Introduction of Renewable Energy Projects
(Streamlined Permitting) Act
Bill 14, the Renewable Energy Projects (Streamlined Permitting) Act, tabled on April 30, proposes to expand the authority of the BC Energy Regulator (BCER) to regulate renewable-energy projects, such as wind and solar. If passed, the legislation will create a single-window permitting process, facilitating the approval process for renewable energy projects by eliminating the involvement of other government agencies. The new Act will also provide for creation of regulations to authorize the BCER to oversee the construction and operation of wind and solar projects, ensuring safety and environmental standards are met. Read the government news release.

B.C. Government Proposes New Legislation
to Speed Up Renewable Energy Projects
The B.C. government has proposed new legislation to speed up the permitting process for renewable energy projects in a bid to address climate change and secure energy independence amid trade threats.

Energy Minister Adrian Dix introduced the new Renewable Energy Projects Act to the legislative assembly on Wednesday.

If passed, the Act will expand the authority of B.C.'s energy regulator to oversee renewable energy projects. That would mean the regulator would be the primary permitting agency for clean energy and transmission lines.

Dix said this would help simplify the approvals process for these projects, eliminating the need for cross-ministry and agency permitting. Read the Vancouver Sun article.

Hydrogen – BC Government Enacts New Regulation
The new Hydrogen Facility Regulation (BC Reg 27/2025) (the "Regulation") went into effect on April 1, 2025. The Regulation, enacted under the Energy Resource Activities Act, (SBC 2008, c 36) (the "Act"), streamlines the requirements for hydrogen manufacturing in British Columbia, including with respect to the permitting, construction, operation, safety, emergency management, and decommissioning of hydrogen facilities.

The British Columbia Energy Regulator ("BCER") will oversee hydrogen facilities under the Regulation. Read the full article by Chris Bystrom, Fergus McDonnell and Patrick Frost with Fasken.

New Infrastructure Projects Act
On May 1, Bill 15, the Infrastructure Projects Act, was introduced, and will replace the Significant Projects Streamlining Act. The legislation proposes to speed up permitting and approvals for the completion of key infrastructure projects, including new schools, student housing, hospitals and major transportation projects. Additionally, approvals may be streamlined for a limited number of other provincially significant projects such as mines and other natural resource operations delivered by other entities, such as Crown corporations, local governments, First Nations, and the private sector.

If passed, the Bill will come into force in phases by royal assent and regulations, and will focus on:

• developing a qualified professionals reliance framework;
• creating an expedited environmental assessment process to allow for quicker reviews of designated projects;
• establishing a framework for alternative permit authorizations, in cooperation with local governments;
• authorizing the ministry to work with school districts, health authorities and post-secondary institutions to deliver some projects on their behalf; and
• enabling the ministry to group multiple projects into a single procurement or to purchase project components for multiple projects at a single time.

New regulations and tools will also be developed to support the ministry in prioritizing and accelerating significant projects.

Note: Some critics have argued that the new Bill is similar to the earlier introduced Bill 7, which was to give the government extraordinary powers to rewrite the approval rules for major projects that it deems as special. Both Bill 7 and 15 were introduced in response to threats by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to BC Premier David Eby.

Read the government news release.

Overwhelming Majority of Canadians Back
National Clean Energy Grid, Finds Poll
A strong majority of Canadians support linking up a national grid powered by hydroelectricity, a new poll has found.

Carried out by the pollster EKOS, 84 per cent of Canadian adults who responded to the survey backed the "nation-building" project.

"There is a massive national consensus for a clean electricity grid as a nation-building project that tackles climate change and also builds our sense of country, sovereignty and identity," EKOS president Frank Graves said in a statement.

A majority of respondents of all political stripes said they supported building a national electric grid – including more than 90 per cent of those who said they intended to vote for a Liberal, NDP or Bloc candidate, and 70 per cent who said they planned to vote Conservative.

Opinions were more divided on how to pay for such an endeavour. Read the BIV article.

Long-Term U.S. Tariffs Could Devastate
Canada's Energy Sector, Deloitte Warns
U.S. tariffs could lead to a 6.8 per cent drop in output across Canada's oil, gas and mining sectors over the next five years, a new report has found.

Released Wednesday, Deloitte Canada's latest price forecast attempted to gauge the impact trade uncertainties would have on Canada's energy, oil and gas sector.

Andrew Botterill, the lead author of the report and a Deloitte Canada expert on energy and chemicals, said the projected drop in output was calculated in a world where the U.S. puts a blanket 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian exports. He said the "dramatic" decline in oil, gas and mining would likely hit Canada's economy hard.

