Province Takes Direct Steps to Address
Missed Housing Targets
By a relatively uncommon flexing of its constitutional land use muscles, using an order made pursuant to section 12 of the Housing Supply Act (the "April 7 Order"), BC's Lieutenant Governor in Council has amended West Vancouver's official community plan. The Province set the stage for the April 7 Order first by enacting the Housing Supply Act and then by setting housing targets, which the District had failed to meet, and by issuing a provincial directive, which apparently the District had not followed. West Vancouver was not alone in receiving targets and directives but as far as we know this is the first time the Province has amended a local government bylaw under the Housing Supply Act. It shows the Province may at least be inclined to take similar steps if other municipalities fail to meet their housing supply targets. The Housing Supply Act permits the Province, by regulation, to select "specific municipalities" and set housing targets for them. In 2023 the Housing Supply Regulation was approved and, as of the writing of this article, 59 municipalities have been designated specific municipalities. Read the full article by Timothy Luk, published in the Young Anderson Barristers & Solicitors Newsletter Volume 37, Number 2 – LGMA Conference Issue.

Victoria Bylaws Restricting Overnight
Camping in City Parks Upheld
The B.C. Supreme Court has found that the City of Victoria did not go beyond its authority by passing bylaws restricting overnight camping in some city parks. Three homeless petitioners sought to quash two bylaws passed by the city in 2024 and 2025 that prohibited "temporary overnight sheltering" in Irving and Victoria West parks. Petitioners Krystle Fox, Kimberly Scheu and Shea Smith claimed the city exceeded its authority by enacting bylaws that didn't properly consider whether washrooms were available where camping was allowed, or account for international legal obligations affirming the peoples' rights to housing and water. The ruling said Scheu is now housed and Smith is now deceased, and the action continued with just Fox as the petitioner with "private interest standing." The ruling said that "courts have recognized that when there are inadequate accessible indoor shelter spaces to accommodate persons genuinely experiencing homelessness, those persons are entitled to erect temporary overnight shelters in public parks." "The difficult circumstances faced by the petitioners and other unhoused persons in finding and maintaining adequate shelter are not disputed," the judge wrote. Read the CBC article.

Not So Exclusive After All? Province Required to Consider
Land Use Requirements When Approving Mine Permits
Despite the provincial government's jurisdiction over mining which, in general, operates to oust municipal land use jurisdiction over mine sites (see O.K. Industries Ltd. v. District of Highlands, 2022 BCCA 12) a recent case illustrates that local government land use policies are still an important consideration for the Inspector of Mines when considering approval of a permit for a new mine. In Garnet Valley Agri-Tourism v. British Columbia (Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals), 2026 BCSC 302 [Garnet Valley], the B.C. Supreme Court found that a decision to approve a permit for a gravel pit under the Mines Act was unreasonable, in part because of the decision-maker's failure to consider local land use requirements. Garnet Valley involved a judicial review of a decision to grant a permit under the Mines Act to operate a gravel pit. Under the Mines Act, a permit from the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals is required to operate a mine. The Mines Act permit process includes the Ministry's review of the application, referral to other provincial ministries for input, an opportunity for the public to provide submissions, and consultation with First Nations. Read the full article by Sophie Marsh, published in the Young Anderson Barristers & Solicitors Newsletter Volume 37, Number 2 – LGMA Conference Issue.

BC Cities Want Province to Speed Up
E-scooter Regulations
Government is in year 5 of a 7-year pilot to determine long-term rules

As injuries from e-scooters in British Columbia continue to rise, the provincial government continues to take an approach to regulations that many municipalities argue is too slow. "It's nonsense," said New Westminster Coun. Tasha Henderson, of the province's seven-year pilot program to study e-scooter uses in certain municipalities. "Seven years is ridiculous. We need blanket legislation so we have direction on how we're going to enforce the laws, and what direction we're going to take around engineering to make roads safer," she said. Since then, the number of municipalities participating in the pilot has expanded to 36, and in 2023 the province announced it would extend the pilot until 2028. But several municipalities say the patchwork of rules and extended period of uncertainty is less than ideal. Henderson put forward a resolution at the Lower Mainland Local Government Association conference, which ultimately passed, calling on the province to conclude the pilot and establish province-wide regulations. Read the CBC article.

Canada, BC Share Ideas for Affordable
Housing and Infrastructure Funding
An announcement by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier David Eby provided general information on concepts to increase the supply of affordable homes and deliver housing-enabling infrastructure funding, but few details were shared. Speaking in Vancouver, the Prime Minister stated the intention of the government to "leverage innovative financing tools from Build Canada Homes to convert thousands of vacant condos into affordable homes." The announcement also provided high level concepts of a 'housing enabling' funding stream from the Build Canada Strong Fund (BCSF). Speaking with the Vancouver Sun, UBCM president Cori Ramsay said while it is possible that the purchase of condo units could add to the supply of affordable housing, more details would need to be provided to evaluate the initiative. Ramsay also asked why the funds were not used to restore the funding clawed back from the Province's Community Housing Fund in the last budget. Read the UBCM article.

New Map of BC's Publicly Owned Land Is
Designed to Boost Housing Development
Researchers at UBC have developed a map that shows where publicly owned land is located in BC and how suitable each plot is for affordable housing. The BC public lands map has over 50,000 publicly owned parcels, which Craig Jones, associate director of the housing assessment resource tools project at UBC, believes has the potential to accommodate 273,000 units of housing in Metro Vancouver alone. The website for the map became public on Tuesday [June 30]. Jones says that the idea for a public land map has been percolating in his head for five years as the NDP government attempts to upzone neighbourhoods and make rental prices come down. Read the full article published by the Vancouver Sun.

Province Issues Letters Patent for Okanagan Falls
The Province has issued letters patent to formally incorporate Okanagan Falls as a new municipality, to be known as the District of Okanagan Falls. Incorporation is expected to take effect on November 6, 2026, following the community's majority vote in favour of incorporation in March 2025. This marks the first municipal incorporation in BC in 13 years, and is the first letters patent to be issued since the enactment of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Read the UBCM article.

Shimco, Shim-go: Farewell to an Oddity
A curious chapter in British Columbia's construction law history is coming to a close. With the enactment of the Construction Prompt Payment Act, the days of the much-maligned "Shimco lien" are numbered. Most readers will be familiar with a builders lien – if a person performs work or supplies material in relation to an improvement, that person has a lien over the land and improvement and the material supplied for the amount they have not been paid. Read the full article by Aidan Andrews with Civic Legal LLP.

Bill C-31: Expanded CRA Audit Powers on the Horizon
The federal government initially proposed significant changes to the Canada Revenue Agency's (the "CRA") audit powers under the Income Tax Act (the "Act") in Budget 2024 (see Proposed legislation expanding the CRA's audit powers: pitfalls and takeaways and 2024 Federal Budget – Major Income Tax Changes Announced). Those proposed amendments were not implemented, and a revised version of the provisions was published in August 2025 (the "2025 proposals"). Again, those amendments were not implemented.

In May 2026, the Minister of Finance and National Revenue published a Notice of Ways and Means Motion to introduce a bill to implement certain provisions of the November 2025 budget. This bill is now making its way through Parliament as Bill C-31, and it contains the latest draft of the new audit powers (the "2026 proposals"). Explanatory notes for the 2026 proposals were also released. Read the full article by Alexander Barnes with Thorsteinssons LLP.

GST/HST to Apply to Mutual Fund Trailing Commissions:
Enforcement Date Extended to January 1, 2028
Note: Originally published on January 21, 2026, this post has now been updated to reflect the new enforcement date and transition rules.

As discussed in the original version of this post, the Canada Revenue Agency ("CRA") revised its longstanding administrative position on the GST/HST-exempt treatment of mutual fund trailing commissions in December 2025. Under the new position, the CRA takes the view that trailing commissions paid by fund managers to investment dealers and sales agents (collectively, the "Dealers") should generally be treated as consideration for a taxable supply.

In an updated GST/HST Notice 344 published in May 2026, the CRA announced the postponement of the enforcement date of its new position from July 1, 2026 to January 1, 2028. This administrative relief is available where Dealers have not claimed input tax credits ("ITCs") in respect of GST/HST payable on related business inputs. Conversely, Dealers that have claimed such ITCs prior to January 1, 2028, must collect and remit GST/HST on the trailing commissions from the time the taxable supplies are made. Read the full article by Jean-Guillaume Shooner and Bassel Mallouh with Stikeman Elliott LLP.

Canada's Bill C-8: What Businesses Need to Know
About the New Cybersecurity Framework
Bill C-8, An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts, establishes the most significant federal cybersecurity framework Canada has enacted. The Bill creates a dual regime: it expands the federal government's power to secure Canada's telecommunications system, and it imposes mandatory, enforceable cybersecurity obligations on operators of critical cyber systems across federally regulated sectors.

Bill C-8 is the successor to Bill C-26, which was introduced in the previous Parliament but did not become law before Parliament was prorogued. It was reintroduced last year in substantially similar form as Bill C-8 in the 45th Parliament. The Bill reached a significant milestone on June 16, 2026, when received royal assent. Having now completed its passage through Parliament, the majority of its substantive obligations set out in Part 2 of the Bill will come into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, with many operational details to follow by regulation, while the amendments to the Telecommunications Act in Part 1 (as described in more detail below) are now in force. Read the full article by Éloïse Gratton, Adam La Roche, Tina Saban and Naomi Chernos with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP.

Post, Promote, Disclose: The BC Securities Commission
Joins Global Crackdown on Finfluencers
Recent announcements and regulatory enforcement actions from the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) signal an ongoing focus on the regulation of online financial influencers (known colloquially as "finfluencers").

Finfluencers are online personalities who use social media platforms to share investment advice, promote securities, and offer financial commentary to their followers. They publish content on various online platforms, such as YouTube, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and newsletter platforms like Substack, often presenting themselves as credible voices in personal finance and capital markets. However, many lack formal financial credentials, and some are compensated by the very companies whose securities they promote, although this information is seldom shared with their audiences. As noted by Cassels partner Chris Horkins during his discussion with MoneySense, while trustworthy finfluencer content exists, it is difficult for the average viewer to discern who is credible and who is simply getting paid to promote a product. Read the full article by Christopher Horkins, Kiyan Jamal and Olivia Bogner with Cassels.

Bill C-29 and Canada's Proposed Financial Crimes
Agency: What You Need to Know
Bill C-29 would establish Canada's first dedicated Financial Crimes Agency. Introduced on April 27, 2026, Bill C-29: An Act to establish the Financial Crimes Agency and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts and regulations ("Bill C-29"), sets out the proposed structure, mandate, and powers of the new agency.

The Financial Crimes Agency is intended to play a major role in addressing concerns that Canada is lagging in financial crime enforcement. Bill C-29 sets out a robust scope and design for the new Agency.

Its success will depend on the federal government's long-term commitment to developing the expertise needed to overcome challenges associated with investigating and prosecuting financial crime effectively and fairly. The Department of Justice's recent announcement of $352.7 million over five years signals that the current government is serious about improving financial crime enforcement. Read the full article by Andrew Matheson, Natalie V. Kolos, Geneviève St-Cyr Larkin, Rosemarie Sarrazin and Ana Badour with McCarthy Tétrault.

CSA Finalizes Amendments to Implement Access Model for Continuous
Disclosure Documents of Non-Investment Fund Reporting Issuers
On June 25, 2026, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) published in final form amendments to National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations (NI 51-102) and National Instrument 54-101 Communication With Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer and changes to related companion policies (collectively, the Final Amendments). The Final Amendments will implement an access model (Access Model) for annual financial statements, interim financial reports and related management's discussion and analysis (MD&A) of non-investment fund reporting issuers (collectively, CD documents).

The Access Model provides alternative voluntary procedures whereby issuers may provide electronic access to CD documents instead of following the delivery requirements currently found in securities legislation. Provided all necessary ministerial approvals are obtained, the Final Amendments will come into force on September 22, 2026. Read the full article by Olga Kary, Jeremy Ozier, Matthew Merkley, Louis Morisset and Annie Tran with Blakes.

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

• BC Notice 2026/04 – Notice of Revised British Columbia Securities Commission Policy 15-601 Hearings [BCN]
• 81-105 – Amendments to National Instrument 81-105 Mutual Fund Sales Practices and other instruments and policies relating to principal distributors [CSA Advance Notice]
• 31-103 – Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations [NI]
• BC Notice 2026/05 – Corporate Finance Advisory Forum
• BC Notice 2026/06 – Consultation on Proposed Fee Changes
• BC Notice 2026/07 – Fee Changes relating to Mutual Fund and Exchange Traded Fund Prospectus Lapse Date Amendments, Well-Known Seasoned Issuer Amendments, and other Housekeeping Changes
• 21-335 – Information Processor for Exchange-Traded Securities other than Options [CSA Notice]
• 31-935 – Exemption from the client reporting requirements for certain institutional clients and overflow accounts of registered advisers
• 51-102 – Amendments and Changes to Implement an Access Model for Certain Continuous Disclosure Documents of Non-Investment Fund Reporting Issuers [CSA Advance Notice]

For more information, visit the BC Securities website.

B.C.'s New Compliance and Enforcement Agency
Reshapes Natural Resource Oversight
Key takeaways

• The B.C. Compliance and Enforcement Agency (B.C.-CEA) consolidates enforcement functions in the natural-resource sector effective July 1, 2026.
• Operators will benefit from a single point of contact, centralized data management and improved consistency in enforcement practices.
• Operators should review their compliance protocols as the B.C.-CEA could reshape natural-resource oversight in British Columbia.

On July 1, 2026, the B.C. Compliance and Enforcement Agency (B.C.-CEA) took effect. Operating under the Ministry of Environment and Parks, the B.C.-CEA consolidates multiple enforcement and compliance functions across the natural-resource sector into a single agency, including

• B.C. Conservation Officer Service (Ministry of Environment and Parks)
• Natural Resource Officer Service (Ministry of Forests)
• Compliance and Environmental Enforcement Branch (Ministry of Environment and Parks)
• Compliance and Enforcement (Environmental Assessment Office)
• Service Transformation Branch (Ministry of Environment and Parks)
• Regulatory Effectiveness and Sector Integration Branch (Ministry of Environment and Parks)

Read the full article by Brad Gilmour, Jennifer Fairfax, Lindsay Burgess and Emma Zhang with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP.

Director and Officer Liability for Environmental Offences
The British Columbia Court of Appeal's decision confirms that directors and officers can face personal criminal liability for environmental offences committed by their corporations – even without knowledge of the underlying conduct. For participants in highly regulated industries such as mining, the ruling reinforces that control, not awareness, is the key driver of exposure, making active oversight and due diligence essential.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal in R. v. Mossman, 2026 BCCA 75, confirming that a director, officer, or agent can be criminally responsible for their corporation's actions under secondary liability provisions in environmental legislation – even if they lack knowledge of the circumstances surrounding a corporation's regulatory offence. Control is what matters.

