Consequences of Ceasing Canadian Tax Residency
Following our previous discussion of Canadian tax residency, this post explores the next question: what happens when a taxpayer becomes a non-resident of Canada under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "ITA")?

Whether a taxpayer's "exit" is tax motivated or not, the ITA imposes potentially onerous taxation and reporting requirements in the year of exit and beyond. As such, the tax consequences of ceasing Canadian tax residency must be considered. Common "exit" considerations are summarized below, beginning with those applicable to natural persons, followed by key differences for corporations and trusts. Read the full article by Tracy Tall and Patrick Murray with Thorsteinssons LLP.

Retrospective, Not Retroactive: BC Court of Appeal Confirms Temporal Scope of BPCPA
Amendments Prohibiting Mandatory Arbitration Clauses in Consumer Contracts
A year ago the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, S.B.C. 2004, c. 2 (the "Act") was amended to prohibit and void mandatory arbitration clauses in consumer contracts. The amendments contain a transitional provision stating that the prohibition on mandatory arbitration clauses applies to "contracts entered into before, on, or after the coming into force". They came into force on March 31, 2025. But the amendments do not say whether the prohibition applies where the events at issue in the underlying dispute happened before that date.

In Vandenbosch v. Rogers Communications Canada Inc., 2026 BCCA 102 ("Vandenbosch"), the British Columbia Court of Appeal decided it does not: the amendments void mandatory arbitration clauses in consumer contracts made before March 31, 2025, unless the dispute is about events that happened before that date. In other words, the amendments are retrospective, but not retroactive. Read the full article by Daniel Siracusa and Liam Peet-Pare with McCarthy Tétrault.

Clean Sweep: B.C. Supreme Court Dismisses Secondary
Market Claims on Multiple Grounds
On April 16, 2026, in Larouche v. PGM ResidualCo Holdings Inc., the British Columbia Supreme Court (Court) denied leave to commence secondary market claims under the B.C. Securities Act (Act) in a proposed class action alleging misrepresentations in public disclosure documents by a public issuer. The Court found that the petitioner failed to meet the statutory leave requirements in section 140.8 of the Act on multiple independent grounds, including insufficient pleadings, fundamental evidentiary defects, no reasonable prospect of success and applicable limitation defences.

The decision provides significant guidance on the procedural and substantive requirements for leave to bring secondary market claims and reinforces the gatekeeping function of the test. It also provides clear guidance on when the B.C. Class Proceedings Act (CPA) tolls limitation periods.

In April 2022, the petitioner commenced a proposed class proceeding against defendants, including Pure Gold Mining Inc. (Pure Gold), seeking to advance primary and secondary market misrepresentation claims under the Act for alleged misstatements and omissions in public disclosure documents. Read the full article by Sean Boyle, Joshua Hutchinson, Jenna Green and Melika Tashakor with Blakes.

Tax Court of Canada Confirms GST/HST is Payable on Purchase of Vacant Commercial
Space Despite Purchaser's Intention to Convert it to Residential Use
In an informal procedure decision rendered on March 24, 2026, Justice Rabinovitch of the Tax Court of Canada ("Tax Court") dismissed in part the appeal in Moseley v. The King, 2026 TCC 59, ruling that the appellant taxpayer ("Appellant") was liable for GST/HST on the portion of the purchase price of a commercial building attributable to a former restaurant space that the purchaser proceeded to convert into a residential unit. However, the Tax Court vacated the failure-to-file penalties in light of the retroactive cancellation of the Appellant's GST/HST registration by Revenu Québec.

On July 11, 2019, the Appellant acquired a used two-storey building in Montréal with an abandoned restaurant on the first floor and a residential apartment on the second (the "Building"). The purchase price was $425,000, split equally between the two floors. According to the Deed of Sale, the supply of the second floor was exempt from GST/HST as a used residential complex, while the supply of the first floor was taxable. Because the Appellant was registered for GST/HST purposes, the vendors were not required to collect tax with respect to the first floor pursuant to paragraph 221(2)(b) of the Excise Tax Act ("ETA"); instead, the Appellant was required to self-assess and remit any GST/HST owing under subsection 228(4) of the ETA. Read the full article by Jean-Guillaume Shooner, Philippe St-Hilaire and Danielle Maor with Stikeman Elliott LLP.

CSA Propose to Clarify Insider Reporting Regime Applicable
to Investment Funds and Certain Structured Products
The Canadian Securities Administrators ("CSA") published for comment a proposed amendment to National Instrument 55-104 Insider Reporting Requirements and Exemptions ("NI 55-104") that is intended to clarify that the exemption in paragraph 9.7(g) cannot be relied upon by reporting insiders in connection with transactions involving investment funds or certain structured products (the "Proposed Amendment"). Comments are due by June 8, 2026.

In setting out the principal insider reporting requirements and exemptions for insiders of reporting issuers, NI 55-104 serves several functions. These include:

• deterring improper insider trading based on material undisclosed information;
• increasing market efficiency by providing investors with information concerning insiders' trading activities and, by inference, insiders' views of their issuer's prospects; and
• helping to prevent illegal or otherwise improper activities involving stock options and similar equity-based instruments through timely disclosure of option grants and public scrutiny of such disclosure.

Read the full article from Stikeman Elliott LLP.

Teck Loses Court Fight over Sales Tax on
Coal Used at Smelting Facility
The Supreme Court of British Columbia has dismissed an appeal by Teck Metals Ltd., ruling the company must pay $192,700 in provincial sales tax (PST) on coal used in its smelting operations.

The case centred on whether coal used at Teck's smelting facility in Trail, B.C., could be exempt from PST under rules that allow tax relief for "direct agents" involved in manufacturing processes.

Teck had argued that a portion of the coal – specifically the carbon used in a chemical reduction process – should be exempt because it directly facilitates chemical reactions essential to metal production. The company had been self-assessing tax on only part of its coal purchases, claiming a partial exemption. Read the CBC article.

The Issue with Misconstrued Internal Statements
It is well-known that the Canada Revenue Agency (the CRA) has broad audit and information gathering powers under the Income Tax Act (Canada). Subject to the existence of solicitor-client privilege, it is not uncommon for taxpayers to be required at the audit stage to disclose all corporate transaction books and records, including internal and external correspondence in respect of that transaction. In light of a potential CRA auditor reviewing such materials, it is essential that diligence and attention be exercised when describing the purpose of a transaction, even in respect of seemingly inconsequential internal communications. The recent Tax Court of Canada decision of ExxonMobil Canada Resources Company v. The King, 2026 TCC 42 provides an example of the CRA misinterpreting innocent and innocuous language contained in the taxpayer's books and records (see our full blog post on this decision here and Judgment here). Read the full article by Sophie Virji and Anna Lekach with Bennett Jones LLP.

Updates to BC Sales Taxes
The following updates to sales taxes were recently posted:

Provincial sales tax (includes municipal and regional district tax)

• April 7, 2026
  Effective May 1, 2026, the Sunshine Coast Regional District and an area of the qathet Regional District will increase the MRDT rate from 2% to 3%. The MRDT location map has been updated. For more information about MRDT, see our Accommodation page.
• April 8, 2026
  The Liquor Special Event Permits page and the Application for Refund of Provincial Sales Tax (PST) Special Event Permit (FIN 355/SEP) (PDF, 270KB) have been updated to clarify:
  • Who can apply for a refund of PST paid on liquor purchased under a liquor Special Event Permit
  • How to apply for a refund of PST when your liquor Special Event Permit is withdrawn or cancelled, or the event is cancelled
• April 22, 2026
  
  • Conferences, trade shows and other events is a new web page that provides information to help planners and organizers of events, such as conferences, trade shows and festivals, understand how PST applies to their businesses. This page also explains how PST applies to party supply businesses.
  • Food and beverage service providers and retail liquor sellers is a new web page that provides information to help food and beverage service providers (such as restaurant operators and caterers) and retail liquor sellers understand how PST applies to their businesses.
  • Bulletin PST 119, Restaurants and Liquor Sellers, is now web content. Information from this bulletin can now be found on our new Food and beverage service providers and retail liquor sellers web page. Please update your bookmarks to the new location on our website.
  • Bulletin PST 122, Caterers, Event Planners and Party Supply Stores, is now web content. You can now find this information on our new Conferences, trade shows and other events web page or our new Food and beverage service providers and retail liquor sellers web page. Please update your bookmarks to these new locations on our website.
• April 28, 2026
  The following have been updated to clarify how PST applies to goods shipped out of B.C. by the purchaser for business use:
  • Bulletin PST 116, Motor Vehicle Dealers and Leasing Companies (PDF, 460KB)
  • Bulletin PST 129, Florists (PDF, 320KB)
  • Bulletin PST 132, Building and Home Improvement Stores (PDF, 390KB)
  • Bulletin PST 302, Delivery Charges (PDF, 330KB)
  • Exemptions for goods shipped out of B.C. page

For more information, visit the BC government website.