"That would be very significant," Botterill said.

The report from Canada's largest professional services firm comes as federal leaders spar over what role the oil and gas industry will play in Canada's economic future. Read the BIV article.

Province Takes Energy Action to Electrify
Economy, Increase Resilience
The Province, in partnership with BC Hydro, is launching an ambitious plan to harness British Columbia's clean-electricity advantage, driving economic growth and transformative change, strengthening energy security and advancing climate action.

The Clean Power Action Plan is a strategy that intends to leverage B.C.'s clean-electricity advantage, ensuring a resilient and sustainable future for British Columbia. With five transformative initiatives, the plan aims to accelerate economic growth, while securing long-term energy stability for generations to come. Read the full government news release for further details.

2025 Federal Election – What it Means
for the Energy Industry
Canada's 45th Federal Election was held on April 28, 2025, following a five-week campaign. The Liberal Party of Canada has won a fourth consecutive mandate and will form a minority government. Prime Minister Mark Carney was elected in his Ottawa-area Nepean riding by a wide margin, while both Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh did not win their seats in Carleton and Burnaby Central, respectively.

With the Conservative Party forming the official opposition, and the NDP having lost official party status, this minority government could see the Bloc Québécois holding the balance of power in the House of Commons, bringing a variety of voices to the table regarding policies related to energy sovereignty and infrastructure development, as well as the path forward on net-zero targets.

On this first day of the 45th Canadian Parliament's mandate, we highlight the energy-related campaign promises of the newly elected Liberal Party. Read the full article by Kerri Howard, Audrey Bouffard-Nesbitt, Kimberly J. Howard, Robyn Finley and Riley M. Thackray with McCarthy Tétrault LLP.

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

• SA 2025-02 – 2025 Wildfire Preparedness
• IU 2025-04 – Incident at Gundy Gas Plant
• IU 2025-05 – Fifty-three Former Erikson National Energy Sites Declared Orphans
• TU 2025-07 – Administrative Updates to BCER's Application Management System

Visit the BC-ER website for more information.

Introduction of Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2025
[Wildfire/Wildlife/PGA Legislative Changes]
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 forestry- and environment-related 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.

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.

BC Supreme Court Denies Damages to Forest
Licence Holder Operating on Haida Gwaii
The British Columbia Supreme Court recently ruled that an integrated forest company failed to show that the provincial government engaged in constructive expropriation or breached its duty of good faith or an oral agreement to keep the company whole.

The regulatory regime applicable in Teal Cedar Products Ltd. v British Columbia, 2025 BCSC 595, was BC's Forest and Range Practices Act, 2002. Teal Cedar Products Ltd., the plaintiff in this case, operated two tenures on Haida Gwaii – a tree farm licence and a forest licence.

The licensee had the exclusive right to harvest from certain lands over a specific period upon obtaining a cutting, road, or special use permit. For a cutting permit, the licensee had to apply to a district manager appointed under BC's Ministry of Forests and Range Act, 1996. Read the full article by Bernise Carolino in the Canadian Lawyer.

Some Things Last Forever: Government of Canada
Proposes Regulatory Measures for PFAS
On March 5, 2025, the Government of Canada proposed new regulatory measures for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which it outlines in the final State of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Report [PDF] (the Report) and the Risk Management Approach for PFAS, excluding fluoropolymers [PDF] (the Risk Management Approach).

In this Update, we briefly describe the conclusions of the Report and the Risk Management Approach, including government's intention to (i) classify PFAS as "toxic" under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) and (ii) introduce additional regulatory instruments to further restrict the manufacture and use of PFAS. We also briefly describe the implications for industry. Read the full article by Richard J. King, Jennifer Fairfax, Evan Barz, Shelby Empey and A.J. Davison with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP.

Fort Nelson Fire Zone's Innovative Approach
to Managing Overwintering Wildfires
In recent years, catastrophic wildfires in the Fort Nelson area have smouldered through the winter months, waiting for warmer temperatures and drier fuels to reignite. These fires occur in boreal forest landscapes – primarily made up of mixed wood stands and muskeg. While muskeg is a defining feature of the landscape, its saturated ground conditions limit traditional fire suppression efforts. In particular, the high water table restricts heavy equipment use during the snow-free season, when machinery risks becoming stuck or causing ecological damage.

Recognizing this challenge, the Fort Nelson Fire Zone began exploring alternative approaches. Drawing on tactics used by local industry and other wildfire agencies across Canada, the team adapted their strategy to take advantage of winter conditions – when frozen ground allows safer and more effective equipment operations. Read the BC Wildfire Service blog.

Province Releases Annual Climate Report
The Province is reaffirming its commitment to climate action and affordability as it releases its annual Climate Change Accountability Report.

The report is based on 2022 emissions data and highlights actions completed between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, as well as actions underway or planned for the year ahead. It provides the most up-to-date assessment of British Columbia's efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and build a low-carbon economy. Read the government news release.

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

Environmental Management Act

• Vintage Views Developments Ltd. & John Aantjes v. Director, Environmental Management Act [Summary Dismissal – Appeal Dismissed]
• TRLG Enterprise Ltd. v. Director, Environmental Management Act [Preliminary Decision Regarding an Application to Amend Notice of Appeal – Application Dismissed]
• Executive Flight Centre Fuel Services Ltd. & Danny La Sante v. Director, Environmental Management Act [Settlement Order – Appeals Dismissed]

Water Sustainability Act

• Annette D'Souza and David Allen v. Water Manager [Final Decision – Order Confirmed; Appeal Dismissed]
• Stephen Hunt v. Assistant Water 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 [Settlement Order – Appeal Granted; Order Rescinded; No Costs]

Visit the Forest Appeals Commission website for more information.

Societies and Volunteer Firefighters
from WorkSafeBC:
The Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2019 (Bill 18) expanded the definition of "firefighter" and changed the definition of "worker" in the Workers Compensation Act, resulting in implications for society fire brigades that engage volunteer firefighters. Our Policy, Regulation and Research Department is releasing a discussion paper with proposed amendments to policy in the Assessment Manual to provide guidance on how WorkSafeBC determines the employer of a volunteer firefighter, and to remove outdated language. The discussion paper and information on how to provide feedback can be found here: Proposed amendments to policy on societies and volunteer firefighters.

WorkSafeBC Cracks Down on Fall Hazards
WorkSafeBC is intensifying efforts to prevent falls from heights on construction sites across the province as outdoor activity ramps up this spring. The organization urges employers to take immediate, proactive measures following a sharp increase in injuries linked to falls from elevation. In 2024 alone, over 1,000 construction workers suffered injuries from falls. From 2020 to 2024, the sector recorded more than 5,400 injury claims, including nearly 1,900 serious injuries and 35 fatalities related to elevation incidents. Read the Canadian Occupational Safety article. 

Consultation on Changes to Policy –
Duration of Benefits (Retirement Age)
from WorkSafeBC:
To align with legislative amendments to the Workers Compensation Act (Act), changes to policy on retirement age determinations were brought into effect on January 1, 2021.  On November 9, 2023, WorkSafeBC's Board of Directors (BOD) approved further changes to policy in the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II, on WorkSafeBC's determination of whether a worker "would retire" after the retirement dates set out in the Act. These policy changes came into effect on January 1, 2024. The BOD approved these policy changes in advance of stakeholder consultation. Our Policy, Regulation and Research Department is now releasing a discussion paper on the 2024 changes to identify whether further policy changes are necessary. You're invited to provide feedback until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 6, 2025.

Lane Construction Services Ltd
Fined for Repeated Violations
British Columbia employer Lane Construction Services Ltd. has been fined $68,479.59 for numerous safety violations. The infractions occurred while the company was performing concrete forming work at an apartment complex construction site in North Vancouver. One worker, assigned as the standby person for confined space work in a below-ground stormwater tank, fell approximately 4.3 metres (14 feet) through an unsecured floor opening into the tank. WorkSafeBC determined that while the worker had been wearing fall protection, they had not been provided with a lanyard or an anchor point. Read the full article by Jim Wilson with Canadian Occupational Safety. 

When Is Burnout Compensable? What HR Needs to Know about
Mental Health Claims and Workload Stress
A recent decision by the BC Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal (WCAT) offers a detailed look at when work-related stress and burnout rises to the level of a compensable mental disorder – and when it doesn't. In A2202387 (Re), 2025 CanLII 9894 (BC WCAT), a medical laboratory assistant claimed that chronic understaffing and workload pressure led to a panic attack at work. Although the WCAT acknowledged the worker faced stress and high workloads, it denied the claim due to the absence of a formal DSM diagnosis, and concluded her workload did not exceed typical industry job demands in intensity or duration. Read the full article by Stacy Thomas with Canadian HRReporter.