The Court of Appeal confirmed that individuals who choose to participate in regulated industries (like mining) accept heightened legal risk. Read the full article by Patrick Williams, Lindsay Frame and Emma Walsh with McCarthy Tétrault.

When the Ground Shifts Underneath an Environmental Assessment Certificate:
How Evolving Indigenous Claims Can Unsettle Major Projects
On June 8, 2026, the BC Supreme Court released its decision in Tsetsaut Skii Km Lax Ha Nation v British Columbia (Environment and Parks), 2026 BCSC 1042. The case concerned whether the Crown had breached its duty to consult the Tsetsaut Skii Km Lax Ha Nation regarding the Province's 2024 decision that the Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell project (the "Project"), a proposed open pit and underground gold, copper, silver and molybdenum mine, had been "substantially started." The effect of that decision was to allow the Project's environmental assessment certificate to remain in effect for the mine's life. The Court quashed the decision and remitted it for redetermination following renewed consultation with the Tsetsaut Skii Km Lax Ha.

The decision carries important lessons for project proponents, Indigenous communities, and government actors involved in BC environmental assessments. Read the full article by Paul Seaman and Lydia Sefton-Young with Gowling WLG.

Summer 2026 Seasonal Outlook
After a variable spring that saw a range of conditions across B.C., the warmest months of the year are now approaching. As we enter this period of elevated wildfire risk, we are closely monitoring conditions to ensure we're ready to respond.

To forecast the core wildfire season, we consider three key factors: drought levels, overwinter snowpack and periods of prolonged heat without rain in June. Watch the video to hear more on what we predict for summer 2026 from the Superintendent of the Predictive Services Unit, Neal McLoughlin. Read the article from the BC Wildfire Service.

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

Environmental Management Act

• Domtar Inc. v. Director, Environmental Management Act [Consent Order – Investigation Order Extended; Held In Abeyance]

Water Sustainability Act

• Twyla Hayes v. Assistant Water Manager [Dismissal Order – Appeal Dismissed]

Wildlife Act

• Seymour Arm Snowmobile Club v. Deputy Regional Manager [Dismissal Order – Appeal Dismissed]

Visit the Environmental Appeal Board website for more information.

Forest Appeals Commission Decisions
The following Forest Appeals Commission decision was made recently:

Wildfire Act

• Canadian National Railway Company v. Government of British Columbia [Decision on Preliminary Application for Appeal on the Record – Application Dismissed]

Visit the Forest Appeals Commission website for more information.

Canadian Medical Association Lauds Bill Amending
Criminal Code to Add Sterilization
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has welcomed the passage in Parliament of Bill S-228, an Act to amend the Criminal Code (sterilization procedures), which clarifies that such procedures wound or maim a person under s. 268(1) of the Code.

Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi, CMA president, emphasized the association's support for the bill and the association's commitment to meaningful action toward reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Read the full article by Bernise Carolino in the Canadian Lawyer.

Approving Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
Adults 18 and older in B.C. with mild to moderate hearing loss have access to over-the-counter non-prescribed hearing aids through retail stores and online sellers across the province.

"Too often, people put off getting help for hearing loss because it can be difficult or expensive to access support," said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. "Making over-the-counter hearing aids available will help more people recognize hearing changes earlier and get the support they need to stay active, engaged and connected to the people around them."

British Columbia is the first province or territory in Canada to expand access to over-the-counter hearing aids. Read the government news release.

Hospital Projects, Health Spending Lift
Demand for B.C. Medical Office Space
Medical office is a distinct asset class in B.C. commercial real estate that is riding the wave of higher health-care spending, aging baby boomers and major hospital projects, though concerns remain around new project viability.

Total health-care spending in Canada was expected to reach $399 billion in 2025, or $9,626 per Canadian, rising to 12.7 per cent of GDP, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

In B.C., health spending has risen to 9.4 per cent of GDP from 6.8 per cent 20 years ago, driven by inflation, population growth, population aging and service utilization, CIHI said. Read the BIV article.

Skinny Drug Labels and Induced Infringement: Court Decision
Creates Divergence Between U.S. and Canadian Law
The constant tension between patent protection for pharmaceutical innovations and affordable access to medicines is a challenge faced globally by policymakers, including in Canada and the United States (U.S.). The U.S. Supreme Court has just clarified that patents on medical uses of pharmaceuticals should not disturb bona fide unpatented activities in the U.S.

Generic product availability is a well-established and proven strategy for reducing overall prescription drug costs. However, in some circumstances, some brand manufacturers seek to delay or prevent the entry of generics and biosimilars to the market by securing multiple patents beyond the patent to the original drug compound or use, which extend protection to components beyond the original patent and beyond the drug's active ingredient. These follow-on patents often extend to new or more specific uses, such as treatment for different diseases, dosing regimens or for new patient demographics, beyond those covered by the original patents. These use patents can effectively postpone access to more affordable generic and biosimilar alternatives for significant periods of time, therefore sustaining higher drug prices for a corresponding period. Read the full article by J. Bradley White, Nathaniel Lipkus and Leah McGurn with Osler.

Number of Patients Waiting to See a Specialist in
B.C. Climbs 10% in One Year: Survey
The number of patients waiting to see a specialist in B.C. jumped by 10 per cent from 2024 to 2025, according to a survey released Tuesday [June 16] by Doctors of B.C., Consultant Specialists of B.C. and B.C. Family Doctors.

The survey confirmed what health officials told Postmedia earlier this year, that specialist wait times continue to soar with no sign of easing up.

More than 1.3 million British Columbians are waiting to see a specialist, according to the report. In some areas, including cardiology, neurology and orthopedics, the wait time is now over a year. Read the Vancouver Sun article.

Equal Treatment Wage Rules for
Federally Regulated Employers
At a glance

• Effective 20 October 2026, new "Equal Treatment" wage rules under the Canada Labour Code (the Code) will require equal pay for employees regardless of employment status (full-time, part-time, permanent, or temporary).
• Employers must avoid differences in wage rates based on an employee's employment status where the employees perform substantially the same work, apply substantially the same skill, effort, and responsibility, work under similar conditions, and work in the same industrial establishment.
• Employees may request a wage review, and employers must respond in writing within 90 days.
• Exceptions apply for systems based on seniority, merit, quantity or quality of production, geographic differences, and red-circling.
• Temporary help agencies are also covered by similar equal treatment requirements

Background
On 6 May 2026, the federal government published regulations (SOR/2026-75) in the Canada Gazette, Part II, bringing into force the "Equal Treatment" provisions of the Code. These provisions were first enacted in 2018 through Bill C-86, the Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 2, but required supporting regulations before they could take effect. Read the full article by Duncan Burns-Shillington and Garrett Ladd with DLA Piper.

A Termination Clause in a Dependant Contractor Agreement
That Provides for Zero Notice is Unenforceable
In Salina v Investors Group Financial Services Inc., 2026 BCSC 1168

Justice Morishita had a situation where a dependant contractor had the following termination clause:

10. TERMINATION
This Agreement may be terminated at any time by either party, with or without cause and with or without notice or any compensation in lieu of notice and, without limitation, may be terminated by [Investors Group] upon the breach by the Consultant of any of the terms, conditions or provision of this Agreement. On any termination or pending termination of a Consultant, [Investors Group] shall provide its clients with the appropriate notice.

In other words, this seemed to allow the defendant Investors Group to terminate with zero notice. Read the full post from Barry Fisher's Employment Law Blog.

Age-Based Limits Upheld in Bona Fide Benefit Plans
In Okanagan College, 2026 BCLRB 39, the B.C. Labour Relations Board considered whether a long-term disability plan that ended coverage at age 65 was protected by the bona fide group or employee insurance plan exception under section 13(3)(b) of the B.C. Human Rights Code.

The decision is important for employers, plan sponsors, unions and benefits advisors. It confirms that an age-based limit in a genuine benefit plan will not necessarily lose statutory protection simply because other, potentially less discriminatory, plan designs may be available.

The case arose from a challenge to a long-term disability plan that terminated coverage and benefits at age 65. The union argued that, after mandatory retirement was eliminated in British Columbia, employees who continued working beyond age 65 should not lose LTD protection solely because of their age.

The arbitrator accepted the union's position in part. He found that the denial of post-65 LTD coverage was prima facie discriminatory. He also found that the LTD plan was not protected by the bona fide plan exception in section 13(3)(b) of the Human Rights Code. As a remedy, the arbitrator directed the employer to take reasonable steps to amend the LTD plan so that employees age 65 and older would have access to meaningful LTD coverage. Read the full article by Emily Kim and Jon Wypych with Fasken.

B.C. Farm Fined $387,500, Banned
from Hiring Foreign Workers
A Pemberton organic farm has been fined $387,500 and barred from hiring temporary foreign workers for two years.

Blue House Organics has been listed as "non-compliant" in a decision posted to the federal government's public registry of employers found in breach of Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program rules, Business in Vancouver reported.

The fine comes with a ban that leaves the company ineligible to hire temporary workers until May 29, 2028. Read the full article by Jim Wilson in the Canadian HRReporter.

Preventing Burns: Employment Considerations
for the Summer Months
With summer fast approaching, many British Columbia employers are ramping up hiring to meet seasonal demand. At the same time, employers should be mindful of certain onboarding and other employment-related considerations that may arise.

Employers may be considering fixed-term or temporary contracts for their summer hires. While these arrangements are common, employers should be aware of the common pitfalls of fixed-term employment contracts. Read the full article by Jacqueline Ovsenek with Lawson Lundell.

Five Questions Every Organization Should Ask
Before Conducting a Workplace Investigation
Every organization encounters workplace issues. To manage the resulting risk and resolve concerns effectively, organizations need to know when a workplace investigation is necessary and how it should be executed in a way that is measured, defensible, and proportionate. In a recent fireside discussion, Kate McNeill-Keller, Trevor Lawson, Shane D'Souza, Patrick Pengelly, and Kevin Lo, explored how organizations can approach workplace investigations strategically, efficiently, and defensibly by asking five key questions:

Is an Investigation Required?
Not every issue calls for the same response. Routine workplace complaints may be better addressed through coaching, mentoring, or other management tools. More serious allegations, or issues that trigger legal obligations, may require a formal investigation. The key is to decide whether a formal process is needed or whether the matter can be handled appropriately through informal channels. A useful starting point is to ask four practical questions:

• What is the problem?