BC Securities – Policies & Instruments
The following policies and instruments were recently published on the BCSC website:

• BC Notice 2026/03 – Exemptions for shares or deposits of a credit union [BCN]
• 55-104 – Proposed Amendment to National Instrument 55-104 Insider Reporting Requirements and Exemptions Relating to Investment Funds and Certain Structured Products [CSA Notice and Request for Comment]
• 81-106 – Investment Fund Continuous Disclosure [NI]
• 23-101 – Amendments to National Instrument 23-101 Trading Rules and Changes to Companion Policy 23-101 Trading Rules [CSA Notice]
• 33-930 – Exemptions from Requirements to Submit Certain Personal Information Under National Instrument 33-109 Registration Information [CSA Notice]

For more information, visit the BC Securities website.

Spring Economic Update Expands Canada's Carbon Capture Tax
Credit Regime to Include Enhanced Oil Recovery
The federal government released the Spring Economic Update (SEU) on April 28, 2026, with the stated purpose of advancing its goal of building a stronger, more independent and resilient Canadian economy. Of particular interest to energy and clean-technology businesses, the SEU introduces several measures aimed at accelerating investment in low-carbon infrastructure.

Key developments from the SEU include:

• A proposed expansion of the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Investment Tax Credit (the CCUS Tax Credit) to include CO2 stored through enhanced oil recovery (EOR);
• Implementation details of the accelerated capital cost allowance rates (Accelerated CCA) for low-carbon liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities previously announced in Budget 2025; and
• A commitment to prioritize advance income tax rulings for clean economy investment tax credits.

Read the full article by Brendan Sigalet, Greg M. Johnson, Luke Morrison and Gracie Boser with Bennett Jones LLP.

After Sunrise: Federal Approval and CER Conditions
on the Westcoast Energy Expansion
Last week, the Canadian federal government approved the Sunrise expansion project, a roughly $4 billion expansion of the Westcoast Energy natural gas pipeline system in British Columbia (Project). The Project consists primarily of new pipeline loops, compressor station upgrades, and associated electrical facilities. The aim was to increase transportation capacity on the existing system and address anticipated capacity shortfalls in southern BC and the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Sunrise, among other things, was planned to respond to liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from the West Coast.

The Project was subject to a lengthy public hearing before the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), which included extensive participation by Indigenous nations, landowners, governments, non-governmental organizations and industry stakeholders.

In January 2026, the CER issued a Commission Report recommending that a certificate be issued authorizing construction and operation of the Project under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CER Act). The Commission concluded that the Project is required by present and future public convenience, as well as necessity. However, approval is subject to compliance with 47 binding conditions. Read the full article by Alan Ross, Logan Hale and Kieran Boyko with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.

B.C. Gold Company Fined $162K
for Environmental Failures
B.C. has penalized a gold mining company over $162,000 for failing to monitor its operations and leaking mine waste into the environment.

Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. (BGM) – a subsidiary of Osisko Development Corp. – owns a number of mining assets in B.C.'s Cariboo region, including historical mine sites, a processing mill, and another mine it is moving toward full-scale production.

One of those the Bonanza Ledge mine: Put into care and maintenance in 2022, the mine is located at the headwaters of Lowhee Creek between the historic Barkerville townsite and the community of Wells. In the past, ore extracted from the site was transported to the company's Quesnel River mine for processing. Read the BIV article.

Trump Signs Order Authorizing Bridger's
Canada-Wyoming Crude Pipeline
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an order authorizing a proposed project to transport Canadian oil across the border as part of an effort to revive parts of the cancelled Keystone XL pipeline.

South Bow, the Canadian pipeline company behind the cancelled Keystone XL pipeline, is partnering with U.S. company Bridger Pipeline on the proposed project.

South Bow is considering reviving some of the already built line in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Bridger Pipeline is pursuing construction of a potential 1,038-kilometre pipeline beginning near the U.S.-Canada border in Phillips County, Mont., and transiting to Guernsey, Wyo.

As Trump signed the order, White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf told the president, "This is a trans-border pipeline similar to the old Keystone XL pipeline." Read the CBC article.

Canada and Australia Deepen Cooperation on
Critical Minerals: Key Takeaways
On March 5, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a sweeping joint statement from Canberra covering investment, defence, energy, and artificial intelligence. Particularly for those in the mining sector, the central message was that cooperation on critical minerals between Canada and Australia has entered a new and more consequential phase.

Australia has formally joined the Critical Minerals Production Alliance, an initiative launched under Canada's G7 presidency in 2025 to expand production and processing capacity and to diversify supply chains from mine to market. This development is strategically significant. Canada and Australia rank among the world's largest holders of critical mineral reserves and resources that are foundational to defence technologies, electric vehicle batteries, and the rapidly expanding global AI infrastructure. Read the full article by Pierre-Olivier Valiquette and Steve Malas with Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP.

A Practical Guide to Assessing the
Acquisition of a Mining Asset
Acquiring a mining asset can create exceptional value, but only when risks are identified early and managed strategically. In mining transactions, headline issues such as reserves, production potential, and commodity outlook often attract the most attention, yet many factors can affect deal success sit beneath the surface: jurisdictional instability, title defects, permitting uncertainty, community opposition, tax exposure, sanctions risk, and hidden legacy liabilities.

This practical guide highlights the legal considerations sophisticated buyers should take into account before structuring, pricing or signing an acquisition. From political risk and investment treaty protection to joint venture governance, environmental exposure, Indigenous rights, and transaction execution risk, early legal due diligence can be the difference between acquiring opportunity and inheriting problems. Read the full article by Shawn Doyle with McCarthy Tétrault.

BC Energy Regulator Announcements
The following BC Energy Regulator announcements were posted recently:

• TU 2026-08 – Updates to the Management of Saline Fluids for Hydraulic Fracturing Guideline
• TU 2026-09 – Permittee Capability Assessment Program Improvements
• IU 2026-02 – BC Energy Regulator Issues Order to LNG Canada
• IU 2026-03 – Fees for Renewable Energy Projects
• SA 2026-01 – 2026 Wildfire Preparedness

Visit the BCER website for more information.

Project Protecting Intimate Partner Violence
Victims Gets Funding Boost
The Safe Supports Project, which aids survivors of intimate partner violence across British Columbia, has received provincial funding that will enable it to continue operating until March 2028.

The project helps victims with family law processes in the province's rural, remote and northern communities. Victims receive assistance with the nuances of cases, with available legal options, and with securing court documents and protection orders.

The Safe Supports Project also assists victims with Provincial Court matters in the Robson Valley, Dawson Creek and the Smithers/Hazelton area. The project has provided both legal and non-legal help before, during, and after proceedings; it has aided victims in sourcing accurate information regarding their cases and in reaching out to appropriate legal and community services. Read the full article by Jacqueline So in the Canadian Lawyer.

Early Resolution is Coming to the BC Interior,
Vancouver Island and Central Coast
More BC families will get early help to resolve parenting and support issues when early resolution services expand to all Provincial Court locations in the Interior, on Vancouver Island, and to Bella Bella, Bella Coola and Klemtu on May 1, 2026.

The early resolution process provides information, needs assessment including screening for family violence, referrals to address both legal and non-legal needs, a parenting education program, and when appropriate at least one consensual dispute resolution session before people file a court application. Read the news from the Provincial Court.

