, promote compliance, and monitor and evaluate
trends and issues in the payment system. This framework covers three
activities: (1) registration; (2) risk monitoring; and (3) enforcement.
Read the full article by Koker Christensen, Kathleen Butterfield, Nicolas Faucher, Caitlin Sabetti and Sabrina Jackson-Nazereth (Articling Student) with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP.
Changes to the CRA's FATCA/CRS Guidance for Financial Accounts Held by Trusts Canadian financial institutions (FIs) are subject to the due
diligence and reporting obligations in Part XVIII (FATCA) and Part XIX (CRS) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).
With respect to a financial account of a trust that is a
non-financial foreign entity for FATCA or a non-financial entity for CRS
(a trust), an FI must report the particular account on its FATCA
information return or CRS information return if the trust has one or
more "controlling persons" that are either (i) a citizen of the United
States or (ii) a tax resident of a jurisdiction other than Canada.
Controlling persons of a trust include its settlor, trustee, protector
(if any), beneficiary and any other natural person exercising ultimate
effective control over the trust. Read the full article by Grace Pereira and Tony Zhang with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.
ISS to Consider Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Making Voting Recommendations
Board diversity (gender, racial and ethnic), climate accountability, deferred share unit plans and venture-issuer overboarding are the focus of updates to Institutional Shareholder Services' (ISS) Proxy Voting Guidelines (the Guidelines) for the 2023 proxy season. Read the full article by Philippe Tardif, Laura Levine, Jennifer Jiang, Emma Ouellet Lizotte
with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.
Canada Makes Welcome Amendments to the Income Tax Act for EIFEL Rules
In the Federal Budget
tabled on April 19, 2021 (Budget 2021), the Government of Canada
announced its intention to introduce legislation to implement
limitations on interest deductibility. The relevance of introducing
limits on interest deductibility legislation comes from a recommendation
from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's
project dealing with base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS Action 4)
that Canada has yet to adopt. Read the full article by Robert Nearing with Borden Ladner Gervais.
BC Securities – Policies & Instruments
The following policies and instruments were recently published on the BCSC website:
- 13-315 – Securities Regulatory
Authority Closed Dates 2023
- 23-329 – Joint CSA and IIROC
Notice 23-329 Activist Short Selling Update
- 45-106 – CSA Notice of Amendments
to National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions
and Changes to Companion Policy 45-106CP Prospectus
Exemptions Relating to the Offering Memorandum Prospectus Exemption
- 24-101 – Proposed Amendments to
National Instrument 24-101 Institutional Trade Matching
and Settlement and Proposed Changes to Companion Policy
24-101 Institutional Trade Matching and Settlement
- 81-335 – Investment Fund
Settlement Cycles [CSA Staff Notice]
- BC Notice 2022/03 – Notice of
Revised British Columbia Securities Commission Policy 15-601 Hearings [BCN]
For more information visit the BC Securities website. |
Act or Regulation Affected |
Effective Date |
Amendment Information |
Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel International Student Health Fee Remission Regulation (273/2022) |
NEW Dec. 19/22 |
see Reg 273/2022 |
Film and Television Tax Credit Regulation (4/99) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 253/2022 |
Food Delivery Service Fee Act |
NEW Jan. 1/23 |
c. 30, SBC 2022, Bill 33, whole Act in force by Reg 249/2022 |
Food Delivery Service Fee Regulation (249/2022) |
NEW Jan. 1/23 |
see Reg 249/2022 |
Income Tax Act |
Dec. 1/22 |
by 2022 Bill 4, c. 4, sections 65 to 73 only (in force by Reg 252/2022), Skilled Trades BC Act |
Jan. 1/23 |
by 2022 Bill 35, c. 32, section 1 only (in force by Royal Assent), Income Tax Amendment Act, 2022 |
Training Tax Credits Regulation (243/2007) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 253/2022 |
ENERGY
& MINES |
Energy and Mines News:
Energy Resource Activities Act –
Early Consolidation Published
Quickscribe has published an
early consolidation of amendments to the Oil
and Gas Activities Act by 2022
Bill 37, c. 42, the Energy Statutes Amendment Act,
2022, as it will read once all sections eventually come
into force by regulation. These amendments include renaming the Act to the Energy
Resource Activities Act, and restructuring and
renaming
the BC Oil and Gas Commission as the British Columbia
Energy Regulator. The Regulator's responsibilities as set
out in the
amendments will be expanded to include hydrogen, with
the intention to provide a more cohesive framework for
the
regulation of hydrogen projects.
In addition, Bill 37 amendments expand liability
beyond permit
holders for orphaned oil and gas activity sites to
include others who benefited from site operations, in
order to help pay
for restoration of the site. They also provide the
Regulator with new powers to address orphaned sites, such
as establishing
registers of responsible persons and orphan sites,
disposing of abandoned property at a site, and
transferring permits or
authorization in relation to orphan sites.
For more information, read New
Regulator in Town – More Than a Name Change,
by Alexander
Baer and Matthew
D. Keen with Norton Rose Fulbright, as included in the
November Quickscribe
Reporter.
BC Hydrogen Legislation: New Regulator for
Hydrogen and Other Energy Resources
This article is part of a series on changes introduced with
the passing of the Energy Statutes Amendment Act, 2022, which also covers increased liability of directors and
officers and changes to the regulation of carbon capture
and storage.
British Columbia has passed legislation that will
streamline
the regulation of hydrogen and other energy resources in
the province. Called the Energy Statutes Amendment Act,
2022, it
introduces changes to the Oil and Gas Activities Act and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act.
With this new B.C. hydrogen legislation, the Oil and
Gas
Commission will be renamed the British Columbia Energy
Regulator, with jurisdiction over oil, gas, hydrogen,
ammonia
and methanol. A single-window regulator gives businesses
investing in hydrogen in British Columbia a clearer
legal
framework.
The Energy Statutes Amendment Act, 2022
passed third reading and has received Royal Assent.
However, many of the amendments that affect hydrogen will
come into force
through subsequent regulations, which we will monitor.
Read the full article by Roark Lewis and Rick Williams with Borden Ladner Gervais
LLP.
First Nations Challenge B.C. Mineral
Claim Regime in Court
The principle of free, prior and informed consent
embedded in UNDRIP must apply to mineral claims in B.C.,
First Nations will
argue in court – something that has the mining and
exploration industry in B.C. worried.
First Nations, environmental groups and mining and
exploration
industry associations are in court today seeking
intervenor status in a case that could have wide-ranging
implications for
mineral exploration in B.C., as well as the federal
government's critical minerals strategy, should the case
succeed. Read the BIV article.
Treaty Rights and Resource Development: The
Cumulative Effects Claims Begin to Pile Up
Our 2021 Legal Year in Review update discussed
the landmark B.C. Supreme Court decision in Yahey v. British Columbia (Yahey)
which held that the cumulative impacts of industrial
development within the traditional territory of the
Blueberry River First
Nations (Blueberry River) amounted to an infringement of
their rights under Treaty 8. As anticipated, Yahey led
other
First Nations communities and groups to file claims
alleging treaty infringement based on cumulative impacts
from industrial
development.
The rise in cumulative effects treaty-infringement
claims is an
evolving area of Indigenous law with potentially
critical implications for resource development and the
regulatory
frameworks governing project assessment across Canada.