If the issue raises legal or reputational risk, a formal investigation may be warranted.

Read the full McCarthy Tétrault article.

New Drivers in BC Can Now Take
First Knowledge Test Online
New drivers in BC can now take the knowledge test required for a Learner's licence online, saving people a trip to an ICBC office and helping reduce wait times for other in-person appointments. The online knowledge test is available to people looking to obtain their Learner's licence for passenger vehicles and motorcycles (Class 5 to 8 driver's licences). The online knowledge test is not available to people looking to obtain their commercial driving licence (Class 1 to 4), who will still need to pass a knowledge test in person. Read the BC news release.

Boating Accidents in British Columbia: What Are
Your Legal Rights After a Marine Injury?
A recent boating accident in B.C.'s Georgia Strait has brought marine safety into the spotlight after a charter boat reportedly sank near Roberts Bank, prompting a large-scale rescue operation. While the cause of the incident remains under investigation, tragedies like this raise important questions about personal injury claims, legal responsibility, and the rights of injured passengers. Whether you are a passenger on a charter vessel, a recreational boater, or a family member of someone injured on the water, understanding your legal options is essential. This article explains how boating accidents in British Columbia, personal injury law, and negligence claims may apply, and what injured individuals should know if an accident occurs.

Why This Boating Accident is Significant?
According to recent news reports, a charter boat carrying ten people began taking on water near Roberts Bank in the Georgia Strait. Several passengers were rescued after being found in the water, while search efforts continued for others. The RCMP, Canadian Coast Guard, and Joint Rescue Coordination Centre are investigating what caused the vessel to sink.

Read the full article published by Watson Goepel LLP.

Cross-border Compliance: Your Canadian Drivers Could Be Pulled off US
Roads Starting Now. Here's What Every Motor Carrier Needs to Know
New U.S. roadside enforcement rules are putting language skills under the spotlight. Canadian transportation companies need to be ready. What did the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) change, and why does it matter to you? In Part 1 of this series, we examined the legal and operational implications of the FMCSA revised English language enforcement policy, which took effect on June 25, 2025, and gives U.S. roadside inspectors the authority to place a driver out of service if that driver cannot:

• Read and speak English well enough to converse with the general public;
• Understand U.S. highway traffic signs and signals;
• Respond to official inquiries from inspectors; and
• Complete required forms and documentation.

For Canadian carriers running cross-border routes into the U.S., every driver who interacts with U.S. enforcement personnel is now a compliance risk if their English isn't up to standard. That means hiring practices, dispatch assignments, and driver training programs all need a hard look. Read the full article by Lawrence Witt and Maria-Christina Sorbo-Mayrand with Miller Thomson.

Canada's First 700-bar Commercial Heavy-duty Hydrogen
Fuelling Station Opens in South Delta, BC
HTEC officially opened Canada's first commercial heavy-duty hydrogen refuelling station at the Chevron Commercial Cardlock on Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) land in Delta Thursday morning (June 18). "This station is an important step in bringing hydrogen into heavy-duty transportation. It gives fleets the confidence to operate fuel cell trucks in day-to-day logistics," said Colin Armstrong, President and CEO, HTEC. The CEO noted that the commercial freight industry remains one of Canada's most challenging sectors to decarbonize. Read the BIV article. 

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

• NSC Bulletin 01-2024 – Safety Rating Certificate and Status for B.C. Carriers
• Notice 02-2026 – New Vehicle Identifier Requirements - Squamish-Lillooet and Fraser Valley Regional District Taxi Licensees
• NSC Bulletin 02-2023 – Publication of Carriers Cancelled for Cause

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:

Applications Received

• 24922-26 – Abbotsford Taxi Ltd.
• 25132-26 – 1510913 B.C. LTD (V.I.P. Transportation)
• 25202-26 – KJ Limousine Service Inc.
• 24702-25 – Victoria Taxi Transportation Ltd.
• 24703-25 – Sidney Taxi Ltd.
• 24710-25 – Westwind Cabs Ltd.

Application Decisions

• 25962-26 PS TOP – Vancity Limousines Ltd. [Approved]
• 26034-26 PS TOP – KJ Limousine Services Inc. [Approved]
• 26058-26 PS TOP – 24X7 Limousine Ltd. [Approved]
• 26020-26 PS TOP – Fabulous Limousine Service Inc. [Approved]
• 24023-25 – Vibe N Limo Ltd. [Refused]
• 25943-26 TOP – Associate Taxi Ltd. [Refused]
• 24114-25 – A Grape Experience Wine Tour Inc. [Approved]
• 25125-26 UPN – 0986231 B.C. Ltd. [Approved]
• 26084-26 PS TOP – President Black Car Service Inc. [Approved]
• 26116-26 TOP – A-B Limo Limo Transportation Limited [Approved]
• 24799-25 – Transfer from Herbert Ernst Rehfeldt to Leah Marie Macneil [Approved]
• 24800-25 – Imperial VIP Services, Classic Livery and Coach [Approved]
• 24910-26 – Milan Luxe Ride Ltd. [Approved in Part]
• 23696-25 Reconsideration – Victoria Taxi Transportation Ltd. [Refused]
• 23798-25 Reconsideration – Victoria Taxi Transportation Ltd. [Refused]
• 24683-25 – Regent Limousine Service Ltd. [Approved]

Visit the Passenger Transportation Board website for more information.