Relocation Law Is Stacked Against
Mothers – Bill C-223 Can Fix It
Part 1: We're doing relocation wrong
Lucy is a 10-year-old child who spends most of her time in the care of her mother but also spends significant time with her father. Lucy's mother just got a job across the province and asks the court to authorize the relocation of the child. The father objects, observing that the current arrangement works well, that Lucy needs both her parents and that moving her to a sole parenting arrangement would not be in her best interests.

Can you spot the legal error yet?

It's alright, let's keep going. The judge weighs the pros and cons of authorizing the move. On the pros side, he notes that the mother will have access to better employment and that there is a good school in the proposed new town of residence. On the cons side, relocating Lucy would disrupt a well-functioning shared parenting arrangement and would mean Lucy barely sees her father. Sure, she can travel during the summer, but she won't be with him 40 per cent of the time, as is currently the case. Read the full article by Suzanne Zaccour and Joanne Moser on Law360 Canada.

B.C. Amends Environmental Assessment Act: New Dispute Resolution
Processes and Limits to U.S. Tribes' Participation
On April 16, 2026, the province of British Columbia passed Bill 15, the Environmental Assessment Amendment Act, 2026 (Bill 15), to amend the dispute resolution processes in the Environmental Assessment Act (EA Act). The changes seek to strengthen consensus-seeking in environmental assessments by introducing a new issue resolution protocol and limiting the matters eligible for dispute resolution. Further, Bill 15 limits participation by United States tribes in environmental assessments by prohibiting their inclusion as a "participating Indigenous nation."

Dispute resolution is a right exercisable by participating Indigenous nations at key decision points in the environmental assessment process with the aim of supporting consensus-seeking between the province and First Nations. Since its introduction in 2022, dispute resolution has been initiated pursuant to the EA Act eleven times in respect of three projects. Both First Nations and proponents have been critical of the process, which has done little to streamline assessments or provide certainty to proponents, and has been a major source of delay in completing timely assessments on major projects.

The province has been engaged in consultation with First Nations and proponents on revisions to the dispute resolution provisions of the EA Act, and this engagement has illustrated demand for clear, structured processes for addressing disagreements, avoiding reliance on formal dispute resolution, and clarity on which decisions are eligible for dispute resolution. Read the full article by Sam Adkins, Paulina Adamson and Matthew Vreugde with Blakes.

Contaminated Land, No Way Out: BC Court of Appeal Holds Buyer
to $8.25M Purchase Despite Seller's Misrepresentation
Zuo v. Chen, 2026 BCCA 109
If you are buying land and discover prior to closing that it is contaminated, and that the seller had misled your realtor about the presence of contamination, are you entitled to walk away? A recent BC Court of Appeal case would say no.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal has dismissed two appeals arising from a collapsed $8.25 million commercial property purchase in a decision that should raise concerns for parties purchasing real estate and/or involved in closing disputes involving contaminated land. Of particular concern, the Court:

• Held that the sale contract remained in force despite accepting that the seller had repeatedly falsely represented that it had not received any environmental reports, when in fact it had received a Golder Environmental report confirming that the property was a former gas station and contaminated
• Refused to accept expert evidence that the presence of contamination would make the transaction impossible to finance

Read the full article by Thomas D. Boyd and Olena Tkachenko with Lawson Lundell LLP.

First Nation Sues B.C for Approving Logging
on Land Slated for Conservation
A B.C. First Nation has mounted a legal challenge against the Ministry of Forests after one of its officials approved a timber-cutting permit in forests that overlap with a proposed Indigenous conservation area.

In an April 21 application, the Kanaka Bar Indian Band claims a district manager approved cutting permits for Interwest Timber Ltd. to harvest roughly 35 hectares across four cut blocks.

B.C.'s Office for the Attorney General and staff for Kanaka Bar both declined to comment on the petition. Interwest did not respond to emails and phone calls by the time of publication.

None of the claims have been tested in court.

The logging area, which also includes a permit to build an access road, "substantially overlaps" with traditional territory the band has spent years negotiating to protect.

In an affidavit, band councillor Pauline Michell described its traditional territory as its "backyard" where extracting resources requires consent. Read the BIV article.

Minister Says B.C. Expects Billions from
Feds for Forestry if U.S. Talks Fail
British Columbia's forests minister says he expects billions in additional federal support for the timber sector if future trade talks with the United States don't benefit the softwood lumber industry.

Ravi Parmer says B.C. will use every opportunity to remind Ottawa that the pending renegotiation of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement on trade, better known as CUSMA, must include forestry.

If it doesn't, he says the province expects Ottawa to double or even triple the more than $2 billion in supports it has provided the sector nationwide since last August.

Parmar says federal negotiators "must recognize that if they are unsuccessful" in addressing U.S. duties and tariffs on timber, B.C. will need help.

The minister says his province won't be afraid to ask for more money to diversify the industry and help workers. Read the BIV article.

Ad Standards Issues New Environmental Claims Guidance
On April 16, 2026, Ad Standards Advisory issued its Guidance on Environmental Claims in Advertising (the "Guidance") to help ensure that environmental or "green" claims in advertising comply with the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards (the "Code").

A goal of Ad Standards is to help advertisers avoid "greenwashing," which they've noted occurs when an advertiser exaggerates environmental benefits, minimizes negative impacts, or lacks competent and reliable evidence in connection with their "green" claims.

The Guidance sets out 10 tips for advertisers. Notably, pursuant to tip #2, Ad Standards states that advertisers must have up-to-date, valid, reliable, and relevant scientific evidence to support all claims, both direct and implied, that would likely be accepted by experts in the field. Read the full article by René Bissonnette with Gowling WLG.

Indigenous Knowledge Network Launches to Strengthen
Community-Led Forest Stewardship Across Canada
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Canada, together with the FSC Canada Indigenous Chamber, the FSC Indigenous Foundation, and Indigenous communities across the country, is proud to announce the launch of the Indigenous Knowledge Networks, a new Indigenous led initiative designed to strengthen community-driven forest stewardship, knowledge sharing, and rights-based governance.

The Indigenous Knowledge Networks will serve as a collaborative platform where Indigenous communities can connect, share wise practices, and advance their own stewardship priorities in ways that reflect local governance systems, cultural protocols, and community-defined goals.

As part of the launch, Wahkohtowin Development GP has been named the first regional Network, supporting sister Nations across the Northeast Superior Region. Wahkohtowin will lead in-person gatherings, virtual learning opportunities, and community-driven activities that strengthen relationships and build capacity across the region. Read the Canadian Forest Industries article (paywall).

Banning Breeding, Future Ownership of Exotic Cats
B.C. is moving forward with changes to the Controlled Alien Species Regulation (CASR) under the Wildlife Act that ban the breeding, transport and future ownership of all non-native and non-domestic cats, effective Friday, May 1, 2026.

The changes expand the regulation to include all non-native and non-domestic cat species not previously captured by CASR, strengthening protections for public safety, animal welfare and ecosystems. Read the government news release.

Spring 2026 Seasonal Outlook
Heading into the 2026 wildfire season, fuel conditions across British Columbia reflect a combination of last summer's Drought Code, winter precipitation events and recent warm and dry conditions. These factors have influenced moisture levels across the landscape and will shape wildfire potential across the province in the coming months.

Highlights of the seasonal outlook include the following:

• Wetter-than-normal conditions were recorded for B.C. in December prior to freeze-up which helped alleviate drought conditions for the majority of B.C., including the Coast and the Southeast. March was another wet month which helped to further alleviate drought concerns in many regions of the province.
• Despite higher than average rainfall during the 2025 summer, the northeast region of B.C. remains an area of concern given the ongoing, multi-year drought conditions
• Moderate drought conditions also exist in the western parts of the Cariboo Fire Centre (Chilcotin) and the majority of the Kamloops Fire Centre
• Higher-than-normal winter freezing levels have resulted in record low snow at valley bottom. This increases the likelihood of early season grass fires in Interior valleys
• The severity of the 2026 wildfire season will largely depend on the amount and frequency of spring (May and June) precipitation
• Unfortunately, there is little or no skill in long range precipitation forecasting so stay tuned via the BC Wildfire Service app and social media

Read the blog post from the BC Wildfire Service.