Read the full article by Maureen Killoran, Richard King, Sander Duncanson, Sean Sutherland and Erin Bower with Osler, Hoskin &
Harcourt LLP.
Canada's New Critical Minerals Strategy –
Recycling the Regulatory Regime
On Friday, December 9, 2022, the federal government
released the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy (the
Strategy), a
comprehensive multi-disciplinary government policy
package designed to facilitate increased production and
processing of
critical minerals vital to the green and digital
economy. The government committed to, among other things,
reviewing the
regulatory processes and red tape faced by
Canadian-regulated mining companies attempting to bring
mines from exploration to
production, with a view to placing Canada at the
forefront of the increasing global demand for clean
energy. Supporting
economic growth and job creation, continued
reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, enhancing global
security and fostering a
"nature-forward" approach to sustainability are among
the objectives outlined in the 58-page Strategy. Read the
full article by Sander A.J.R. Grieve, Martin Ignasiak, Christopher J. Doucet and Geoffrey Davis with Bennett Jones LLP.
BC Introduces New Rules for Carbon Capture and Storage
This article is part of a series on changes introduced with
the passing of the Energy Statutes Amendment Act, 2022, which also covers increased liability of directors and
officers and changes to clarify the regulation of
hydrogen production in BC.
British Columbia has passed the Energy Statutes Amendment Act, 2022,
which addresses the regulatory framework for carbon
capture and storage in the province. The Act amends the Oil and Gas Activities Act and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act
to
clarify the licensing requirements for storage
reservoirs and expand rights for the provincial
government to explore for,
access, develop and use storage reservoirs. Read the full article by Roark Lewis and Rick Williams with Borden Ladner Gervais
LLP. |
Act or Regulation Affected |
Effective Date |
Amendment Information |
Direction to the British Columbia Utilities Commission Respecting Cryptocurrency Mining Projects (281/2022) |
NEW Dec. 21/22 |
see Reg 281/2022 |
Dormancy and Shutdown Regulation (112/2019) |
Jan. 1/23 |
by Reg 266/2022 |
Drilling and Production Regulation (282/2010) |
Jan. 1/23 |
by Reg 266/2022 |
Hydro and Power Authority Act |
Dec. 19/22 |
by 1999 Bill 62, c. 15, section 12 only (in force by Reg 277/2022), Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 1999 |
FAMILY
& CHILDREN |
Family and Children News: Changes to Provincial Court (Child, Family and Community
Service Act) Rules on December 19, 2022
Under the Child, Family and Community Service Act
judges conduct hearings to decide whether parents' care of a child should be supervised by a social worker, or whether
children must be removed from their parents' care because of abuse or neglect. They also conduct Family Case Conferences to
help families and social workers agree on what is necessary to reunite the family. The Provincial Court (Child, Family and Community
Service Act) Rules set out procedures in these matters.
The Court has been working with the provincial government to
modernize and fill some gaps in the rules. This eNews highlights some of the changes taking effect on Monday, December 19, 2022.
Read the full Provinical Court of British Columbia news article.
Man Wrongly Removed From Ex-Wife's
Insurance Plan: BC Supreme Court
A man should not be removed from his ex-wife's health, extended health, and dental insurance benefits plan as a result of a
divorce order between them, the Supreme Court of British Columbia said in a recent case.
The parties were married in August 2000 and separated in
January 2017. They executed a November 2018 separation agreement that covered parenting arrangements for their three children,
support, and property division. Read the full article by Bernise Carolino in the Canadian
Lawyer.
Child Custody When Parents Live in Different Countries
In international child custody matters, the "habitual residence" of the child is a critical factor in determining whether there
has been wrongful removal or retention of a child in another country. The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of
International Child Abduction (which has the force of law
in BC pursuant to section 80 of BC's Family Law Act) states a child who
has been wrongfully removed or retained in another country must be returned to their place of habitual residence. The underlying
rationale for the Hague Convention is that disputes over custody of a child or the best interests of the child should be resolved
by the courts in the jurisdiction where the child is habitually resident. Read the full article from the Onyx Law Group.
B.C. Court Gives Go-Ahead to Constitutional
Challenge of Legal Aid System
A constitutional challenge to B.C.'s legal aid regime is going ahead after a judge gave standing to a single mothers' advocacy
group which says the system discriminates against people fleeing abuse.
The challenge from the Single Mothers' Alliance was launched in
2017 and alleges that B.C. has responsibility under the Charter to ensure access to the justice system for women who are fleeing
violent relationships or facing ongoing abuse from ex-spouses. The alliance, which is being represented by West Coast LEAF,
argues that the province's legal aid system discriminates against women and children as family legal aid is often denied
because a situation is deemed not violent enough or people working full-time at minimum wage are viewed as not needing it.
Read the full article by Ian Burns in the The Lawyer's Daily. |
Act or Regulation Affected |
Effective Date |
Amendment Information |
Child Care Licensing Regulation (332/2007) |
Jan. 1/23 |
by Reg 332/2007 |
Interjurisdictional Support Orders Regulation (15/2003) |
Dec. 19/22 |
by Reg 275/2022 |
Provincial Court (Child, Family & Community Service) Rules (533/95) |
Dec. 19/22 |
by Reg 216/2022 |
Representation Agreement Act |
Jan. 1/23 |
by 2022 Bill 27, c. 31, section 16 to 18 only (in force by Reg 279/2022), Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2, 2022) |
Representation Agreement Regulation (199/2001) |
Jan. 1/23 |
by Reg 279/2022 |
FOREST
& ENVIRONMENT |
Forest and
Environment News: New Coastal Marine Strategy
Intentions Paper [Feedback]
The BC Government recently published a new intentions paper outlining a strategy to
guide the development of the BC Coastline. The paper presents a vision for protecting the ecological, cultural, and economic
benefits provided by the coastal marine environment. The Coastal Marine Strategy will focus on areas closer to shore, where
estuaries, kelp beds, eelgrass meadows, rocky shorelines, and sandy beaches support an abundance and diversity of marine life.
The strategy will concentrate on activities, uses and values that the Province is accountable for. The government seeking
public engagement and feedback can be submitted until April 14,
2023.
Investigation Examines Enforcement
of the Wildfire Act
A new investigation report released looks at how well government is investigating, deciding compliance and recovering costs from
those responsible for causing wildfires in B.C.
The investigation found government has a well-defined and
consistent process. Most decisions are appropriate, but there are some opportunities for improvement. Read the full news release from the Forest Practices
Board.
6 New Climate Policies Anticipated for B.C. in 2023
Will it be enough to meet the province's critical climate
and biodiversity goals?
As the world continues to grapple with the climate and ecological crises a number of new environmental policies are
anticipated for 2023 in 2023. But are they going to be enough to meet critical climate and biodiversity goals, and help us adapt
to the increasingly frequent and severe impacts of global warming? Here's a look at a few changes coming:
Cap on emissions from oil and gas sector
This is a federal pledge that will affect the natural gas sector in B.C. Canada's Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has said
this cap will be ready by the end of next year, with draft regulations expected this spring.
Read the Vancouver Sun article.
New Carbon-Reduction Requirements
Lower Emissions on the Road
The Province is fulfilling a commitment identified as a key action in the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 to increase the 2030
carbon-intensity reduction target for the diesel and gasoline fuel pools from 20% to 30% under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard
(LCFS).
The LCFS was implemented in 2010, requiring fuel suppliers to
progressively lower the average carbon intensity of the fuels they supply in British Columbia by 10% by 2020. In 2020, the
Province extended the LCFS and increased the carbon-intensity reduction requirement to 20% by 2030.
Amendments to the Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirements
Regulation will now require fuel suppliers to reduce the
carbon intensity of diesel and gasoline fuel pools supplied in B.C. to reach an overall reduction of 30% by 2030, relative to
2010 levels. Read the government news release.
New GAR Order
Ministerial Order M299/2022, made under the Government Actions Regulation, sections
7(1) and (2) on September 15, 2022 and posted in the BC Gazette Part I on December 15, 2022, impacts the Visual Quality
Objectives (VQOs) in the Sunshine Coast Natural Resource district as follows:
- scenic areas and Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs) in the
Sunshine Coast Natural Resource District, which were established through a district manager's letter, dated May 16,
1997, under the provisions of the Operational and Site Planning Regulation, are cancelled;
- scenic areas and Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs) in Tree
Farm Licence 39, Block 1, which were established under the Sunshine Coast Forest District VQO GAR Order, dated June 19,
2009, are cancelled; and
- scenic areas and VQOs for the Sunshine Coast Natural
Resource District are established.
Environmental Appeal Board Decisions
The following Environmental Appeal Board decisions were made recently:
Environmental Management Act
Wildlife Act
Visit the Environmental Appeal Board website for more information. |
Act or Regulation Affected |
Effective
Date |
Amendment Information |
Carbon Neutral Government Regulation (392/2008) |
Dec. 19/22 |
by Reg 271/2022 |
Environmental Assessment Act |
Dec. 16/22 |
by c. 51, SBC 2018, section 79 (4) |
Groundwater Protection Regulation (39/2016) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 253/2022 |
Ozone Depleting Substances and Other Halocarbons Regulation (387/99) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 253/2022 |
Professional Governance Act |
Dec. 19/22 |
by Reg 276/2022 |
Professional Governance General Regulation (107/2019) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 253/2022 |
Recycling Regulation (449/2004) |
Jan. 1/23 |
by Reg 162/2020 |
Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirements Regulation (394/2008) |
Jan. 1/23 |
by Reg 280/2022 |
HEALTH |
Health News: Case Summary: Court of Appeal Upheld Mental Health Review Board's Decision that the Petitioner Continued to Meet the Criteria for Involuntary Detention under the Mental Health Act A.T. v. British Columbia (Mental Health Review Board), [2022] B.C.J. No. 2090, 2022 BCSC 1905, British Columbia Supreme Court, November 1, 2022, M.B. Blok J.
The petitioner sought judicial review of a decision by a panel of the Mental Health Review Board (the "Board") that he be involuntarily
detained under the Mental Health Act,
R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 288 (the "Act"). The petitioner had previously successfully sought judicial review of the panel's first decision, and
in the present case sought judicial review of the panel's redetermination. Read the full article by Joanne Barnum with Harper Grey LLP.
Naturopathic Doctor Stopped from Exporting Fecal Microbiota Transplant Materials in BC Case
The Supreme Court of British Columbia upheld an interim order
prohibiting a naturopathic doctor from producing, manufacturing,
advertising, promoting, selling, or shipping certain materials to the
public. The court found judicial review of the regulatory investigations
premature. The petitioner in a recent case was a naturopathic doctor
focusing on digestive health issues. He owned businesses manufacturing
and
exporting digestive health products, including fecal microbiota
transplant (FMT) materials. Read the full article by Bernise Carolino on Canadian Lawyer.
Regulations Amending the Regulations for the Monitoring of Medical Assistance in Dying, SOR/2022-222
The Minister of Health recently made the Regulations Amending the Regulations for the Monitoring of Medical Assistance in Dying, SOR/2022-222 (the "Amending Regulations") which will come into force on January 1, 2023. The Amending Regulations
will impose a new array of procedural rules and reporting requirements
relating to the provision of Medical Assistance in Dying ("MAiD") in
Canada. Read the full article by Jennifer Eshlemann and Jessica Park with Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP.
Resident Doctors Ratify Agreement under Shared Recovery Mandate Members
of Resident Doctors of BC and the Health Employers Association of BC
have ratified a new agreement under government's Shared Recovery
Mandate. Resident Doctors of BC represents more than 1,400 medical
graduates who participate in a graduate educational program leading to
qualification for independent practise as a family or specialist doctor.
Key priorities of the 2022 mandate include:
- protecting the services that people in British Columbia depend on;
- improving health care and preparing for future needs and challenges; and
- supporting a strong economic recovery that includes everyone in BC.
Read the full government news release.
Legal Issues in Healthcare: A Canadian Perspective for 2023 Our Life Sciences and Healthcare Group recently authored the "Canada" chapter in Lexology's 2023 Life Sciences guide,
published as part of the "Getting the Deal Through" series. This chapter provides an excellent overview of this rapidly developing area
of law, including the following topics:
- Organization and financing of healthcare
- Healthcare services
- Advertising
- Healthcare data protection, privacy and digitization
- Competition and antitrust law in the health sector
- Pricing and reimbursement
- Trends to watch for
Read the full article by Sara Zborovski and Ian Trimble with Stikeman Elliott.
Health Canada's New Amendments on Cannabis Research, Testing and Cannabis Beverages On Dec. 9, 2022, Health Canada announced the approval of the proposed amendments introduced by the Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning Cannabis Research as well as the Order Amending Schedule 3 to the Cannabis Act.
These amendments increase the public possession limit for cannabis
beverages, and facilitate non-therapeutic cannabis research and testing.
Health Canada anticipates publishing the amendments in Canada Gazette
Part II on Dec. 22, 2022. Read the full article by William Bjornsson, Lewis Retik and Jon-Paul Powers, PhD with Gowling WLG.
"Big Year" for BC Pharmacists with New Prescribing Powers, Drug Shortages This
spring, BC pharmacists will begin prescribing drugs for minor ailments like urinary tract infections and allergies, as well as contraception.
In a year when pharmacists have stickhandled children's drug shortages and an extra-busy flu shot season, you'd think they might balk at the
news in Ontario and BC that their powers to prescribe drugs are being expanded.
Yet those in the field say the added responsibilities may make their jobs more fulfilling – so long as the changes are accompanied with
appropriate funding. Read the Vancouver Sun article. |
Act or Regulation Affected |
Effective Date |
Amendment Information |
Accessible British Columbia Regulation (105/2022) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 253/2022 |
Child Care Licensing Regulation (332/2007) |
Jan. 1/23 |
by Reg 332/2007 |
Covid-19 Related Measures Act |
REPEALED Dec. 31/22 |
by c. 8, SBC 2020, section 7 |
Hospital Act |
Dec. 19/22 |
by Reg 274/2022 |
Hospital Insurance Act Regulations (25/61) |
Dec. 29/22 |
by Reg 274/2022 |
LABOUR
& EMPLOYMENT |
Labour and Employment News: Remorseful Worker Reinstated After
Termination for Near-Miss Accident
"Anytime that you have [a serious accident or near-miss], the fundamental question is, was this a one-off accident –
typically, labour law does not consider accidents to be culpable behavior – was this culpable behavior of such seriousness
that one incident would merit termination?"
These are the questions that must be examined in the event of a
serious safety breach in a high-risk workplace – and termination may not always be the solution, says Michael Penner,
a labour lawyer at Kent Employment Law in Victoria. Read the full article by Jeffrey R. Smith in the Canadian
Lawyer.
Tis the Season…for Triennial Assessments!
The Pension Benefits Standards Act
requires B.C. registered pension plans to conduct triennial plan assessments which assess the administration of a pension plan
with respect to compliance with the Act, governance, funding, investment, and the performance of trustees and administrators.
For most pension plans (those with a fiscal year of January to
December), the next triennial assessment will need to be prepared as of December 31, 2022 (in respect of the three year
period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022), and be completed by December 31, 2023. As a reminder, the assessment
needs to be complete and available to the BC Financial Services Authority upon request, but does not need to be filed with the
regulator. Read the full article by Lisa Chamzuk, Meghan Popp and Jessica Kim with Lawson Lundell.
Don't Give Up on Restrictive Covenants
If revising your employment and independent contractor agreements is on the "to do" list for 2023, the recent case of Quick
Pass Master Tutorial School Ltd. v Zhao, 2022 BCSC 1846 is a good reminder to
review any restrictive covenants in those agreements. The law in this area is always evolving and restrictive covenants can be
difficult to enforce without careful drafting. However, as this case shows, B.C. courts are still willing to enforce properly
drafted and reasonable covenants. Read the full article by Cory Sully and Emily Raymond with Lawson Lundell.
Breaking Down Bad-Faith Damages
In the context of workplaces, bad faith can be proven when an employer engages in unfair conduct in an employee's dismissal,
to the extent that the conduct causes the employee to suffer serious and prolonged mental distress.
Bad faith claims are concerned with the events leading up to
the termination, the termination itself, and the way the termination is conducted. Read the full article by Glen Stratton, published
in the Canadian HR Reporter. |
Act or Regulation Affected |
Effective Date |
Amendment Information |
Employment and Assistance Regulation (263/2002) |
Dec. 19/22 |
by Reg 272/2022 |
Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation (265/2002) |
Dec. 19/22 |
by Reg 272/2022 |
Employment Standards Act |
Jan. 1/23 |
by 2019 Bill 8, c. 27, sections 7, 34 (c) and 35 (a) only (in force by Reg 200/2022), Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2019 |
Employment Standards Regulation (396/95) |
Jan. 1/23 |
by Reg 63/2022 and Reg 200/2022 as amended by Reg 254/2022 |
Industry Training Authority Act |
REPEALED Dec. 1/22 |
by 2022 Bill 4, c. 4, section 60 only (in force by Reg 252/2022), Skilled Trades BC Act |
Labour Mobility Regulation (305/2009) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 253/2022 |
Minister’s Skilled Trades BC Regulation (256/2022) |
NEW Dec. 1/22 |
see Reg 256/2022 |
Pension Benefits Standards Regulation (71/2015) |
Dec. 31/22 |
by Reg 196/2022 |
Public Sector Employers Act |
Dec. 1/22 |
by 2022 Bill 4, c. 4, section 74 only (in force by Reg 252/2022), Skilled Trades BC Act |
Security Services Regulation (207/2008) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 253/2022 |
Skilled Trades BC Act |
Dec. 1/22 |
c. 4, SBC 2022, Bill 4, whole Act in force by Reg 252/2022 |
Skilled Trades BC Regulation (252/2022) |
NEW
Dec. 1/22 |
see Reg 252/2022 |
LOCAL
GOVERNMENT |
Local Government News: Bill 43 - Housing Supply Act On November 24, 2022, Bill 43 – 2022 the Housing Supply Act
received Royal Assent, and will come into force by regulation. This legislation would enable the Province to set housing targets for
specific municipalities, and to take certain actions if those targets are not met. Bill 43 allows the Province to impose a number of
substantive and procedural requirements upon municipalities in seeking to reach housing targets. Municipalities may be required to provide
information and reports to the Province, and where they fail to meet housing targets prescribed for the municipality by the Province, the
Province is enabled to take several courses of action. The first is to appoint advisors with broad jurisdiction to review municipal records,
and create a report with recommendations for meeting the housing target in the future. Alternatively, or as well, the Province is enabled to
intervene in a municipality's bylaw-making and permit-issuing powers. Currently, the Province is able to alter bylaws under the Local Government Act, but it does not presently have the authority to enact new bylaws or issue or refuse permits under the Vancouver Charter, Local Government Act, and Community Charter.
Finally, the legislation sets out a relatively deferential statutory standard of review when a decision made under this legislation is
judicially reviewed. Read the full article by Bill Buholzer and Nathan Ruston with Young Anderson.
BC Supreme Court Finds that Re-zoning Approval with Variances Did Not "Create a New Zone"
Recently, the B.C. Supreme Court denied a judicial review petition
challenging the approval of a re-zoning application for an apartment
complex. In Penticton Society for Transparent Governance and Responsible Development v Penticton (City), 2022 BCSC 2111,
the Petitioner alleged that the City had effectively created a new,
non-existent land use zone when it approved an amending bylaw that
up-zoned a property to an existing zone but where the City was required
to subsequently grant variances for aspects of the property that did not
meet the requirements of that pre-existing zone. Read the full article by Josh Krusell with Stewart McDannold Stuart.
Vacancy Tax/Empty Homes Tax – Five Suggested Areas for Improvement In
2017, the City of Vancouver introduced its annual residential vacancy
tax (or "empty homes tax"). At that time, the tax rate was 1% of the
assessed value of a subject property. The governing statute and
administration program were relatively simpler than more substantial
taxes like income tax and GST/HST. However, the City has steadily
increased the tax rate over the years. On January 1, 2023, it will hit
5%. This equals the rate of the federal GST and the highest rate of the
province's property transfer tax. Crucially, however, those are largely
one-time taxes imposed on homeowners (e.g., when buying or selling a
home). By being levied annually, and not having regard to cost, the
consequences to the annual vacancy tax can thus be significantly
greater. The sophistication of the vacancy tax has not evolved at the
same pace as its rate. This raises questions over what should be
improved upon in the legislation, administration, and enforcement of the
vacancy tax. Though not an exhaustive list, the following are five
suggestions. Read the full article by Noah Sarna and Zheting Su with Thorsteinssons LLP.
From UBCM: Resources for Developing and Improving Codes of Conduct Local
governments in British Columbia are required by legislation to consider implementing or upgrading a Code of Conduct within the first six months
of the first regular council/board meeting following a general local election. The Working Group on Responsible Conduct (WGRC) has developed a
set of resources to assist local governments with the development and updating of Codes of Conduct, including necessary considerations for
dealing with complaints, resolving conduct issues informally and establishing enforcement procedures. The conduct of local elected
officials is central to governance and when conduct issues emerge, good governance can be impaired and public trust eroded. The guide Forging the Path to Responsible Conduct
presents practical ways to help local governments prevent conduct issues and deal with them if they do arise. Read the full UBCM article.
Significant Changes Coming in 2023 for BC's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act The Provincial government has recently confirmed the latest in a series of long-anticipated and significant changes to BC's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act ("FIPPA"). As of February 1, 2023, two new sections of FIPPA and associated regulations will come into force. This will create two significant new requirements for all public bodies in this province:
- Mandatory reporting requirements in the event of privacy breaches.
- Requirement to develop and maintain a "privacy management program".
Privacy Breach Notifications Public
bodies will be required to report any privacy breach that "could reasonably be expected to result in significant harm to the individual".
A "privacy breach" is broadly defined. It includes theft, loss, or any other unauthorized collection, use or disclosure of personal
information.
Read the full article by Keri L. Bennett and Jordan Michaux with Roper Greyell LLP.
Local Government Fact Sheets
from UBCM UBCM has updated a set of fact sheets
that provide foundational information on local government operations in
an easy-to-read format. Subjects include the role and powers of elected
officials, taxation, planning process, policing, and bylaws. Fact
Sheets are updated after each local government election cycle.
Everything You Need to Know about BC's 2023 Homeowner Grant Eligible
BC homeowners will continue to see reduced property taxes on residential properties through the homeowner grant program. This year,
the provincial government announced the grant will continue to cover 92 per cent of residential properties with "the threshold set at $2.125
million." Read the full BIV article by Carol Eugene Park. |
Act or Regulation Affected |
Effective Date |
Amendment Information |
Application by Owner and Occupier of Eligible Residential Property Regulation (262/2022) |
NEW Dec. 1/22 |
see Reg 262/2022 |
Application by Owner and Occupier of Eligible Residential Property (240/96) |
REPEALED Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 262/2022 |
Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Regulation |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 253/2022 |
Electrical Safety Regulation |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 255/2022 |
Financial Information Act |
Dec. 1/22 |
by 2022 Bill 4, c. 4, section 62 only (in force by Reg 252/2022), Skilled Trades BC Act |
Gas Safety Regulation (103/2004) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 255/2022 |
Information Management Regulation (109/2016) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 253/2022 |
Monetary Penalties Regulation (268/2021) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 268/2021 |
Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia Operations Regulation (229/2002) (formerly Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia Complaints and Operations Regulation) |
Dec. 31/22 |
by Reg 229/2022 |
Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation (104/2004) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 255/2022 |
Prescribed Police Forces Regulation (70/99) |
Dec. 31/22 |
by Reg 231/2022 |
School Act |
Dec. 1/22 |
by 2022 Bill 4, c. 4, section 75 only (in force by Reg 252/2022), Skilled Trades BC Act |
MISCELLANEOUS
|
Miscellaneous News:
BC FIPPA’s Mandatory Privacy Breach Notification and Privacy Management Program Obligations Start February 1, 2023
Just over a year ago, the Government of British Columbia introduced Bill 22 to amend the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FIPPA”). More details are in our previous blog post
summarizing the most significant changes to FIPPA. Bill 22 deferred details on two changes: mandatory privacy breach notification
obligations and the requirement that public bodies have a privacy management program (“PMP”). Those obligations are now
set to come into effect on February 1, 2023 and the Government of British Columbia has provided the details in two documents: Read the full article by David Crane, Jade Buchanan, Kelsey Franks and Curtis Chance with McCarthy Tétrault.
Trial Management Conferences to Return in Person on February 1, 2023
from the BCSC Effective February 1, 2023, trial management conferences will resume in
person. Until that date, trial management conferences will continue by telephone or Teams audio pursuant to Rule 23.1-1(1) of the Supreme Court Civil Rules and Rule 22.1-1(1) of the Supreme Court Family Rules. For more information, click here. Chief Justice Hinkson has rescinded COVID-19 Orders No. 010 and No. 011 and made a related change to COVID-19 Notice No. 54 – Masters Chambers Pilot.
BC Expands Public Interest Disclosure Act Whistleblower Protection to More Public-sector Groups The BC government has expanded its whistleblower
protection law to include more agencies, boards, commissions, and select
Crown corporations through the new Public Interest Disclosure Act
(PIDA). The PIDA allows current and former employees to confidentially report serious or systemic issues of wrongdoing that affect the public interest
to direct supervisors, designated officers within the organizations or the Office of the Ombudsperson. If an employee opts for the latter, they
do not need to complete any internal process with their organization before contacting the ombudsperson’s office. The amendments will also require ministries and the ombudsperson to
practise transparency by reporting on the number of disclosures received and the results of the investigations taken for each year. Read the full article by Micah Guiao on Canadian Lawyer.
Ombudsperson Investigation Highlights Vital Statistics Agency's Overly Rigid Decision-making Resulting in Improper Discrimination of a Senior The Ombudsperson released a report today with a cautionary message
for public organizations – don’t develop policies that are too narrow to serve the public fairly. In his report, Making Amends,
Ombudsperson Jay Chalke
highlights the case of a woman in her 70s who ran into bureaucratic
roadblocks when she applied to the Vital Statistics Agency to amend her
name on her BC birth certificate. Known as Elizabeth her whole life, her
name was spelled Eliz“e”beth on her birth certificate in the 1940s.
“The person on my original birth certificate never ever existed. They
never did one thing in their life. They have no paper trail to their
life,” Ms. M (as she is referred to in the report) states. The Vital Statistics Act
provides that a person may apply to
amend their given name on their birth certificate by providing evidence
that is “satisfactory to the Registrar General” of the Vital Statistics
Agency that their correct name was used before their 12th birthday.
Read the full news release on the Ombudsperson British Columbia website.
BC Serves Cap on What Food Delivery Services Can Charge Restaurants
Starting Jan. 1, 2023, Canada's first permanent delivery-fee cap will
give BC restaurant owners more certainty about their costs. "We all have
a favourite local restaurant, somewhere we celebrate as
families and friends, eat our favourite foods, or get a taste of home,"
says Brenda Bailey, Minster of Jobs, Economic Development and
Innovation. "When restaurants were being charged unfair fees, our
government acted fast to implement a temporary cap on delivery-service
fees." During the pandemic, delivery companies were charging fees to
restaurants as high as 30 per cent of an order's value.
The Food Delivery Service Fee Act was passed on Nov. 3 and will limit
the fees that delivery companies can charge restaurants to no more than 20 per cent of the dollar value of an order. Read the BIV article.
Mother Who Sued Port Alberni School Board over First Nations Smudging Ceremony Ordered to Pay Costs
The Court of Appeal for British Columbia has ruled against a Port Alberni mother who claimed two school events about Indigenous culture
violated her children’s religious freedoms. The court of appeal panel of judges also ordered Candace Servatius to pay costs, contrary to what a
trial judge had ruled in 2020 when he dismissed the case. Read the full article by Zena Olijnyk on Canadian Lawyer. |
Act or Regulation Affected |
Effective Date |
Amendment Information |
Assistance to Shelter Regulation (291/2008) |
Dec. 31/22 |
by Reg 229/2022 |
College and Institute Act |
Dec. 1/22 |
by 2022 Bill 4, c. 4, section 61 only (in force by Reg 252/2022), Skilled Trades BC Act |
Committees of the Executive Council Regulation (268/2022) |
NEW Dec. 7/22 |
see Reg 268/2022 |
Committees of the Executive Council Regulation (150/2021) |
REPEALED Dec. 7/22 |
by Reg 268/2022 |
Designated Policing and Law Enforcement Units Complaints Regulation (230/2022) |
NEW Dec. 31/22 |
see Reg 230/2022 |
Election Act |
Dec. 31/22 |
by c. 106, RSBC 1996, section 283 (3) |
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act |
Dec. 1/22 |
by 2022 Bill 4, c. 4, sections 63 and 64 only (in force by Reg 252/2022), Skilled Trades BC Act |
Dec. 31/22 |
by Reg 244/2022 |
Government Body Designation (Public Interest Disclosure) Regulation (58/2022) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 243/2022 and Reg 253/2022 |
Information Management Systems (Digital Evidence Management System) Regulation (309/2021) |
Dec. 31/22 |
by Reg 229/2022 |
Lobbyists Transparency Regulation (235/2019) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 253/2022 |
Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia Operations Regulation (229/2002) (formerly Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia Complaints and Operations Regulation) |
Dec. 31/22 |
by Reg 229/2022 |
Prescribed Police Forces Regulation (70/99) |
Dec. 31/22 |
by Reg 231/2022 |
South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service Regulation (454/2004) |
Dec. 31/22 |
by Reg 454/2004 |
South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service Operations Regulation (484/2004) (formerly South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service Complaints and Operations Regulation) |
Dec. 31/22 |
by Reg 229/2022 |
Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Service Operations Regulation (385/99) (formerly Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Service Complaints and Operations Regulation) |
Dec. 31/22 |
by Reg 229/2022 |
MOTOR
VEHICLE & TRAFFIC |
Motor Vehicle and Traffic News:
Don't Forget: ELD Mandates Beginning
Enforcement on January 1, 2023
Electronic logging devices ("ELDs") are devices
installed into commercial motor vehicles that use a
computer-based software to
monitor the activities of the vehicle's driver to ensure
compliance with hours of service legislation. The use of
ELDs
has been required for federally-regulated motor carriers
in Canada since June 12, 2021, but this requirement has
not yet
been enforced to allow for a period of education and
awareness, as well as time for motor carriers to obtain
and install ELDs.
Beginning on January 1, 2023, enforcement of this
mandate will
begin in the majority of provinces and territories,
including Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta,
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova
Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Yukon and Northwest
Territories. Some provinces have also created ELD
mandates concerning
provincially-regulated commercial motor vehicles which
will simultaneously be enforced with the federal
regulations. Read
the full article by Louis Amato-Gauci, Jaclyne Reive and Ellen Kim with Miller Thomson LLP.
Classification of Patient Specimens [TDG] from Transport Canada This document does not change, amend or suggest deviations from the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations.
The purpose of this document is to provide clarity and regulatory
guidance on the classification of patient specimens and to assist health care professionals who are responsible for preparing patients specimens
for transport. This document is meant to be read with the TDG Bulletin – Shipping Infectious Substances.
Autonomous Vehicles – Canada's Current Legal
Framework: Liability in Motor Vehicle Accidents
As autonomous vehicle (AV) technology continues to grow
in functionality and sophistication, it is only a matter
of time
before AVs become commercially available across Canada.
The arrival of autonomous vehicles in Canada will raise a
number of
liability-related questions that touch on the areas of
owner liability, product liability, and auto insurance.
In this post,
we discuss the allocation of liability in incidents
involving AVs and the future of auto insurance. Read the full article by Suzie Suliman and Imran Ahmad with Norton Rose Fulbright
LLP.
More People Will Train to Be Professional Truck Drivers
As many as 30 eligible participants will receive
training to prepare them for jobs as professional truck
drivers in the Lower
Mainland.
"This training will help people gain the necessary
skills and
education for employment as truck drivers, which is in
high demand," said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social
Development
and Poverty Reduction. "For newcomers and immigrants,
this training is a pathway to rewarding employment and
stability for
their families."
Big Rig Driving School is receiving more than $660,000
to
prepare participants for employment as professional
truck drivers in the Lower Mainland. Read the official
government news
release.
Government of Canada Announces Proposed
Regulations Imposing Requirements for the
Sale of Zero-Emission Light-Duty Vehicles
On December 21, 2022, Environment and Climate Change
Canada ("ECCC") announced new proposed regulations in
relation to
zero-emissions light-duty vehicles (the "ZEV
Regulations"). The ZEV Regulations would amend the
Passenger Automobile and Light
Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations, which set
greenhouse gas emission standards for light-duty vehicles
of specified
model years. Read the full article by Steven F. Rosenhek and Daniella Murynka with Fasken Martineau
DuMoulin LLP.
CVSE Bulletins & Notices
The following documents were posted recently by CVSE:
- CVSE Decal Ordering Step-by-Step Guide
– New Online Ordering Process for Facility Large Station and Interim Decals
- Circular 06-17 – Deadline for
Planned Trailer Axle Weight Reductions Extended to December 31, 2024
- Circular 07-17
– Temporary
Increase to Steer Axle Weights for Specified
Pre-Approved Logging Truck Configurations by General
Authorization. This
extended authorization is valid until December 31,
2024
- NSC Bulletin 01-2022 – Publication
of Carriers Cancelled for Cause
- NSC Bulletin 01-2021 – Electronic
Logging Devices (ELDs) in British Columbia – UPDATED
- CVSE1016 – 9-Axle Logging Truck
Routes
For more information on these and other items, visit the CVSE website.
Passenger Transportation Board Bulletins
The following updates were recently published by the BC Passenger Transportation Board:
Industry Updates & Advisories
- Final Deadline to Activate Additional
Taxis Extended
Considering recent feedback, the final activation
deadline is extended to July 1, 2023. Licensees will
have until this date
to activate additional vehicles, or they will no
longer be valid.
- Board to Conduct Follow-up Investigation on the Current
State of COVID-19 recovery for BC Passenger Transportation
Industry
The Board will be undertaking a follow-up study to the
2021 COVID-19 investigation, to better understand the
current
economic landscape. For further information, please
read the Industry Advisory and the Q&As.
Applications Received
- No applications were received
Application Decisions
- 16481-22 PS TOP – KJ Limousine
Services Inc. [Approved]
- 16075-22 – Transfer from Gertzen
Ventures Ltd. (Adventure Charter and Rentals) to Pacific Western Charters Ltd. [Approved]
- 16554-22 TOP – Excel Limousine
Service Ltd. [Approved]
- 16545-22 TOP – Luxury Transport
Inc. [Approved]
- 15632-22 – P.G. Airport Shuttle
Service Ltd. [Approved]
- 15839-22 – Transfer from J. Nijjer
Holdings Ltd. (Sun Star Shuttle) to 1123910 B.C. Ltd. (Contractor Post Office) [Approved]
- 16049-22 – Chandel Holding Limited
(Victoria Taxi) [Approved]
- 16183-22 – City Star Limousine
Service Ltd. [Approved in Part]
- 15091-22 – Charles Keay Inc.
[Approved]
- 16191-22 – Transfer from Ovan
Charles Wilson and Karen Louise Herle (Gabriola Taxi) to Gabriola Taxi Ltd. [Approved]
- 14294-22 – TCB Holdings Ltd.
