Boeing Invests Millions in B.C., Quebec Projects
to Manufacture Sustainable Jet Fuel
Boeing Canada says it's investing millions of dollars into business ventures in B.C. and Quebec with the eventual goal of producing close to 200 million litres of sustainable jet fuel every year.

The announcement, made Wednesday, includes nearly $17.5 million split between two projects looking to turn wood waste and carbon captured from industrial smokestacks into sustainable aviation fuel.

The fuel, known in industry as SAF, has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent over its lifecycle and "offers the fastest route to decarbonization in the aviation sector," according to Boeing.

Boeing's latest investment will direct $10 million to Project Avance, a joint venture between Bioenergie AECN and Alder Renewables in Port Cartier, Que. The project aims to convert wood residue from sawmills into low-carbon bio-crude that can later be converted into almost 38 million litres of unblended jet fuel every year. Read the BIV article

BC Government Streamlines Renewable Energy Regulatory
Process and Announces 2025 Call for Power
On April 30, 2025, the Government of British Columbia tabled Bill 14, the Renewable Energy Projects (Streamlined Permitting) Act (Bill). The Bill would accelerate the permitting of renewable energy projects in the province by:

1. expanding the authority of the British Columbia Energy Regulator (BCER) to act as a "one-window" permitting authority for wind and solar projects and designated transmission lines; and
2. streamlining the environmental assessment (EA) requirements for designated wind energy projects, the North Coast Transmission Line project (NCTL) and designated electricity transmission projects.

The province touts the Bill as a key measure to promote renewable energy sector growth as part of the British Columbia's new Clean Power Action Plan (Action Plan), released on May 5, 2025. The Action Plan outlines the government's strategy to double British Columbia's clean electricity supply by 2050 to meet growing demand from electrification and industrial development. The Bill will support this ambition by removing regulatory bottlenecks for renewable energy projects and infrastructure across the province. Read the full article by David Bursey, Jessica Kennedy, Larissa Sakumoto and Samantha Chenatte with Bennett Jones.

B.C. Leading Canada on Methane
Reduction, Says Analysis
B.C.'s goal to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector is two years ahead of schedule, a new analysis has found.

Released by the Pembina Institute Thursday, the report found the province was the only one in Canada to meet its 2025 oil and gas methane emissions reduction target.

Between 2014 and 2023, natural gas production in B.C. grew 67 per cent. But over that same period, methane emissions associated with the industry fell 51 per cent – surpassing the 45 per cent reduction goal the province set for itself for 2025.

The progress is a positive sign for the industry at a time the carbon intensity of imports is becoming increasingly important to trading partners like the European Union, United Kingdom, South Korea and Japan, said Amanda Bryant, a senior analyst with the Pembina Institute who carried out the analysis. Read the BIV article.

Power Perspectives: British Columbia Regional Overview
This article originally appeared as a chapter in our Power Perspectives 2025 publication and provides a look back at some of the key developments in the British Columbia power market occurring in 2024. Power Perspectives 2025 provides an in-depth overview of the most significant developments in the Canadian power and emerging energy sectors in 2025. Updates have been included in this version of the British Columbia Regional Overview to reflect certain recent developments in 2025

In 2024, a significant response to BC Hydro and Power Authority's ("BC Hydro's") April 2024 call for power ("Power Call"), along with the advancement of a number of decarbonization initiatives in the province of British Columbia, signalled a bright future for clean energy production in British Columbia. Through the Power Call process, BC Hydro positioned itself to integrate more wind and solar energy into the grid by as early as 2028. In 2024, we also saw the utility continue its EPA Renewal Program, while several liquid natural gas projects in British Columbia achieved significant milestones and the long-awaited Site C hydroelectric project further progressed towards its operational date. Read the full article by Liezl Behm, Josh Friedman, Maureen Gillis, Selina Lee-Andersen, Genevieve Loxley, Sven O. Milelli, Dave Nikolejsin and Morgan Troke with McCarthy Tetrault.

