Assessment of Bill M216 and the Potential
Impact on Local Governments
Bill M216, the Professional Reliance Act, was introduced in the legislature on October 21 and passed a second reading on November 17. The Bill was referred to the Select Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members' Bills, which is seeking written input until 3:00 p.m. (Pacific) on January 6, 2026 via the Committee's consultation portal. If passed, the bill would require local governments to accept a submission from a professional under the Professional Governance Act as meeting permit or bylaw requirements, without peer review. The Bill has generated a lot of interest in the local government community. A question was recently posed to Guy Patterson, partner at Young Anderson Barristers and Solicitors, as part of Quickscribe's "Ask Guy" Q&A feature, regarding the potential impact of Bill M216.

Guy's Response:
My initial impression on this private member's bill is that it would have a specific and fairly limited impact on the local government development application review process. First, it is only relevant where a PGA professional certifies a submission that is required for bylaw or permit purposes. It probably wouldn't apply to an approving officer receiving submissions from PGA professionals under Part 7 of the Land Title Act because the approving officer is not a "local government" as defined in the proposed Act, and the AO's requirement would be a statutory requirement rather than a bylaw or permit requirement. The same analysis would, I think, also apply to a building inspector acting under section 56 of the Community Charter: I doubt the proposed Act could apply to PGA professional submissions provided in that scenario.

However, if a local government has a development approval information bylaw under s. 485 of the Local Government Act, a PGA professional might provide a report or other submission to fulfill a development approval information requirement, and the local government would, under this proposed legislation, be required to accept the report as meeting its DAI bylaw requirements. Even in the absence of a DAI bylaw, a local government might request a riparian assessment or geotechnical study as part of a development permit application, and again might receive a submission certified by a PGA professional in support of the permit application. The proposed legislation would not, in my opinion, force the local government to adopt any bylaws or issue any permits; it would just prevent the local government from refusing to accept the PGA professional's submission (except on the grounds set out in ss. 2(a) and (b) of the proposed Act).

My sense is that the mischief targeted by the proposed legislation is local governments requesting reports (which can take time and cost a lot of money for applicants) and then refusing to accept them. I don't know how often that happens, but there is at least one court of appeal case where a local government building inspector required an updated geotechnical report even though one had already been provided at the subdivision stage. The building permit applicant challenged the inspector's requirement, unsuccessfully. I don't think this legislation would have changed the result in that case, but it does illustrate the kind of permitting costs and delays I assume this legislation is trying to address.

For other perspectives on this bill, you can also read this bulletin from Lidstone and Company, or the UBCM submission to the provincial government.

Updates to Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing Legislation
On November 27, several sections of Bill 25, Housing and Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, came into force, amending the Local Government Act and the Vancouver Charter. The changes intend to ensure that the small-scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH) legislation is implemented consistently throughout the province by removing barriers to the development of SSMUH. The definition of a "restricted zone" is expanded to include all lots where a single detached home with a secondary suite and detached accessory dwelling unit are allowed. Additionally, the changes clarify that a zone with any parcel of land that is restricted to duplexes and/or a single detached home must meet the minimum unit density requirements and is considered a restricted zone. Other changes expand the regulation-making authority to include housing forms, density of SSMUH housing units and off-street parking requirements for developments under six units. Local governments are required to update their bylaws by June 30, 2026 to comply with these new requirements, except in areas that have applied for an extension. Read the government's SSMUH Policy Bulletin on Bill 25.

Heritage Conservation: The Act and More 
Sometimes local governments wish they had more authority to achieve important policy objectives, including objectives promoted by the Province, which of course is the source of all local government authority in the first place. Sometimes (and by "sometimes" we mean "often") the Province would like local governments to assist the Province in achieving provincial policy objectives (like protecting farm land or fish habitat, or increasing the supply of housing). When it comes to heritage conservation, local governments need look no further than Part 15 of the Local Government Act. Part 15 offers a comprehensive suite of powers local governments can rely on to identify, and protect, heritage properties, in some cases including undeveloped land, within their boundaries. And to be clear it leaves it up to local governments in most cases to decide what property is worth preserving in the first place. Yet local governments and the Province seem quick to look beyond Part 15 for heritage conservation opportunities, and even obligations. Therefore, before turning to Part 15, this paper will first review the Heritage Conservation Act and the role of local governments in that universe, and then consider heritage conservation moments in the broader context of other local government development approvals. We'll then attempt to convince readers that Part 15 should be the first, not the last, place to look in any search for heritage conservation authority. Read the full article by Guy Patterson and Timothy Luk with Young Anderson Barristers & Solicitors.

FOIPPA Toolkit: Dealing with External and Internal Conflicts
For anyone working in local government, an additional layer of consideration exists with your work products and communications, being your duties under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act ("FOIPPA"). Under FOIPPA, public bodies (such as local governments) have obligations to fulfill requests for information made under FOIPPA (referred to in this paper as "access requests", "FOI requests" or "requests"), as well as obligations to safeguard personal information and other confidential information. When it comes to processing access requests, this already challenging work can be further complicated by bad apples both inside and outside the organization, from applicants submitting vexatious requests to members within the organization blatantly disregarding their duties under FOIPPA. Read the full article by Amy O'Connor and James Barth with Young Anderson Barristers & Solicitors.

Can Catalyst Paper (2012) and Vavilov (2019) