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May 01 2025

Changes to Police Act in Force

On May 1, portions of Bill 17, Police Amendment Act, 2024, come into force. The Bill was introduced last spring to address three recommendations of the 2022 Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act, seven recommendations from the 2019 Special Committee to Review the Police Complaint Process and legislative changes requested by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner and the Ombudsperson. The Bill represents phase one of a multi-phase process to review and reform BC’s policing legislation, making changes to police governance and oversight, which largely affect police boards and municipalities, including requirements for police boards to create a code of conduct and updated procedures for handling complaints.

The May 1 changes aim to modernize the language in the Police Act and several other provincial acts by updating references to "police force" to "police service", reflecting the variety of services delivered by police. Some changes already in force help simplify the process for establishing designated policing boards and designated policing units, as well as ensuring municipal council is represented on municipal police boards or committees while not allowing the mayor to serve as board chair.

For your convenience, Quickscribe has published an early consolidation of the remainder of the changes in Bill 17 as they will read when they come into force by regulation at a future date.

 

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Apr 29 2025

Introduction of Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2025

On April 29, Bill 13, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, was introduced. The Bill aims to enhance procedural fairness, clarify legal definitions and improve regulatory frameworks across various sectors in British Columbia. If passed, the Bill will affect the following Acts:

Wildfire Act

Amendments will require the minister to provide written notice of a proposed order to parties alleged with starting or contributing to the spread of a wildfire. The notice must be given within 3 years and may be extended by a ministerial order by up to 18 months, with a total maximum period of 4 years and six months. This will allow the parties an opportunity to prepare a meaningful response. Additionally, more time will be provided for investigations and calculations for costs and damages to enable decision-makers to assess facts before making a determination order. These amendments will align the limitation period with those in other natural resource statutes. 

Housing Supply Act

Amendments will ensure compliance measures are undertaken with the City of Vancouver to conform with all other prescribed municipalities that are subject to a housing target order.

Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Act

Amendments will apply new provisions of the Local Government Act to the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District development cost charge bylaws, temporarily extending instream protections for development charges from 12 to 24 months for Metro Vancouver Regional District, Greater Vancouver Water District and Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District. This will be applied retroactively for developers that have submitted completed applications prior to March 22, 2024 to ensure they continue to have access to the lower rates of development charges for an additional year until March 22, 2026.

Islands Trust Act

The amendments will allow for the appointment of acting local trustees in specified circumstances.

Local Elections Campaign Financing Act

Some provisions will be amended to clarify the requirements for the use of a shorter name, abbreviation or acronym other than that included in the register of elector organizations. Other changes include authorizing the BC chief electoral officer to suspend the registration of an elector organization in specified circumstances and to make publicly available information about the financial agent of a candidate.

Local Government Act

Amendments will clarify the rules concerning elections administration in local elections with respect to endorsement documents, nomination documents, mail ballot returns and election orders. The Act will also be amended to provide an exception to regional district service establishment rules to allow regional districts to establish the service of designating fire inspectors and investigators as required under the new Fire Safety Act. Further amendments will require a municipal collector to give notice to each registered owner of the fee simple of property before the property may be sold at tax sale, as well as establishing requirements in relation to the notice.

Vancouver Charter

The Bill will add a new provision to establish that the City of Vancouver can regulate in areas also governed by the Province in the same manner as other municipalities under the Community Charter. Other amendments clarify rules respecting local elections, in relation to endorsement documents, nomination documents, mail ballot returns and election orders.

School Act

A provision will be added to require a board of education, other than the board for School District No. 39 (Vancouver), to identify a public notice posting place.

Professional Governance Act

Amendments will provide greater clarity in relation to regulations made specifying job titles, to ensure that professional regulatory bodies cannot prevent people from using certain job titles as set out in a regulation.

Wildlife Act

Amendments focus on aquatic invasive species, granting the minister broader powers to regulate, inspect and enforce measures to prevent their spread. Included will be powers to stop and inspect vehicles, boats and equipment, as well as requiring inspections and decontamination.

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Apr 16 2025

Motor Vehicle Act – Graduated Licensing Changes

On April 16, Bill 12, the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, 2025, was introduced, proposing amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act, aimed at improving the Graduated Licensing Program and Motorcyclist Licensing Program to increase accessibility for new drivers and safety standards for motorcycle drivers. The legislation will update the Graduated Licensing Program to remove the requirement for a second road test to obtain a Class 5 licence and will create a new 12-month restriction period, during which eligible drivers must demonstrate safe driving behaviour to progress. Additionally, requirements proven not to increase road safety will be removed, reducing wait times for individuals who want to take a road test to earn their Novice (Class 7) licence. 

Other changes include setting up a new Motorcyclist Licensing Program to be completed by all new motorcycle riders, ensuring new riders gain the skills needed to ride safely. Regulations will also be introduced to establish a restriction period and greater safety requirements for protective gear.

If passed, the Bill will come into force by regulation at a future date.

Read the government news release.

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