Canadian Securities Regulators Propose Changes to NI 43-101
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects
On February 13, 2025, the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC") released an Information Notice with drafts of proposed changes to National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and its related companion policy and technical report form ("NI 43-101") (the "Proposed Amendments").

In the Information Notice, the BCSC advised that the Canadian Securities Administrators (the "CSA") intend to repeal and replace NI 43-101, Form 43-101F1 Technical Report (the "Technical Report Form"), and Companion Policy 43-101CP (the "Companion Policy"). The purpose of the Information Notice was to facilitate informal discussions in the mining industry relating to the Proposed Amendments. The Proposed Amendments are still under review by the CSA and subject to change. There is currently no set timeline for the CSA to commence a formal request for comment period, which would be followed by formal implementation of the amendments. Read the full article by Don Collie, Alan Monk and Desron Harry with DLA Piper.

Energy Resources Activities Act
Notice is hereby given that the areas associated with Wildlife Habitat Area (WHA) 1-028 established by order signed on January 15, 2003, WHA 1-028a established on May 1, 2015, WHA 1-183 established on December 4, 2006, and WHAs 1-315 and 1-380 established on March 23, 2018, are cancelled. Notice is hereby given that WHAs 1-028, 1-686, 1-692, 1-684, 1-687, 1-776, 1-685, 1-689, 1-777, 1-183, 1-315, 1-380, 1-779, 1-782, 1-785, 1-788, 1-279, 1-360, 1-384, 1-780, 1-783, 1-786, 1-789, 1-305, 1-366, 1-778, 1-781, 1-784, 1-787, and 1-790 were established for Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) on May 4, 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. [my22]

CleanBC Review Launched to Strengthen
Climate Action, Results For People
The Province is launching an independent review of CleanBC programs to ensure they are effectively reducing emissions, while making life more affordable and supporting a strong economy.

CleanBC is B.C.'s road map for cutting climate pollution and building a cleaner, more sustainable future. It has helped people and businesses switch to cleaner energy, supported industrial decarbonization and expanded access to electric vehicles and renewable power. Read the government news release.

Updates to Natural Resource Taxes
The following update to natural resource taxes was recently posted:

Mining taxes

• May 21, 2025
  Interest rates have been updated for mineral tax, mineral land tax, and the mine inspection fee.

For more information, visit the BC government website.

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

• IU 2025-06 – Remaining Erikson National Energy Sites Declared Orphans
• DIR 2025-01 – Water Use Suspension Lifted for Pack River Tributaries
• TU 2025-08 – New AMS Application Type for Permit Extensions
• TU 2025-09 – Change to How Inspection Outcomes are Labeled in CM-IS

Visit the BC-ER website for more information.

B.C. Court Clarifies Limits on Forestry Licence Rights Amid
Reconciliation and Ecosystem-Based Management Efforts
The British Columbia Supreme Court's decision in Teal Cedar v British Columbia [2025 BCSC 595] provides new guidance as to the limited nature of rights that forest licences in British Columbia convey to the licensee. The case also rejects novel arguments put forward respecting "partial constructive taking" where licenses may be affected in some way by changes to the regulatory landscape and confirms that an additional factor, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, is indeed contemplated by B.C.'s forestry regime.

While the case explores many issues in expropriation law and the legal character of forest licences, questions remain to be answered in future cases as to the precise legal character of bodies established under government-to-government arrangements between Indigenous governments and the Crown. Read the full article by Lydia Young, Paul Seaman, Quinn Rochon and Wynona Klemt with Gowling WLG.

BC Court of Appeal Upholds Orders Requiring
Disclosures About Oil Shipments
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has affirmed a judgment determining that orders issued under s. 91.11 of division 2.1 of BC's Environmental Management Act, 2003 (EMA) – a provision focusing on spill planning, preparedness, and response – were operative.

The EMA, an environmental protection statute, regulates the intentional or accidental release of potentially harmful substances into the environment. In Canadian National Railway Company v. British Columbia (Environmental Management Act), 2025 BCCA 156, the appellants were interprovincial railways transporting petroleum products across borders. Read the full article by Bernise Carolino in the Canadian Lawyer.