Demystifying Workplace Inspections
A good inspection can prevent injuries, save time, and reduce costly surprises. It helps workplaces spot issues early and strengthen safety practices. In BC workplaces, inspections happen in two main ways. Employers carry out regular checks of their workplaces, equipment, and work processes. WorkSafeBC prevention officers also visit workplaces to review safety practices and support improvements. These inspections give employers a chance to ask questions and learn practical ways to improve safety. Read the full article by Sarah Ripplinger, published in WorkSafe Magazine – Summer 2026.

Bill C-35 Forced Labour Ban Reshapes
Supply Chain Safety Duties
A new federal bill introduced in June 2026 is set to significantly expand the compliance obligations of Canadian employers, and health and safety leaders may be among those most affected. Bill C-35, the Ban on Importing Goods Made with Forced Labour Act, received its first reading in the House of Commons on June 12, 2026. If passed, the legislation would give the Minister of Foreign Affairs the authority to ban goods produced wholly or in part by forced labour from entering Canada, building on the country's existing forced labour import framework enforced by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Read the full article by Shane Mercer with Canadian Occupational Safety.

Consultation on Proposed BC Exposure
Limit (EL) for Benzene
An exposure limit is the maximum allowed airborne concentration of a substance that must not be exceeded and is intended to protect nearly all workers over a working lifetime. Regulatory exposure limits exist to ensure the risk of an adverse health effect on workers, due to occupational exposure to specific chemical substances, is minimized. WorkSafeBC is requesting stakeholder feedback on the proposed amendments to the BC exposure limit (EL) for benzene. It is proposed to: (1) adopt an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 0.2 ppm as a BC EL; and (2) withdraw the existing 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL). This harmonizes with the European Union's (EU's) binding occupational exposure limit value (OELV). Read the full WorkSafeBC article.

BC Heat Stress Rules Called Outdated as
WorkSafeBC Urges Employers to Act
With summer temperatures rising across British Columbia, WorkSafeBC is calling on employers to address heat stress and other warm-weather hazards before conditions turn dangerous. The warning comes as a new report from an independent think-tank argues that the province's occupational heat regulations are overdue for a fundamental overhaul, and as the broader climate context grows harder to ignore. This week, a heat dome pushed temperatures to record levels across much of Europe, with climate scientists telling the Associated Press that heat waves are becoming more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting as a result of human-caused climate change. Closer to home, Dave Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, has warned that a "super-charged" El Niño system is on the way, bringing warmer temperatures and a heightened risk of wildfires to Canada. For BC employers and the workers they are responsible for protecting, that backdrop sharpens the urgency of assessing climate risks at work. Read the full article by Shane Mercer with Canadian Occupational Safety. 

West Fraser Fined $110,855.83 after Fatal
Confined Space Engulfment at Sawmill
WorkSafeBC has imposed a penalty of $110,855.83 against West Fraser Mills Ltd., operating as Eurocan Pulp & Paper, following the death of a subcontracted worker who was engulfed by wood fibre inside a silo at the company's Quesnel sawmill. The incident occurred after a fire ignited inside the silo, a confined space, and water used to extinguish the blaze caused wood fibre inside the structure to freeze. A worker employed by a subcontractor was pressure washing the frozen fibre inside the silo when the fatal engulfment occurred. Read the full article by Jim Wilson with Canadian Occupational Safety.

BC Report Urges Ban on Non-disclosure
Agreements for Workplace Abuse
A new report that examines the detrimental effects of non-disclosure agreements on survivors of workplace gender-based violence is urging the British Columbia government to ban or seriously restrict their use. The 103-page study, "Gender-Based Violence in the Workplace and the (Mis)Use of Non-Disclosure Agreements," was created by the Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS). The report also calls on incidents of gender-based violence in the workplace to be reported as health and safety issues to WorkSafeBC. Additionally, the findings suggest that the penalty for breaching an NDA should be changed to better align with typical contract law, says Jennifer Khor, supervising lawyer for CLAS and SHARP Workplaces in Vancouver. Read the full article by Carolyn Gruske with Canadian Lawyer.

OHS Policies/Guidelines – Updates
Guidelines – Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
June 11, 2026
This guideline has been retired as WorkSafeBC no longer maintains a list of physicians knowledgeable in diving medicine. To find physicians qualified to conduct medical examinations of commercial divers, please see the Diver Certification Board of Canada website.

• Part 24 Diving, Fishing and Other Marine Operations
  • Medical certification

Editorial revisions were also made to the following guideline:

• Part 5 Controlling Exposure
  • G5.48-9 Measuring compliance with the exposure limits
• Part 7 Radiation Exposure
  • G7.19-2 Notification of worker overexposure to ionizing radiation
• Part 9 Confined Spaces
  • G9.1-1 Excluded confined spaces

Visit the WorkSafeBC website to explore this and previous updates.