[Refused]
- 16290-22 – Transfer from
Gurbhupinder Singh Bhela (Bluebird Cabs) to Bluebird Cabs, Ltd. [Approved]
- 16607-22 PS TOP – Whistler Eco
Tours Ltd. [Approved]
Visit the Passenger Transportation Board website for more information. |
Act or Regulation Affected |
Effective Date
|
Amendment Information |
Income Replacement and Retirement Benefits and Benefits for Students and Minors Regulation (60/2021) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 253/2022 |
Passenger Transportation Regulation (266/2004) |
Jan. 1/23 |
by Reg 195/2022 |
Special Direction IC2 to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (307/2004) |
Dec. 12/22 |
by Reg 269/2022 |
Violation Ticket Administration and Fines Regulation (89/97) |
Dec. 31/22 |
by Reg 228/2022 |
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY |
Occupational Health & Safety
News: End-of-Year Refresher: BC Employers' OHS Obligations to Address Workplace Bullying and Harassment Workplace bullying and harassment is a significant issue for employers in British Columbia. In 2021 alone, WorkSafeBC received 3400 inquiries
related to workplace bullying. The organization also noted that most employers did not know how to handle complaints effectively. This blog
post focuses on BC employers' occupational health and safety ("OHS") obligations to address workplace bullying and harassment under British
Columbia's Workers Compensation Act
(the "Act"), and related complaints or claims that employees may file with WorkSafeBC. (This post does not address other potential legal
issues arising from alleged workplace bullying and harassment, such as claims of constructive dismissal, human rights complaints, or grievances
filed under a collective bargaining agreement.) Read the full article by Laura DeVries and Diana Wang with McCarthy Tétrault LLP.
Hazardous Work for Youth Rules Come into Effect Jan. 1 New
regulations on the types of work that are not suitable for young
workers take effect on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. Following
public and stakeholder consultations and analyses of injury data, a
number of jobs within several industries were identified as too
hazardous for young workers. This includes some jobs within
construction, forestry, food processing, oil and gas and power, and
asbestos removal. Amendments to the Employment Standards Regulation were announced in October 2022. Read the government news release.
Board of Directors Approves Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation On October 26, 2022, WorkSafeBC's Board of Directors approved amendments on two regulatory items related to crane safety in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR):
- Part 14, Cranes and Hoists – Inconsistent Crane Misadventure, and
- Part 14, Cranes and Hoists, and Part 19, Electrical Safety – Zone-Limiting Devices in Tower Cranes
The OHSR will now require a professional engineer to supervise the inspection of equipment and certify the equipment as safe for use when a
crane is subject to a misadventure, or following contact with loads and structures. Read the full WorkSafeBC bulletin.
Consultation on Proposed BC Exposure Limits Based on the New or Revised 2019 and 2020 ACGIH TLVs for Selected Chemical Substances Each
year, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH) publishes a list of substances for which they have
set new or revised Threshold Limit Values (TLVs). A TLV is the airborne
concentration of a chemical substance where it is believed that nearly
all workers may be exposed over a working lifetime and experience no
adverse health effects. TLVs may be expressed as an 8-hour time-weighted
average (TWA), 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL), or ceiling
limit. Before adopting new or revised TLVs published by the ACGIH,
WorkSafeBC reviews relevant data on health effects and the
availability of validated sampling methods. WorkSafeBC also consults
with stakeholders on potential implementation issues. WorkSafeBC's
existing B.C. Exposure Limits (ELs) continue to be in effect until the
Board of Directors makes a decision on which new or revised ACGIH TLVs
to adopt as B.C. ELs. See additional information on WorkSafeBC's EL review process. Feedback will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 20, 2023. Read the full article on WorkSafeBC.
New Public Health Orders
The Public Health Office (PHO) recently issued the following orders:
Visit the PHO website to view these and other orders
and notices.
OHS Policies/Guidelines – Updates
Guidelines – Workers Compensation Act
January 1, 2023
Editorial revisions were made to the following guideline:
- Part 2 Division 12 – Enforcement
Guidelines – Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
January 1, 2023
Editorial revisions were made to the following guideline:
Policies – Workers Compensation Act
January 1, 2023
The following policies were updated to reflect CPI
adjustments, effective January 1, 2023:
Visit the WorkSafeBC website to explore these and
previous updates.
|
Act or Regulation Affected |
Effective Date |
Amendment Information |
Accessible British Columbia Regulation (105/2022)
| Dec. 1/22
| by Reg 253/2022 |
Electrical Safety Regulation |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 255/2022 |
Gas Safety Regulation (103/2004) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 255/2022 |
Monetary Penalties Regulation (268/2021) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 268/2021 |
Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation (104/2004) |
Dec. 1/22 |
by Reg 255/2022 |
PROPERTY
& REAL ESTATE |
Property and Real Estate News:
Tenant's Claim against Arbitrator Struck for Being Vexatious, Unnecessary
The Supreme Court of British Columbia struck a
tenant's civil claim against an arbitrator of the Residential Tenancy
Branch (RTB) upon finding that the allegations were unnecessary and
vexatious and that the action was an abuse of process. Starting in
October 2019, the plaintiff was a tenant in a rental unit in the lower
floor of a single detached house at West 54th Avenue, Vancouver. Another
person resided in a suite on the lower floor, while the landlord
occupied the upper floor. Read the full article by Bernise Carolino on the Canadian Lawyer.EU's Judicial Consideration of Corporate Transparency Sides with Protecting Privacy: Implications for BC's LOTA Many
jurisdictions are enacting legislation requiring public disclosure of the identity of beneficial owners of real property and
maintaining that information in publicly accessible registries. In British Columbia, as of November 30, 2022, beneficial and other indirect
owners of numerous categories of interests in land in British Columbia had to complete filings pursuant to the Land Owner Transparency Act
in a provincial government registry that include the disclosure of
personal information. In the United Kingdom, the UK Companies House
maintains the "Register of Overseas Entities" and requires overseas
entities that own land or
property in the UK to declare their beneficial owners and/or managing
directors. The registry recently came into effect and there is a January
31, 2023, deadline for such entities who already own or lease land or
property in the UK to complete their filings. Read the full article by Max Collett, Alexis Kerr and Yu Meng Zhu with Norton Rose Fulbright.
Condo Smarts: How Rental Bylaws for Strata Corporations Change under Bill 44 Dear Tony: If
a strata corporation has a bylaw that permits 25% rentals, will that
continue under the change in legislation? Our understanding is that the
changes removed bylaws that prohibited rentals. Some of the online
chatter and information from real estate agents has made this confusing.
Are we able to limit rentals to a minimum of one year to ensure there
are stable tenants? Read the full article published in The Province.Act Prohibiting Non-Canadians from Purchasing Residential Property Comes into Force in the New Year On January 1, 2023, the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act, S.C. 2022, c. 10, s. 235 (the "Act")
will come into force, which will prohibit non-Canadians from purchasing, directly or indirectly, residential property in Canada. As
announced in the 2022 Federal Budget, the Act is intended to be in force for a period of two years. Earlier this year, the Government undertook a
consultation process to solicit public feedback on these new rules. Although we expect that many of the rules will be refined by future
regulations, it is prudent to review what we do know based on the wording of the current Act as well as the intentions of the Government
as disclosed during the consultation process.