Federal Government Puts Out $412.9 Million to
Renew the Pacific Salmon Initiative
The federal government is spending $412.9 million over five years to renew the Pacific Salmon Strategy in a plan to protect and rebuild wild populations.

Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson made the announcement in North Vancouver Tuesday [April 7], saying in a statement that the first five years of the initiative has shown what is possible when partners work together to restore habitat, expand hatchery programs, improve management and find new ways to protect vulnerable stocks.

"But the challenges facing wild Pacific salmon are far from over," Thompson said in the statement. "Through the renewed (salmon strategy), our government is committing to the next chapter of this work – one grounded in science, guided by Indigenous leadership, and driven by the shared responsibility to protect salmon for generations to come." Read the Canadian Press article.

Making Wildlife Trapping More Humane
New rules limit use of 'egg' traps to improve animal welfare
New regulations under the Wildlife Act are now in effect to restrict the use of foot-encapsulating traps, commonly known as egg traps to licensed trappers.

Changes require the traps to be solidly anchored, strengthening animal welfare standards in B.C. Read the government news release.

Environmental Appeal Board Decisions
The following Environmental Appeal Board decisions were made recently:

Water Sustainability Act

• Doreen DeVito, Barbara Round, Save Simms Creek Society v. Water Manager [Preliminary Decision – Denied]

Water Users' Communities Act

• Randy Reagh v. Deputy Comptroller of Water Rights [Summary Dismissal Decision – Appeal Dismissed]

Visit the Environmental Appeal Board website for more information.

Consent Is Not Jurisdiction: BCCA Confirms
Narrow Path for Arbitration Appeals
Case: Northern Health Authority v. du Plessis, 2026 BCCA 143
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Appellant Northern Health Authority ("NHA") employs the Respondent pediatrician under a service contract. NHA then terminates the contract after the Respondent does not receive a COVID-19 vaccination due to health concerns (i.e., suffered a heart attack requiring coronary bypass surgery in 2019; medication he received for thrombosis). (See paras. 7, 12). NHA takes the position that refusing the vaccine frustrates the contract; the Respondent is "required to obtain vaccination" in accordance with an order issued by the Provincial Health Officer. (See paras. 1, 15). The Respondent disputes the termination; commences arbitration seeking redress (i.e., a declaration that he was wrongfully dismissed and damages). (See para. 16). The arbitrator finds NHA breached the contract and awards damages and costs totalling $388,582.13. (See para. 2). Read the full article from Supreme Advocacy LLP.

BC's Health Professions and Occupations Act, Now in
Effect, Boosts Transparency on Prior Discipline
The British Columbia government has highlighted that the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) – which broadly aims to improve transparency, regulator governance, and patient protection, including from harm and discrimination in healthcare settings – has taken effect as of Apr. 1.

In a news release, the provincial government shared that the HPOA specifically seeks to:

• Increase the transparency of licensees' prior disciplinary actions on the regulatory colleges' public registries
• Include all instances of disciplinary actions and summary protection orders against a regulated health professional on the registry after the disciplinary hearing process
• Foster communication between employers and colleges concerning professional misconduct
• Improve patient safeguards against health professionals' sexual misconduct and sexual-abuse-related misconduct
• Specify discrimination as a ground for a health professional's misconduct or a health service provider's actionable conduct
• Compel colleges, health professionals and occupations, and the Health Professions Review Board to comply with the legislation's anti-discrimination measures
• Shift to fully appointed regulatory college boards, with members offering diverse perspectives

Read the full article by Bernise Carolino in the Canadian Lawyer.

Doctor Who Praised B.C.'s Physician Model
Sued $525K After Fleeing to Ontario
The B.C. government is suing a family doctor for more than $525,000, alleging she breached a "return of service" contract when she failed to work off her provincially funded residency – instead choosing to practice medicine in Ontario.

Filed Tuesday, April 21 in B.C. Supreme Court, the notice of civil claim names Dr. Laxsanna Sivananthan, a family doctor who now practices medicine at a clinic near Toronto.

In 2020, records show Sivananthan graduated from an Irish medical school that is not recognized by medical accreditation bodies in Canada.

After finishing school, the defendant "chose" to complete her medical residency in B.C., and in May 2021, entered into a "return of service" agreement that would allow her to practice medicine in Canada, the petition claims. Read the BIV article.

Northern Advantage: Canada's Federal Court as a
Venue for Pharmaceutical Patent Litigation
In the complex and high-stakes world of pharmaceutical patent litigation, selecting the right venue can significantly influence the outcome of a case. For companies marketing or seeking to market pharmaceuticals in Canada, the Federal Court stands out as a preferred forum for resolving disputes related to pharmaceutical patents. This blog explores the unique benefits of choosing Canada's Federal Court as a venue for pharmaceutical patent litigation, highlighting its specialized expertise, procedural efficiency and precedent-based outcomes.

The Federal Court is the preferred venue for adjudicating patent disputes in Canada due to its country-wide jurisdiction and specialized expertise. Read the full article by Benjamin K. Reingold, Melissa M. Dimilta, Lorelei Graham and Stephen D. Burns with Bennett Jones LLP.

Government of Canada Launches Consultations on Labour
Relations Reform under the Canada Labour Code
On April 17, 2026, the federal government announced the launch of consultations intended to gather feedback on ways to improve labour relations in the federal sector. The window to provide submissions is short, with feedback due by May 25, 2026.

The information gathered will inform what are expected to be significant changes to the Canada Labour Code ("Code"), with specific proposed amendments including:

• amended timelines for collective bargaining and the dispute resolution process;
• introducing expedited arbitration provisions; and
• reviewing section 107 of the Code.

The consultations are open to all stakeholders in federally regulated industries and it is expected that major unions operating in the federal sector will make extensive submissions.

Engagements from the government will take place through targeted virtual and in person roundtables, discussions through existing advisory bodies, and written feedback. Interested stakeholders may submit written submissions until May 25, 2026 (originally May 18, 2026) to: esdc.nc.labour.consultations-travail.nc.edsc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca. Read the full article by Christopher Pigott, Jackie VanDerMeulen, Shane D. Todd, Ian Campbell, Daniel Brock, Andrew J. Gould and Dina Zonoozi with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP.

BC Pay Transparency Act – Mandatory Reporting
Drops from 300 Employees to 50 in 2026
British Columbia's Pay Transparency Act, SBC 2023, c 17, [the "Act"] was passed on May 11, 2023. The Act intends to reduce barriers and promote fairness in the workplace. An integral part of the legislation is the requirement that certain employers must prepare and publish annual pay transparency reports.

The Act qualifies two ways to be a "reporting employer". First, the Act lists several government bodies or related corporations, such as British Columbia Transit and British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, which are deemed upon assent to be reporting employers. Second, there is a phasing-in provision that deems employers as reporting employers depending on how many employees they have. Read the full article by Elizabeth Collins and Rose Keith, KC with Harper Grey LLP.

Injunctions Against Former Employees – Why
Speed and Specificity Are Critical!
In Quality Chain Canada Ltd. v Xu, 2026 BCSC 424, the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the "Court") dismissed an interlocutory injunction application brought by Quality Chain Canada Ltd. ("Quality Chain") against three former senior employees and their new business. The Court's decision turned on two key failings: Quality Chain waited too long to seek injunctive relief, and it failed to identify with sufficient specificity the alleged "confidential information" it sought to protect.

Quality Chain is a wholesale retailer that sources and sells truck accessories, including tire chains and traction devices, to customers across Canada.

During their employment, Quality Chain's Chief Financial Officer, Director of Supply Chain and Logistics, and Director of Sales (together, the "Individual Defendants") engaged in negotiations and due diligence with the objective of purchasing Quality Chain themselves, but that objective was not achieved, and Quality Chain was acquired by different owners. Read the full article by Jessica Hoskins with McCarthy Tétrault LLP.