Mortgage Services Act – Early Consolidation
Quickscribe has publishe an early consolidation of the Mortgage Services Act (MSA), which comes into force on October 13, 2026 by B.C. Reg. 108/2025. The MSA replaces the Mortgage Brokers Act, and will modernize the regulation of mortgage brokers, lenders and administrators, while incorporating recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in BC. Under the MSA, the new role of Superintendent of Mortgage Services will be introduced, empowered to oversee the regulatory duties of the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) in the mortgage services industry. The BCFSA will be granted wide regulatory powers to create and impose licensing rules, compliance requirements and new disciplinary penalties, allowing it complete oversight of the mortgage services industry, which includes dealing or trading in mortgages, mortgage lending and administering mortgages. The BCFSA will have the authority to

• regulate licences;
• establish requirements, conditions, and restrictions on licences;
• implement standards of conduct and business practice standards for licensees;
• provide standard terms to be included in proposed contracts or forms prepared by licensees; and
• make different rules applicable to different levels of licences, categories of licences, and classes of mortgages.

Confusing 'Extenuating' with 'Exceptional': BCCA Quashes
Arbitrator's Penalty for Delayed Landlord Occupancy
A British Columbia landlord evicted a tenant on the basis that they intended to occupy the rental unit but did not move in until nearly 14 months after the tenant vacated. Under the Residential Tenancy Act, that delay can expose a landlord to liability for up to 12 months' rent. In Kassam v. 1129728 B.C. Ltd., 2026 BCCA 33, the British Columbia Court of Appeal considered what legal standard governs whether a landlord can avoid that liability. The Court held that applying the wrong legal test is not a technical defect: confusing "extenuating circumstances" with "exceptional circumstances" constituted a reviewable legal error that undermines the resulting decision. Read the full article by Damiana N. Pavone with McCarthy Tétrault.

The Cost of Getting It Wrong: Damages for a
Wrongfully Filed Lien Claim in BC
The British Columbia Builders Lien Act provides that a lien claimant is liable for costs and damages incurred by an owner as a result of a wrongfully filed lien claim. However, there are very few cases where costs and damages have been awarded. We previously reported on a 2022 decision awarding damages here. In a more recent BC Supreme Court decision, the Court similarly ordered a lien claimant to pay costs and damages for filing a lien claim outside the 45-day time limit and on the incorrect parcel of land.

The Case
The dispute arose from the construction of several townhome and apartment buildings located in Surrey, British Columbia. The owner retained Mainland Civil Site Services Inc. (Mainland) to perform civil works on three project sites and off-site civil works. The three project sites corresponded with three distinct parcels of land identified as Sites 1, 2 and 3.

Read the full article by Chelsea A. Wilson and Taylor Sterzuk with Dentons.

Critics Slam Government Plan to 'Bail Out'
Sagging Condo Sector in BC
BC is facing a glut of empty condos. Thousands of Metro Vancouver units are sitting empty and some developers are facing insolvency. Now, some housing experts are questioning a plan by the federal and provincial governments to buy some of those vacant units and turn them into affordable housing. They say it amounts to a multibillion-dollar bailout for developers who refuse to lower prices to reflect a sluggish real estate market. Read the CBC article.

Key Updates to CCDC Design-Build Suite: CCDC 14 (2026), CCDC 15 (2026),
and the New CCDC 32 (2026) and CCDC 33 (2026)
This spring, the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) released a series of updates to its Design-Build construction contract suite, including revisions to the CCDC 14 – Design-Build Stipulated Price contract and the CCDC 15 – Service Contract Between Design-Builder and Consultant, as well as two entirely new contracts: CCDC 32 – Progressive Design-Build Contract and CCDC 33 – Progressive Design-Build Service Contract Between Design-Builder and Consultant. The updates to CCDC 14 and CCDC 15 modernize familiar frameworks, including notable changes to ownership of design and liability allocation. The new CCDC 32 and CCDC 33 introduce a new, phased model that enables owner and design-builder collaboration, giving owners greater involvement in the design process and more flexibility in managing cost and risk before committing to the final project price. These changes, especially the new CCDC 32 and CCDC 33 contracts, are designed to modernize the construction contracting to make them more collaborative, transparent, and effective. While these changes and new models may be welcomed by many, changes to the contracts through supplementary conditions to fit the project circumstances, address risk allocation, and appropriate contract administration will continue to be common and necessary. Read the full article by Scott Lamb and Alec Kobetitch with Clark Wilson LLP.

Promotional Contests in BC Real Estate:
Legal Framework and Key Considerations
As British Columbia experiences a slower real estate market, developers are increasingly using creative strategies to differentiate their projects and move inventory. Developers are exploring "rent-to-own", "try-it-before-you-buy-it", complimentary rental management programs and even promotional contests. Such contests may include high‑value prizes such as the chance to "win your home". While contests can be an effective marketing tool, they engage several statutory regimes in British Columbia. This article provides an overview of key considerations for developers before launching a promotional contest. Read the full article by Andrew Beechinor and Alexa Derksen with Lawson Lundell.