What types of properties are subject to the Act? Most
residential real properties situated in Canada are within the scope of the prohibition. Specifically, the term "residential property" under the
Act means:
- A detached house or similar building containing not more than three dwelling units, and
- The part of a building that is a semi-detached house, rowhouse unit, residential condominium unit or other similar premises.
Read the full article by Mark Potechin, Jenny Du, Katie Taylor and David Gore with DLA Piper.
BC Government Amendments to Strata Property Act Impact Strata Corporation Bylaws and Developer Disclosure Statements to Purchasers After
being sworn in as Premier of British Columbia on November 18, 2022, former Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing, David Eby,
made swift work of introducing amendments to the Strata Property Act (the SPA)
which are purported to open up more rental and homeownership options for people in British Columbia. On November 24, 2022, the Building and Strata Statutes Amendment Act (the BSSAA) received Royal Assent, just three days after it was first announced by the Office of the Premier. Concurrently, the BC Financial Services Authority (the BCFSA) amended Policy Statement 1 and Policy Statement 2 under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act
(REDMA), which set out the required form and content for a developer's disclosure statement to purchasers in relation to marketing strata lots
in a development property, in order to align with the amendments to the SPA. Developers and strata corporations should familiarize themselves
with these amendments and consider the impact on their disclosure statements and bylaws going forward, including the following key
changes: Read the full article published by Dentons.
BC Court of Appeal Rules Against Owners Who Sold Property through Misrepresentation
The BC Court of Appeal found property owners liable for tort and breach of contract when they misrepresented to the buyers the true condition of the house they were selling.
In Kuhnke v. Karner, 2022 BCCA 399,
Matthew and Dawn Kuhnke owned a residential property located on Ker
Avenue in Saanich. The property is a two-storey structure with a
second-storey back deck. In 2017, the deck was damaged when several
large rocks fell from a rockface abutting the property.
Matthew Kuhnke obtained a geotechnical report that advised a large and
unstable wedge rock remained perched above the deck and that emphasized
the need for timely remedial action. A second report estimated the cost
of a potential remedial solution to be approximately $70,000. Instead of
conducting any remediation work, Matthew and Dawn decided to sell the
property. Read the full article by Angelica Dino on Canadian Lawyer.
Cooling Off Period Comes to Coldest Housing Market in Years
Effective January 3, 2023, a BC homebuyer has three business day to cancel a sales agreement. Amid
BC's coldest housing market in years, where it now takes weeks for the average home to sell,
the province has brought in a cooling-off period for home buyers. The legislation, first in Canada's resale housing market, came into effect January 3, 2023. Read the BIV article by Frank O'Brien.
CRA Audits Substantial Alterations to Subleases Context:
The capital cost of acquiring a leasehold interest is included in Class 13 of Schedule II of the Regulations. The cost of alterations to a
leasehold interest are also included in Class 13 under Reg. 1102(4) unless the contract between the landlord and tenant vests legal title to
these alterations in the tenant (see R. v Mount Robson Motor Inn Limited,
81 DTC 3188) or the rule in Reg. 1102(5) applies. The latter rule applies if the tenant: (1) erects a building or structure on leased
land, (2) makes an addition to a leased building or structure, or (3) makes alterations to a leased building or structure that "substantially
changes the nature of the property". In these latter three instances, Reg. 1102(5) says that the tenant is deemed instead to have acquired
ownership of "a building or other structure", such that the related cost can potentially fall within other depreciable property classes in
Schedule II of the Regulations. Read the full article by Ian J. Gamble with Thorsteinssons LLP. |
Act or Regulation Affected |
Effective Date |
Amendment Information |
Speculation and Vacancy Tax Regulation (275/2018) |
Jan. 1/23 |
by Reg 174/2022 |
WILLS
& ESTATES |
Wills and Estates News: BC Case Comment: Court of Appeal Affirms No
Binding Agreement to Leave Estate to Niece
I previously wrote about a case in which the B.C Supreme Court found that there was no binding agreement by an aunt to leave
her estate to her niece. The case was Angelis v. Siermy
2022 BCSC 31, and the post can be found here. The B.C. Court of Appeal has now
dismissed an appeal of that decision.
A person may enter into a contract, whereby they agree to leave
their estate to another person in exchange for some consideration. However, the court in Angelis found that
no such agreement existed in that case. The case was unusual because the aunt (the will-maker) was still alive, denied the
existence of any agreement, and defended against the claim. Read the full article by James Zaitsoff, published on the BC
Estate Litigation Blog.
Parentage Committee Discusses Inheritance and
Parentage for Posthumously Conceived Children
In December, BCLI's Parentage Law Reform Project Committee continued its discussion of posthumous conception. The committee
focused on one issue relating to who can be named a parent for a posthumously conceived child under BC's Family Law Act and two issues
relating to inheritance for posthumously conceived children under BC's Wills, Estates and Succession Act.
Read the full article by Sara Pon with BCLI.
Stopping the Flow – A Look at Pour-Over Trusts in
Canada
What is a Pour-Over Trust
A pour-over trust in a Will occurs when a testator creates a trust during their lifetime and then, in their Will, includes a
clause that names that trust as a beneficiary. The legal issue is created when this trust is amendable and revocable. For
example, let's say a testator creates a trust (ex. it names A and B as beneficiaries) and then signs a Will naming the trust
as the beneficiary of their Estate (effectively making A and B beneficiaries of their Estate). Later, a testator amends the
beneficiaries of that trust (so A and B are no longer beneficiaries) and names new beneficiaries (C and D). This, in
turn, means the Estate beneficiaries through the Will are now, effectively, different (they are now C and D). In several
Canadian jurisdictions, you can only amend a Will through certain formalities defined under the legislation. In Alberta,
unless a Will is holographic (i.e., handwritten by the Testator), two witnesses must be present when there is an
amendment. Therefore, the issue with using a pour-over trust in a Will is that it may effectively allow a person to alter their
Will by altering their trust without complying with the required formalities, like making that alteration in the presence of
witnesses. Read the full article by Michelle Fong and Graem White (Student) with McLennan Ross.
Spousal Rights After Death in BC
BC's Family Law Act provides that, upon
separation, each spouse has a right to an undivided half interest in all family property as a tenant in common, and is
equally responsible for family debt. What happens if a spouse dies after separation but before family property issues have
been settled? Does the deceased spouse's claim for division of family property die with them? That was the question for the
court in Weaver Estate v. Weaver, 2021 BCSC 881. Read the full article published by the Onyx Law
Group. |
Act or Regulation Affected |
Effective Date |
Amendment Information |
Power of Attorney Act |
Jan. 1/23 |
by 2022 Bill 27, c. 31, section 6 to 8 only (in force by Reg 278/2022), Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2, 2022) |
Power of Attorney Regulation (20/2011) |
Jan. 1/23 |
by Reg 278/2022 |
Representation Agreement Act |
Jan. 1/23 |
by 2022 Bill 27, c. 31, section 16 to 18 only (in force by Reg 279/2022), Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2, 2022) |
Representation Agreement Regulation (199/2001) |
Jan. 1/23 |
by Reg 279/2022 |
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