BC Bill 10-2026: Amendments Aimed at Improving
Efficiency at the BC Employment Standards Branch
On April 16, 2026, the B.C. government passed Bill 10, Labour Statutes Amendment Act, 2026 (the "Amendment Act") which proposes changes to the Employment Standards Act ("ESA") and the Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act that will come into force on a future date determined by regulation. When these changes take effect, significant changes will be made to the employment standards complaint and dispute resolution process.

While the core employee entitlements under the ESA remain unchanged, the Amendment Act fundamentally restructures how complaints are screened, investigated, resolved, and appealed, with material implications for employment lawyers and non-unionized employees and temporary foreign workers. Through these amendments, the BC Ministry of Labour endeavours to help the Employment Standards Branch (ESB) resolve straightforward complaints more quickly and efficiently, help workers recover unpaid wages sooner, and provide a balancing measure to the appeals process. Read the full article by Jeffrey Zhang with Alexander Holburn LLP.

The Most Expensive Employee to Fire Is the One
You Thought You Could Afford to Lose
When the economy softens, employers tend to reach for the same lever: headcount.

It feels rational. Revenues shrink, forecasts blur, and payroll, usually the largest expense, becomes the obvious place to act. In a weak job market, the assumption follows naturally: employees have fewer options, less leverage and more incentive to accept whatever package is put in front of them.

That assumption is wrong. Worse, it is expensive.

In my practice, I consistently see a pattern emerge during downturns. Employers become more confident in their ability to terminate because it makes economic sense and seems necessary, just as the risks associated with doing so quietly increase. The result is not savings, but liability, often far greater than anyone anticipated at the outset. Read the full article by Howard Levitt in the Financial Post.

BC PNP April 2026: What Changed, Who Was
Invited, and What It Means for Applicants
The BC PNP has updated its priorities to support B.C.'s Look West strategy, focusing nominations around critical labour needs and high economic impact. The program is now organized around three core objectives: Care, Build, and Innovate, with at least 35% of nominations expected for candidates outside Metro Vancouver.

The program will prioritize 36 in‑demand occupations that support essential public services, including healthcare, education, childcare, and veterinary care. The Health Authority stream will continue to nominate qualified public‑sector healthcare professionals, with expanded eligibility for select roles in the broader healthcare sector. Certified early childhood educators, veterinarians, and veterinary technologists working toward Canadian certification will be prioritized. Additional federal allocations will support francophone teacher recruitment. A one‑time, time‑limited initiative opening in June 2026 will allow up to 250 cleaning and security workers employed by health authorities in rural or remote communities to apply. Read the full article by S. Sonia Sidhu with Green & Spiegel.

Supporting Increased Financial Security in Retirement
Amendments to the Pension Benefits Standards Act will take effect in 2026, strengthening pension standards and improving long-term outcomes for workers
People with workplace pension plans will soon see updated pension standards that support retirement income security, make it easier to build savings and better protect their families.

B.C.'s Pension Benefits Standards Act (PBSA) sets minimum standards for B.C. employer-sponsored pension plans to safeguard the interests of members and the long-term financial health of plans. The Province is strengthening the standards by removing exceptions and inconsistencies, while also eliminating an unnecessary administrative burden for employers. Read the government news release.

Local Government Corporations Remain
Subject to the BC Utilities Commission
On April 7, 2026, the British Columbia Court of Appeal (the "BCCA") held that a local government corporation created for the provision of a service (an "LGC") is a distinct corporate entity from its parent municipality or regional district and is therefore subject to distinct regulation. The BCCA's decision, reported as Richmond (City) v British Columbia (Utilities Commission), 2026 BCCA 139, holds that energy-providing LGCs owned and operated by municipalities and regional districts are not exempt from the oversight of the British Columbia Utilities Commission under the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, c 473 (the "UCA") despite the exclusion of local governments from the definition of "public utility". The Court found that even though LGCs are controlled exclusively by local governments they are not one and the same as a local government. Read the full article by Josh Krusell and Trevor Wilson with SMS.

Development By Water: A Short and Dense
Primer on BC Riparian Area Protection
There can be any number of issues arising in development from the physical features of a site and the complex web of regulation relating to those features. Just one aspect for developers to keep in mind is how a site's proximity to a watercourse, waterbody or wetland may impact their plans. British Columbia's Riparian Areas Protection Act authorizes the Lieutenant Governor in Council to, by regulation, establish directives regarding the protection and enhancement of riparian areas considered to be subject to residential, commercial or industrial development. Read the full article by Aidan Andrews with Civic Legal LLP.

BC Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs Proposes
Legislation Affecting Local Elected Officials
On April 2, 2026, the BC Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs proposed two bills affecting the rights and responsibilities of local elected officials:

Bill 18 – 2026: Housing and Municipal Affairs Statutes (Parental Leave) Amendment Act, 2026 ("Bill 18"):
Bill 18 proposes minimum parental leave standards for local elected officials. These changes are intended to support equity, and to help parents who have responsibilities related to birth or adoption to participate fully in local governance. Currently, there is no statutory provision requiring a local government to approve leave in any circumstances, including in relation to pregnancy, birth or adoption. Many local governments throughout BC have enacted policies involving parental leave for elected officials. However, these are currently created at the discretion of local governments. They vary from one local government to the next, and often parental leave is addressed on a case-by-case basis, rather than by way of policy.

Read the full article by Kerri Crawford with SMS.

Ombudsperson Encouraged by Government's Introduction of
Standard of Conduct Legislation for Local Governments
BC's Ombudsperson Sandy Hermiston is pleased the province is responding to calls from her office and others to ensure independent and enforceable oversight of local officials by introducing legislation to strengthen standards of conduct. The Ombudsperson's office has been calling for legislative action on this issue since 2022. Responding to two independent reports from Vancouver in 2025, the Ombudsperson expressed concern that local ethics commissioners faced risks of interference from the councils or boards whose actions they may be investigating. The new legislation will address these concerns by allowing the province to establish a mandatory code of conduct for all local elected officials in BC with consistent processes for complaints and investigations, supported by independent investigators. Read the full news release published by the Office of the Ombudsperson.

Provincial Plans to Overhaul Heritage Conservation Act Still Need Work
The Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) is calling on the province to test potential amendments to the Heritage Conservation Act through a pilot project initiative before new legislation is introduced. UBCM has written to Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, to say that although the Province has taken some steps to address concerns identified by multiple stakeholders last fall, the proposed changes continue to lack sufficient detail and clarity for UBCM to support the introduction of legislation. Read the UBCM article.

Changes in Fees in Small Claims Rules and
Supreme Court Civil Rules
On May 4, the Small Claims Rules were amended to increase the fees for several registry services listed in Schedule A of the Rules, and the Supreme Court Civil Rules were amended to increase several fees payable to the Crown listed in Appendix C.

Kitselas Treaty Act Introduced
The Kitselas Treaty Act, Bill 21, was introduced on April 15, and serves as the first step in the government's ratification of the Kitselas Treaty. The treaty will set out negotiated approaches to self-governance and describe how Kitselas rights will be exercised, without affecting or recognizing the rights of neighbouring First Nations. The treaty will confirm land parcels that total approximately 382 square kilometres and comprise former provincial Crown land to be owned in fee simple and governed by Kitselas laws. The Kitselas First Nation's ownership and management of mineral, forestry and other resources on treaty settlement lands will be clearly defined, as well as the rights related to fishing, gathering and harvesting. If passed, the implementation provisions will come into force by regulation and the next step toward ratification would involve Kitselas, BC and Canada signing the treaty. The ratification process will be complete when the treaties are signed and both the provincial and federal implementation legislation is brought into force.

K'ómoks Treaty Act Introduced
On April 14, Bill 20, the K'ómoks Treaty Act was introduced, providing the first step in ratifying the K'ómoks Treaty. The Act will establish the legal status of the K'omoks Treaty, which would confirm K'ómoks First Nation ownership of about 3 442 hectares of land around Vancouver Island, with an additional 1 592 hectares available for purchase from the province. The treaty would replace band administration with a government authority to give all K'ómoks members the ability to make laws around issues such as taxation, child protection services and the administration of justice. The K'ómoks First Nation has 351 registered members, with 102 members residing on the reserve. If the legislation passes, the provisions implementing the treaty will come into force by regulation at a later date. The treaty, first ratified by K'ómoks members in March 2025, will also need to be ratified by the federal government before it comes fully into effect, possibly sometime in 2028.

