Accelerating Renewable Energy Projects in BC:
An Overview of Bill 14
As part of the Government of British Columbia's efforts to streamline its permitting processes, Bill 14: Renewable Energy Projects (Streamlined Permitting) Act  ("Bill 14") and Bill 15: Infrastructure Projects Act  ("Bill 15") received royal assent on May 29, 2025. Bill 14 provides the legislative foundation for the province's Clean Power Action Plan ("Action Plan"), which was released on May 5, 2025. The Action Plan sets out five initiatives to help meet the province's growing demand for energy and to drive investment in major infrastructure projects while reducing emissions. These initiatives include a second call for power, developing capacity projects, advancing energy efficiency technologies, supporting clean technology investments through the BC Innovative Clean Energy Fund, and streamlining access to electricity for new homes and businesses. We discuss Bill 15, and general trends around permit streamlining efforts here. This blog post provides an overview of Bill 14, which provides a means to accelerate permitting of renewable energy projects and transmission infrastructure. Read the full article by Selina Lee‑Andersen, Rachael Carlson, Elena Drouin with McCarthy Tétrault.

Expenses to Determine Economic Viability of a Mine Meet the
Purpose Test and Are Eligible for the BC METC
In Seabridge Gold Inc. v British Columbia, 2025 BCSC 558, a recent case argued by Thorsteinssons LLP, the British Columbia Supreme Court held that expenses incurred to assess the economic viability of a mineral resource are eligible for the British Columbia mining exploration tax credit ("BC METC") under the Income Tax Act (British Columbia).  In that case, the taxpayer had incurred expenses during the prefeasibility stage to gather information that would allow it to determine the economic viability of mining gold and other metals on its property in British Columbia. The taxpayer claimed those expenses as qualified mining exploration expense ("QMEEs") eligible for the BC METC. For the expenses to be considered QMEEs, they were required to satisfy the so-called "purpose test" – i.e., they must have been incurred "for the purpose of determining the existence, location, extent, or quality" of a mineral resource in British Columbia. Read the full article by Brittany Rossler with Thorsteinssons LLP.

CSA Proposes Amendments to Modernize and Streamline
Canada's Mining Disclosure Standards
On June 12, 2025, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) announced extensive proposed amendments (Proposed Amendments) aimed at modernizing and streamlining Canada's mining disclosure regime. The Proposed Amendments would repeal and replace National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101), Form 43-101F1 Technical Report (43-101F1), and the current Companion Policy 43-101CP to NI 43-101 (Companion Policy), and include consequential amendments to certain other existing instruments and forms. The Proposed Amendments would mark the first significant update to Canada's mining disclosure regime in 14 years and are intended to update and enhance the disclosure requirements for mineral projects without introducing unnecessary regulatory burden. Read the full article by John Wilkin, Kathleen Keilty, Trisha Robertson and Darren Whitehouse with Blakes.

Flat Growth in BC Mining Sector
Tied to Coal, Says PwC Report
Plunging metallurgical coal prices have left B.C. mining revenue to flatline last year, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP report. Revenue reached $14.5 billion in 2024 – the exact same as the year prior, according to numbers provided by survey respondents in the business services firm's June report on B.C.'s mining sector. Coal prices sat at US$240 per tonne last year and are forecasted to drop to US$198 per tonne this year, which could have further ramifications in the sector, said the report. Read the BIV article.

BC Hydro Launches New Actions to 
Power BC's Clean-energy Future
BC Hydro has launched two requests for expressions of interest (RFEOI) to explore the next era of the province's power potential, expand clean-energy resources and advance energy efficiency. These actions are critical to ensuring a stable, reliable electricity system that supports new housing, businesses and industries while keeping energy costs affordable for people. Read the government news release.

Help or Hinder? Aligning Forestry Practices with
Wildfire Risk Reduction
The Forest Practices Board conducted a special investigation into how forestry activities affect wildfire risk reduction (WRR) in BC's wildland-urban interface (the interface). The investigation focused on forestry activities between 2019 and 2022 in the Sea to Sky, Cariboo-Chilcotin, and Peace natural resource districts, specifically in interface areas classified as high or extreme wildfire threats. The Board evaluated how activities subject to the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act help or hinder WRR efforts within the interface. Read the full article published by the Forest Practices Board. 

Federal Court Strikes Down Amended Recovery 
Strategy for Endangered Birds
The Federal Court has abolished the Canadian government's adjusted approach to safeguarding critical habitat for the piping plover, an endangered bird, in what Ecojustice dubbed a precedent-setting victory that promotes compliance with the Species at Risk Act, 2002 (SARA). Ecojustice applied for judicial review on behalf of East Coast Environmental Law, the Federation of Nova Scotia Naturalists, and Nature Nova Scotia, according to the environmental law charity's press release. Before the court, Ecojustice alleged that the federal government's new method was unreasonable and unlawful under the SARA. Read the full article by Bernise Carolino in the Canadian Lawyer.

Final Guidelines from the Competition Bureau on
Environmental Claims in Canada
On June 5, 2025, the Competition Bureau (the Bureau) published its final Guidelines for environmental claims under the Competition Act (the Act). The Guidelines were created to help businesses and the public understand the Bureau's approach to deceptive marketing provisions under the Act as they relate to environmental claims, including with respect to the new environment-specific provisions that were enacted in 2024. While not binding on the Commissioner of Competition nor the Competition Tribunal, the Guidelines provide visibility into the Bureau's interpretation and approach to environmental claims. The finalization of the Guidelines coincides with the June 20, 2025 coming into force of a private right of action allowing individuals and organizations to bring cases, with leave, for deceptive advertising practices directly before the Competition Tribunal. Previously, only the Commissioner of Competition could initiate such proceedings.  The Competition Tribunal has the authority to impose significant penalties for violations, as well as to order parties to stop engaging in specific conduct and/or to publish notices correcting information.  As such, businesses may face a material risk of enforcement in relation to environmental claims that are found to be misleading or deceptive. Read the full article by Sarah Gibert, Gatlin Smeijers, Julia Schatz, Adam Kalbfleisch, Emrys Davis and Rhiannon Szewczyk with Bennett Jones LLP.