B.C. Appoints Council to Improve Forest
Sector, and the Forestry Ecosystem
A council made of forestry professionals, educators, union and former industry officials has been brought together to find a balance between healthy forests and a prosperous industry.

The B.C. government announced the Provincial Forest Advisory Council on Thursday, appointed under the co-operation agreement it has with the two provincial Green Party members.

The council is expected to provide recommendations to support forest ecosystems at the same time as helping the forestry sector.

It comes amid a push to save more old-growth trees and a flagging industry as the United States threatens even further levies on Canadian softwood exports. Read the Financial Post article.

Overview of the Federal Plastics Registry
The Notice with respect to reporting of plastic resins and certain plastic products for the Federal Plastics Registry for 2024, 2025 and 2026 (the "Notice") was published, in the Canadian Gazette on April 20, 2024. The Notice established the Federal Plastics Registry (the "Registry") which requires companies to report annually on the quantity and types of plastic manufactured, imported and placed on the Canadian market. It also requires generators of packaging and plastic waste at industrial, commercial and institutional premises, as well as service providers who collect and manage those wastes, to report to the Registry. Reporting is mandatory, and companies that fail to meet their reporting requirements could face significant penalties. Read the full article by Cindy Vaillancourt and Gwenyth Wren with McCarthy Tetrault.

Are You Wildfire Ready? How BC Forestry Operations
Can Prepare for the 2025 Fire Season
Last year, wildfires burned more than one million hectares across British Columbia. As of May 23, 2025, eleven fires are burning out of control in several regions across the province and the BC Wildfire Service is forecasting yet another intense year.

With summer just around the corner, BC forestry operations are strongly encouraged to take proactive measures now by planning ahead, preparing crews and equipment, and being ready to respond swiftly if conditions escalate. Wildfires pose significant risks to workers, equipment, forest resources and surrounding communities and being prepared is essential to safeguarding lives, livelihoods and infrastructure from the growing threat of wildfires. Read the full article in the June 2025 issue of Forest Safety News.

Wildlife Habitat Areas
Notice is hereby given that the areas and General Wildlife Measures (GWMs) associated with Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHAs) 1-028 and 1-028a established by Government Action Regulation (GAR) Order signed on January 15, 2003 and May 1, 2015, respectively, in the South Island Forest District and WHAs 1-183 established on December 4, 2006 and WHAs 1-315 and 1-380 established on March 23, 2018 in the North Island Central Coast Forest District are cancelled. Notice is hereby given that the areas and General Wildlife Measures for WHAs 1-028, 1-686, 1-692, 1-684, 1-687, 1-776, 1-685, 1-689 and 1-777 in the South Island Forest District and WHAs 1-183, 1-315, 1-380, 1-779, 1-782, 1-785, 1-788, 1-279, 1-360, 1-384, 1-780, 1-783, 1-786, 1-789, 1-305, 1-366, 1-778, 1-781, 1-784, 1-787, and 1-790 in the North Island Central Coast Forest District were established for Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) on May 4, 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 [my22]

Notice is hereby given that Wildlife Habitat Area (WHA) 6-291 in the Nadina Natural Resource District, is established for Southern Mountain Caribou in the Skeena Region. The Orders were signed on May 13, 2025 under the authority of sections 9(1), 9(2) and 10(1) of the Government Actions Regulation (B.C. Reg. 582/2004) for the Forest and Range Practices Act and section 30 of the Environmental Protection and Management Regulation (B.C. Reg. 200/2010) of the Energy Resource Activities Act. Details of the Orders may be obtained from the Caribou Recovery Program, Skeena Region, Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, 3726 Alfred Avenue, Smithers, BC V0J 2N0.

The Government Action Regulation Orders, accompanying map, and spatial files may also be obtained from
https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/apps/faw/wharesult.cgi?search=show_approved [my15]

Environmental Appeal Board Decisions
The following Environmental Appeal Board decision was made recently:

Water Sustainability Act

• Kochel Cattle & Timber Inc. v. Water Manager [Preliminary Stay Application Decision – Denied]

Visit the Environmental Appeal Board website for more information.

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

Wildfire Act

• Jaikle Contracting Limited v. Government of British Columbia [Application for Extension of Time to Appeal – Granted]

Visit the Forest Appeals Commission website for more information.

Technical Safety BC Warns Cost-cutting
Is Jeopardizing Safety
Technical Safety BC is warning growing efforts to save money are putting workers and the public at increased risk, as outlined in its 2024 State of Safety report. The report highlights a disturbing trend: organizations and individuals opting for short-term savings at the expense of long-term safety – a practice president and lead executive officer Phil Gothe calls a "false economy" or the "grey market." "We are seeing it in folks not hiring licensed contractors. They're not working with people who have all the right qualifications," says Gothe. "That's resulting in incidents like carbon monoxide exposure, electrical shocks, or fires." Read the full Canadian Occupational Safety article.

BOD Decision: Activity-related Soft Tissue 
Disorders (ASTDs) of the Limbs
from WorkSafeBC:
On April 25, 2025, WorkSafeBC's Board of Directors approved changes to policy to provide greater clarity and to consolidate guidance on the issue of whether the ASTD is due to the nature of the worker's employment, for ASTDs adjudicated as an occupational disease. The proposed amendments also clarify the relationship between the legislation's requirement that the ASTD is due to the nature of the worker's employment, and the separate requirement that the ASTD be recognized as an occupational disease. These amendments are informed by recommendations #36 and #37 in Paul Petrie's Restoring the Balance: A Worker-Centred Approach to Workers' Compensation Policy, as well as recommendations regarding work causation for ASTDs from Janet Patterson's New Directions: Report of the WCB Review 2019. The amended policies apply to all decisions, including appellate decisions, made on or after July 14, 2025. You can also review the complete Resolution.

BC Employer Fined for Gas Leak
British Columbia employer Bay Hill Contracting Ltd. has been fined $98,695.31 following a gas leak at one of its worksites. The incident occurred in Surrey, where the firm's excavator struck and damaged an underground gas line, resulting in a leak. WorkSafeBC inspected the site after the incident and determined that the firm had not reviewed the BC 1 Call documentation. "Important infrastructure, including telecommunication cables, electricity wires, natural gas lines, water mains and sewer lines, are often buried underground," according to the BC government. "By  clicking or calling BC 1 Call before beginning any excavation project, British Columbians can ensure safety and prevent possible interruption of services." Read the full Canadian Occupational Safety article, by Jim Wilson.

WorkSafeBC 'Considering Appropriate Enforcement Action'
against BC Wildfire Service
WorkSafeBC is "now considering appropriate enforcement action" against the BC Wildfire Service in relation to a 2023 planned burn operation in British Columbia. The operation by the wildfire service could have killed or injured multiple firefighters during an operation in the 2023 fire season, according to a recent report. During the burn in the Shuswap region on Aug. 17 that year, a team of Brazilian firefighters became trapped by "extreme fire behaviour" following a controlled burn operation conducted by the BC Wildfire Service, CBC noted, citing a report from WorkSafeBC. Read the full article by Jim Wilson, with Canadian Occupational Safety.

Emergency Planning for Hazardous Substances
Amendments to Part 5 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation came into effect on February 3, 2025. These amendments provide clarity and specify what emergency plans must include. "Emergencies can happen suddenly and without warning," says Diana Janke, senior prevention advisor. "The more prepared you are for them, the better you'll be able to respond in a way that reduces the chance of injury."

What it means for employers
BC's employers are already required to develop response plans for emergencies involving hazardous substances. The amendments now require them to:

• Prepare a written emergency response plan that is appropriate to the hazards of the workplace and clarifies roles and responsibilities during an emergency.
• Conduct training and drills annually or when a plan is revised.
• Engage staff in the emergency response plan process.

Read the full article by Steven Gilstead, published in Forest Safe Magazine, June 2025.

OHS Policies/Guidelines – Updates

Guidelines – Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
May 8, 2025

• Part 7 Radiation
  G7.23(c)(iv) Standard for laser devices in health care

Visit the WorkSafeBC website to explore this and previous updates.