BC Court of Appeal Clarifies the Standard of
Review for Appeals of Arbitral Awards
In its recent decision in Vancouver School District No. 39 v. Kingsgate Property Ltd., the British Columbia Court of Appeal (BCCA) clarified that the appellate standards of review, including correctness for questions of law, apply to appeals of arbitral awards. Prior to the Supreme Court of Canada's 2019 decision in Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v. Vavilov (Vavilov), the reasonableness standard of review applied to appeals of arbitral awards. This standard of review is a deferential standard. An internal inconsistency, failure to articulate reasoning, or a conclusion that is irreconcilable with evidence or law is required before a decision would be considered "unreasonable." In Vavilov, the Supreme Court departed from the existing reasonableness standard for statutory appeals, ruling that the appellate standards of review for appeals of court decisions – correctness for questions of law and palpable and overriding error for questions of fact or of mixed fact and law – apply to statutory appeals. While stated in the context of an administrative decision, the Supreme Court has since described this direction as "categorical." Accordingly, since Vavilov, whether the decision applies to statutory appeals of arbitral awards has been actively debated among practitioners and courts across the country. At least for now, that question has been answered in the affirmative in British Columbia. Read the full article by Alison Burns, Laura Cundari, FCIArb and Gray Stanyer (Articling Student) with Blakes.

Cracking Down on Organized Crime, Gun Violence
New regulations taking effect Oct. 1, 2026, will bring the Firearm Violence Prevention Act into force, strengthening efforts to curb gun violence, disrupt organized crime and keep communities safe. "Gun-related violence has a profound effect on communities, and it continues to be a serious threat to public safety in British Columbia," said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. "By closing the gaps in gun laws, we are providing police with new ways to go after gangs and criminals, and keep people and businesses in all our communities safe." Read the government news release.

Crime Does Not Pay, Even without a Conviction: New Legal Test for
Criminal Forfeiture under Section 490(9) of the Criminal Code
Set Out in R v. Nguyen, 2026 SCC 10
In Nguyen, three respondents and several others were accused of various offences relating to an alleged conspiracy to produce cannabis. While the Respondents obtained a stay of proceedings based on Crown delay, others in the conspiracy plead guilty and were sentenced. The Crown sought forfeiture of cash and real property seized during the investigation on the basis that, while the respondents had not been convicted of a crime, the property was nonetheless "tainted by crime". The Supreme Court of Canada found that:

• the stay of proceedings is not, for the purposes of the forfeiture matter, tantamount to an acquittal and has no decisive effect on forfeiture proceedings;
• section 490(9) of the Criminal Code remains available for disposition of property even where charges were laid and proceedings have concluded;
• in such forfeiture applications, the Crown bears the burden of showing beyond a reasonable doubt that the respondents' possession of the property (1) is not lawful and (2) there is no known lawful possessor to whom the property can be returned.

Read the full article by Cory Song with Alexander Holburn LLP.

An Independent Bar Is a Public Good
As B.C.'s Legal Professions Act moves toward full implementation, a CBA article explores concerns that changes to governance may affect the independence of the bar.

Every British Columbian who may one day need a lawyer has a stake in how the profession is regulated. There is a word that tends to appear whenever governments restructure professional self-regulation. That word is "modernization." It is useful because it is almost impossible to argue against. Who would want regulation to remain unmodern? British Columbians have heard it several times in recent years. Engineers and geoscientists received the Professional Governance Act in 2021, placing a government-appointed Superintendent over their regulatory body. Fifteen health profession colleges were reduced to six through amalgamation, a process completing its final stages this spring. Allied health professionals from psychology to physiotherapy found their self-governing colleges absorbed into larger bodies with significantly restructured governance. Each time, the rationale was familiar: improve public protection, increase accountability, reduce fragmentation. Each time, meaningful consultation with the affected professions was limited. Now it is lawyers' turn. Read the full article by Greg Phillips, published in BarTalk.

Court Shoots Down Challenge to BC Legal
Profession Regulatory Overhaul
The BC Supreme Court has ruled the provincial government's legislation to overhaul regulation of lawyers, notaries and other legal professions is not unconstitutional. The government in 2024 passed a bill to create a new regulator with jurisdiction over lawyers, notaries and paralegals, eliminating the long-standing model of "self-governance and self-regulation" of lawyers. The Law Society of B.C., the self-regulation body governing the legal profession in the province since 1874, and the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia filed legal challenges, claiming the overhaul unconstitutionally undermines the independence of lawyers. The society argued the Constitution doesn't allow provincial legislatures from making laws that undermine "an independent bar," claiming the legislation overturned more than 150 years of "self-governance and self-regulation." Read the BIV article.

On or About the Date in Question
The Supreme Court of Canada has laid out the reasons why a prosecutor doesn't have to prove the timing of a criminal offence beyond a reasonable doubt. In dismissing the appeal of a sexual assault conviction, the Court, writing as a whole, was to the point, taking just 14 paragraphs to explain its decision. The case relates to a couple's final night together in their marital home before separating. The complainant, who was the spouse of the accused, GG, at the time, was sexually assaulted on April 7, 2021, in her bedroom. GG acknowledged the sexual activity, but claimed it was consensual. The timing of the assault became the issue in question at trial. Read the full article by Dale Smith with CBA National.

CRTC Advances Consumer Protections Action Plan with
New Self-service Requirements
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has released Telecom Regulatory Policy 2026-78, Enhancing self-service mechanisms, introducing new requirements to enhance consumer control over Internet and wireless services. This decision is the third, and final, measure implementing recent amendments to the Telecommunications Act as part of the CRTC's ongoing Consumer Protections Action Plan. Among these amendments is a requirement for service providers to implement a self-service mechanism that would make it easier for Canadians to make changes to their Internet and cellphone service plans on their own.

Key Measures
The CRTC's latest policy requires all telecommunications service providers (TSPs), whether or not currently governed by the CRTC's Consumer Protection Codes (the Codes), to ensure that customers can:

• modify their service plans through a self-service mechanism;
• cancel their service plans through a self-service mechanism; and
• receive written confirmation of any action taken through a self-service mechanism.

Read the full article by Gabriella Levkov and Michal Kasprowicz with DLA Piper LLP.

Public Notice – 60-Day Consultation for the
New Edition of CSA B625
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has released the draft of the update to safety standard CSA B625 for a 60-day consultation period. Safety standard CSA B625 sets out the design and manufacture requirements for UN portable tanks for the transport of dangerous goods. Once the safety standard has been finalized and published, a notice will be issued specifying the coming into force date of the updated standard. Read more about the consultation on the Transport Canada webpage.

Opportunity for Engagement: Legislative Review of
Taxis and Ride-hailing Services
The Province is seeking feedback from local governments on ride-hailing and passenger transportation regulations in BC. Senior or technical staff from local governments who are interested in contributing to a review of the regulations are invited to contact the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT) to express interest. Ride-hailing was introduced in BC in 2019 under a new provincial regulatory framework. In 2024, the Special Committee to Review Passenger Directed Vehicles assessed this framework and provided recommendations on a range of issues, including vehicle supply, safety, employment, environmental impacts, and service to rural and remote communities. Read the UBCM article.

CVSE Bulletins & Notices
The following documents were posted recently by CVSE:

• NSC Bulletin 02-2023 – Publication of Carriers Cancelled for Cause
• NSC Bulletin 01-2024 – Safety Rating Certificate and Status for B.C. Carriers
• CVSE1000 – General Permit Conditions to 4.4 m OAW (Guide to Using the CVSE1000)
  • Category A: Term & Single Trip Permits to 3.2 m Wide*
  • Category B: Term & Single Trip Permits to 3.8 m Wide*
  • Category C: Single Trip Permits to 4.4 m Wide*
  *See form for height and length limits
• Circular 01-25 – Circular to advise of a new preapproved route for specific 9, 10 and 11-axle configurations traveling along Highway 16, from the BC/AB Border to Prince Rupert, and Hwy 37, between Hwy 16 and Kitimat.