BC Logging Deal Sparks Clash over Indigenous
Rights and Endangered Owl
An insolvent BC forestry company's attempt to sell off a forest licence to pay back creditors has triggered a dispute with several First Nations, who allege the company is attempting an "end run" around their rights. This spring, three Indigenous groups — the Katzie and Peters First Nations, and the Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council — challenged the Teal-Jones Group before a BC Supreme Court judge for attempting to complete an interim transfer of forest licence A19201 to Western Canadian Timber Products Ltd. (WCTP). The move came before the BC Minister of Forests could consult with 39 First Nations who have territory in the area. In a ruling released last month, Justice Shelley Fitzpatrick said the First Nations had argued Teal Cedar Products Ltd., a subsidiary of the Teal-Jones Group, was attempting to "blatantly circumvent" protections afforded to the three interested nations. Read the BIV article.

Wildlife Habitat Areas
– from British Columbia Gazette Part I, Volume CLXV, No. 24

Energy Resource Activities Act:
Notice is hereby given that Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHAs) 1-574, 1-734, 1-740, 1-750, 1-752, 1-754, 1-768, 1-769, 1-770 were established for Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis laingi) on May 26, 2025, by order made under the authority of Section 30 of the Environmental Protection and Management Regulation (B.C. Reg. 200/2010). Details of the Order may be obtained from the Ecosystems Section, West Coast Region, Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, 2080 Labieux Road, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6J9. [je12]

General Wildlife Measures:
Notice is hereby given that the areas and General Wildlife Measures (GWMs) associated with Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHAs) 1-574, 1-740, 1-768, 1-769, 1-770 in the South Island Natural Resource District, and 1-734, 1-750, 1-752, 1-754 in the Campbell River Natural Resource District were established for Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis laingi) on May 26 2025, by order made under the authority of sections 9 (2) and 10 (1) of the Government Actions Regulation (B.C. Reg. 582/2004). Details of the GAR Order may be obtained from the Ecosystems Section, West Coast Region, Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, 2080 Labieux Road, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6J9, or from the following website: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/apps/faw/wharesult.cgi?search=show_approved. [je12]

Prevent Heat Stroke at Work Disorders
(ASTDs) of the Limbs
from WorkSafeBC:
With summer in full swing, WorkSafeBC is reminding employers and workers of the serious risks of heat stress. This article details how workers can be exposed, the dangers associated with heat exhaustion, and provides a hierarchy of controls to minimize risk. Highlighting strategies like elimination/substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment, the article emphasizes proactive steps to prevent heat-related illnesses and ensure a safe working environment during hot weather.

BC Introduces New Standards for
Overdose Prevention Services
The British Columbia government has introduced new minimum standards for overdose prevention services aimed at enhancing safety, improving service consistency, and increasing oversight for clients, staff, and the broader community. The new standards provide a provincewide framework for how overdose prevention services should be delivered. According to the BC Ministry of Health, the goal is to better integrate these services into the health-care system while ensuring quality, accessibility, and cultural safety. The standards are expected to support existing facilities—many of which already meet or exceed these requirements—and guide the development of new ones. Read the full Canadian Occupational Safety Magazine article, by Jim Wilson. [To read the overdose prevention services minimum service standards, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/overdose-awareness/ops_mss_final.pdf]

Preventing Falls from Heights in Construction
Falls from heights (e.g., roofs, ladders, work platforms) continue to be a leading cause of workplace injuries and fatalities. As summer kicks in and outdoor construction peaks, WorkSafeBC is urging employers to prevent these devastating and life-altering incidents. From 2020 to 2024, there were more than 5,400 injury claims in the construction sector from falls from heights, including almost 1,900 serious injuries and 35 fatalities. More than 1,000 construction workers were injured due to falls from heights in 2024 alone. That's nearly three a day. To help reduce these risks, WorkSafeBC is continuing its proactive, unannounced inspections at construction worksites across the province. These inspections focus on ensuring fall protection measures are in place and that employers are effectively managing the most significant risks to workers. Read the full article by Michael Laycock published in WorkSafe Magazine – Summer 2025.

Decision on the New and Revised BC Exposure Limits
Based on the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 ACGIH
TLVs for Selected Chemical Substances
At its April 2025 meeting, WorkSafeBC's Board of Directors (BOD) approved the adoption of the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 new and revised American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Values (ACGIH TLVs) for the following selected chemical substances:

• Antimony trioxide – Production
• Antimony trioxide
• Cumene
• Dipropylene glycol methyl ether (also known as "bis-(2-Methoxypropyl) ether (DPGME)")
• Dipropylene glycol methyl ether (DPGME)
• Hexane, all isomers, except n-Hexane
• Hexane (Commercial, >54% n-Hexane) and the branched hexane isomers
• Hexane (Commercial, <54% n-Hexane)
• Branched Hexane Isomers
• sec-Hexyl acetate
• Isopropylamine
• Isopropyl ether
• Methylcyclohexane
• Mica
• Trimethyl benzene (mixed isomers)
• Trimethyl benzene, isomers
• Xylene (o, m & p isomers)
• Xylene, all isomers

In addition, Epichlorohydrin's revised ACGIH TLV is already the same as the existing BC exposure limit. Read the full WorkSafeBC article.