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:

News and Updates

• Analogue taxi meters no longer permitted
  TThe Passenger Transportation Board wishes to remind all taxi licensees that new standards for taxi meters have now taken effect as of today, May 1, 2026. Read the full update.

Applications Received

• 24910-26 – Milan Luxe Ride Ltd.
• 25021-26 – West Kelowna Taxi Services LTD. (Westcabs)
• 24800-25 – Gunter Lothar Schlieper (Imperial VIP Services, Classic Livery and Coach)
• 25121-26 – Dara's Dolphins Transportation Services Ltd.

Application Decisions

• 23679-25 – Yellow Top Taxi Ltd. [Approved in Part]
• 23960-25 – Transfer from Russell William Mclaughlin to Manjinder Singh Hayre [Approved]
• 23696-25 – Victoria Taxi Transportation Ltd. [Refused]
• 23798-25 – Victoria Taxi Transportation Ltd. [Refused]
• 24085-25 – Transfer from Herbert Ernst Rehfeldt to Noah's Premium Bottled Water Ltd. [Approved]
• 24141-25 – Luxe Fleet Inc. [Approved]
• 24658-25 – Dara's Dolphins Transportation Services Ltd. [Approved]
• 23248-25 – Electric Taxi Limited [Approved]
• 24231-25 – Harbour Limousine Service Inc. [Approved in Part]
• 24656-25 – Parveen Kumari Chandel (Victoria Taxi) [Approved]
• 22703-25 – Canada Ever Rising Enterprises Ltd. (West Coast Tours) [Approved in Part]
• 24228-25 – Sky Dragon Driving School Ltd. [Approved]
• 24717-25 – Sarwara Limousine Service Ltd. [Refused]
• 22568-25 – 457562 BC Ltd. (Osoyoos Taxi and Oliver Taxi) [Approved]
• 22569-25 – 457562 BC Ltd. (Osoyoos Taxi and Oliver Taxi) [Approved]
• 24117-25 – Arbutus Limousine Services Ltd. [Approved in Part]
• 24249-25 – Said Mohammad Azam (Pemberton Horseshoe Taxi) [Approved in Part]

Visit the Passenger Transportation Board website for more information.

BC Reports 138 Work-related Deaths in 2025;
Occupational Diseases the Leading Cause
British Columbia's workers' compensation agency says 138 people died on the job or from workplace injuries and illnesses last year. WorkSafeBC says in a statement that 79 of those deaths were from occupational diseases, including 36 from asbestos exposure. The deaths for 2025 also include 41 deaths from traumatic workplace injuries such as falls, being struck by objects or being caught in equipment and machinery. There were also 18 deaths stemming from work-related motor-vehicle accidents. The figures were released in advance of the annual day of mourning on Tuesday to commemorate fallen workers in the province. WorkSafeBC says last year's death rate is the lowest in recent years, with the number of fatalities reaching 181 in 2022, then sliding since then to 146 recorded in 2024. Read the BIV article.

'Walk It Off': New Guide Takes Aim at
Dismissive Workplace Culture
On many Canadian job sites, pain is still treated as a badge of honour rather than a workplace hazard. With the launch of the Guide Line – a free, confidential text service for B.C. trades workers – Pain BC is trying to change that culture and give workers somewhere to turn before chronic pain derails their lives and careers. Backed by a blunt public campaign calling out "walk it off" and "push through the pain" attitudes, the initiative spotlights how normalized suffering can undermine safety and performance. Read the full article by Stacy Thomas with Canadian HRReporter.

TSB Flags Human Factors and Emergency Gaps after
BC Fuel Spilling Train Collision
A Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigation has found that a BNSF freight train that derailed near Delta, B.C., in November 2023 passed a stop signal before striking another freight train in a busy transportation corridor. The investigation report says northbound train 804 "passed a Stop signal indication and collided with southbound BNSF Railway Company freight train M‑VBCEVE1‑18T" at Oliver siding on the New Westminster Subdivision on 19 November 2023. On the southbound train, two intermodal cars derailed. On the northbound train, two locomotives and five cars came off the track, including three tank cars that were carrying or had carried liquefied petroleum gas. No dangerous goods were released from the tank cars, but the fuel tank on the lead locomotive was "extensively damaged, resulting in the release of approximately 8000 litres of diesel fuel. There were no injuries," the TSB notes. Read the full article by Shane Mercer with Canadian Occupational Safety.

Langley Contractor Fined $575K in
Fatal Burnaby Trench Collapse
Langley, B.C., excavation contractor J. Cote and Son Excavating Ltd. has been fined more than $575,000 after a 2012 trench collapse in Burnaby killed one worker and seriously injured another during a storm sewer replacement project, according to report. The employer was sentenced in B.C. Supreme Court after being found guilty of criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm in relation to the Oct. 11, 2012 incident on Edinburgh Street, CBC reported. Pipe layer Jeffrey (Jeff) Caron, 28, was killed when a concrete retaining wall toppled into an approximately 2.4‑metre‑deep trench. Co‑worker Thomas Richer suffered fractured ribs, chronic back pain and long‑term psychological impacts arising from the collapse. Read the full article by Jim Wilson with Canadian Occupational Safety.

OHS Policies/Guidelines – Updates
Guidelines – Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
April 1, 2026
The following guidelines were revised or retired consequential to amendments to the OHS Regulation in effect on April 1, 2026.

• Part 8: Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment – Safety Headgear
  • G8.12/8.13 Use of safety headgear for workers on ATVs similar equipment in agricultural operations (revised)
  • G8.13 Use of safety headgear with bicycles and skates (revised)
• Part 8: Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment – Respirators
  • G8.33-1 Respiratory protection – Selection (revised)
  • G8.33(1) Selection of respiratory protection – Alternate standard (retired)
  • G8.34-3 Maximum use concentration and IDLH (revised)
  • G8.40 Respiratory protection – Fit test (revised)
  • G8.41 User seal check – Alternate standard (retired)
  • G8.44 Records (retired)
  • G8.45 Maintenance and inspection of self-contained breathing apparatus (revised)
• Part 31: Firefighting – Respirators
  • G31.26 Maintenance and inspection of self-contained breathing apparatus (revised)

Policies – Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
April 1, 2026
Housekeeping changes were made to the following policy items to reflect amendments to the OHS Regulation in effect on April 1, 2026.

• R8.33-1 Respirators – Interchanging Air Cylinders
• R8.33-2 Respirators – Interchanging Air Lines

Visit the WorkSafeBC website to explore this and previous updates.

What Can We Build? Zoning Rules Churches
Need to Know Before Redeveloping
In our previous article, we discussed the legal and organizational considerations that churches in British Columbia should address before pursuing redevelopment of their property. Whether a congregation is considering affordable housing, a multi-use community hub, or renewed space for worship and ministry, the next step is to understand how municipal land use rules may shape what can be built on the site. For many church boards and trustees, municipal planning requirements can be unfamiliar and complex. However, understanding the basics of zoning is an important early step. If a proposed project does not fit within the existing zoning, the church may need to apply for rezoning before it can move forward. This article explains what zoning is, how it affects church property, when rezoning may be required, what the process involves, and how church leaders can navigate it effectively. Read the full article by Timothy H. Law and Celest Xu with Lawson Lundell LLP.

Changes to Residential Tenancy Framework
The Province has made changes to the Residential Tenancy Regulation to allow landlords who are required to provide certain types of affordable rental units under a local government housing agreement to end the tenancy of a tenant who no longer qualifies to rent the unit. These changes follow recently introduced amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act to address health and safety in supportive housing. The changes to the Residential Tenancy Regulation were made effective April 7, 2026 and are intended to support local governments in ensuring that below-market rental units are reserved for those who need them. The changes are also consistent with resolution 2025-NR38, "Ending Residential Tenancies due to Income Eligibility." Read the UBCM article.

PST Expansion: What It Means for
BC's Real Estate Industry
British Columbia's 2026 budget significantly expands the application of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to professional services in the real estate sector. Pursuant to Bill 2, the Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2026 ("Bill 2"), amending the Provincial Sales Tax Act, a broad range of real estate-related professional services will become subject to PST effective October 1, 2026. The PST rate itself remains unchanged at 7%, but its reach is expanding considerably to apply to a wider range of services. For the real estate sector, this expansion introduces new, non-recoverable costs with meaningful implications for transactions, property management operations, and development budgets. Read the full article by Karly Dutcyvich and Andrew Baldin with Gowling WLG.

Deal or No Deal: Navigating a Tenant's Rights and a Landlord's
Rights during the Sale of a Residential Property
Most residential tenancies in British Columbia are governed by the Residential Tenancy Act, S.B.C. 2002, c. 78 (the "RTA"). In recent years, the RTA has been amended to provide more and more protections to tenants faced with an eviction arising from the sale of the rental property. At present, tenants are entitled to receive three clear months' notice and one month's rent compensation from their landlord when a purchaser or their "close family member" (as defined under the RTA) intends in good faith to occupy the rental property and all of the conditions on the sale have already been satisfied. Landlords are also only able to obtain this kind of notice to end tenancy from the Residential Tenancy Branch portal itself, and only after disclosing the name, contact information, and other personal information of the proposed new occupant of the rental property to the Branch. In addition, the landlord must confirm that they have met eligibility requirements for this end of tenancy option in advance of the Branch actually issuing a notice for the landlord to use. Even after a tenant vacates the rental property under a notice to end tenancy, the RTA equips tenants with additional protections. Tenants are entitled to receive additional compensation equivalent to 12 months' rent when the purchaser or their close family member does not actually occupy the rental property for at least 12 months within a reasonable period of time after their eviction date. Needless to say, the RTA offers strong tenant protections in a rental property sale. But what protections are available to a landlord when their tenant interferes with their efforts to sell the rental property in the first place? The RTA has landlords covered too. Read the full article by Lisa Mackie with Alexander Holburn LLP.

Renovator Loses Lawsuit against BC Homeowners
Who Refused to Pay Double the Estimate
A B.C. Supreme Court judge has sided with a Campbell River couple who had to defend themselves against a breach-of-contract lawsuit from a renovator they fired after the company doubled the estimate for a small home renovation. Element Restorations sued Michaela and Alvin Arruda after the couple balked when the estimated $35,350 bill for a 120-square-foot addition to their house doubled to $70,000, according to a judgment [2026 BCSC 578] by Justice Robin Baird. The Arrudas put their faith and trust in the contractor, he wrote. "In my view, the plaintiff let them down badly and thereby caused them a good deal of undeserved stress and aggravation." Read the Vancouver Sun article.

Accelerating Short-term Rental Opt-out Process
Eligible municipalities with sustained healthy rental vacancy levels will have an earlier effective date to opt out of provincial rules that restrict short-term rentals to principal residences, helping to meet summer tourism demand in locations where it makes sense for the community. Existing provincial rules allow municipalities that maintain a healthy vacancy rate of at least 3% for two consecutive years to opt out of the principal residence requirement for short-term rentals. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) now releases rental vacancy rates in December of each year, allowing the timeline for municipalities to opt out to shift from the previous March 31 submission and Nov. 1 effective date to a Feb. 28 submission and June 1 effective date. The change supports local governments that have sufficient vacancy rates and want to use that housing to meet tourism demands during busier summer months. Read the government news release.

Condo Smarts: Conflict of Interest Must Be
Declared to Strata Council

Dear Tony: Our strata is undergoing some significant repairs to our decks and balconies. The approved budget amount is $1.3 million and construction begins in May. It has come to the attention of our owners that one of our council members, who is an engineer/consultant and has been instrumental in helping us plan these repairs, is a staff member of the company the strata council has hired to supervise the project. This was not disclosed at the recent special general meeting when owners approved the levy for construction and the consulting fees, and there is no indication in the council minutes of the past two years, identifying or disclosing this information. In addition, this person also held seven proxies on behalf of owners voting for the resolutions. Now owners, including three council members, are raising a petition to demand another meeting to reverse the decision. Help!

P.M. This is an unfortunate turn of events as your strata council and owners have planned for these needed repairs for the past 18 months. The Strata Property Act sets out the conditions for disclosure of a conflict of interest. Read the full article by Tony Gioventu, published by the Times Colonist.

Is Someone Named in a Lawsuit as Both an Executor and
Personally Separate Persons?
It is common for a person to be named in an estate lawsuit to be named personally and as an executor or administrator. For example, in British Columbia, in a wills variation claim, it is necessary for the plaintiff to name the executor of a will as well as all the beneficiaries (and anyone else who is entitled to apply to vary the will). If the same person is both the executor and a beneficiary, their name may appear twice: once as executor and once as a beneficiary. The claim may say "Jane Smith v. John Smith as executor of the will of Mary Smith and John Smith in his personal capacity." (Someday I need to come up with cleverer names for my examples.) John Smith may be represented by two different law firms, so that one may look after his personal interests as a beneficiary, and the other in respect of his duties as executor. But is John Smith, the executor a different person in law than John Smith, the beneficiary? The answer is "no, he is not." Read the full article by Stanley Rule, with Sabey Rule LLP.

Disabled Adult Children and Wills Variation in B.C.: Wols v. Funk and the
Duty to Make Adequate Provision
British Columbia's wills variation regime places limits on a will-maker's freedom to dispose of their estate as they see fit. Under the Wills, Estates and Succession Act ("WESA"), courts may vary a will that fails to make adequate, just and equitable provision for a child or spouse. While a will-maker's moral obligation to independent adult children has often been described as "tenuous," a different – and heightened – standard applies where the claimant is an adult child living with significant disabilities. The recent decision in Wols v. Funk, 2026 BCSC 404, is an illustration of that principle. Read the full article by James Zaitsoff on the BC Estate Litigation Blog.

Applications By Trustees For Directions: Court Declines to
Entertain Questions that go to Construction of a Trust
Under section 86 of the Trustee Act, and a Court's inherent jurisdiction, trustees in British Columbia may seek the court's opinion, advice, or direction on legal questions relating to the management and administration of a trust. However, there are limits. Courts will not permit these avenues to be used as a vehicle to construct, re-write or circumvent the terms of a trust. That limit was recently articulated in Re: The Jack Leshgold Family (2009) Trust, 2026 BCSC 388 ("Leshgold Trust"), where the Court dismissed a petition framed in administrative terms, but which in substance sought to vary the fundamental terms of a trust. Read the full article by James Zaitsoff on the BC Estate Litigation Blog.

What Happens If a Beneficiary Dies Before Receiving an
Inheritance in BC? (Lewis v. Jack Explained)
Estate disputes in British Columbia can come down to a deceptively simple question: When does an inheritance actually "vest" – at death, or only when the estate is distributed? The recent decision in Lewis v. Jack, 2026 BCCA 18 provides a clear answer and one that impacts beneficiaries, executors, and families navigating estate administration.

A Common Problem: What If a Beneficiary
Dies Before Distribution?
In this case, a father passed away and left his estate to his children. He directing that, after payment of debts and expenses, his estate be divided among those "then alive." One son survived his father but died before the estate was distributed.

What happens if a beneficiary dies before
receiving their inheritance?
At first instance, the court held that the son's inheritance was lost because he was not alive at the time of distribution. In other words, no vesting occurred until the estate was actually divided. That interpretation created a troubling implication: inheritance rights could depend on how long an executor takes to administer the estate.

Read the full article by Ryan Chew with Watson Goepel LLP.

Civil Contempt in Estate Litigation:
Court Orders are Not Optional
For executors, trustees, and estate administrators, a recent decision of the British Columbia Supreme Court serves as a useful reminder: court orders in estate matters are not suggestions. In Bringeland Estate (Re), 2026 BCSC 356, the Court addressed a former executor's failure to comply with orders requiring her to deliver estate assets and records and to pass her accounts. The result was a finding of civil contempt, fines totalling $10,000 (with further fines contingent on continued non-compliance), and an order for special costs. Read the full article by James Zaitsoff on the BC Estate Litigation Blog.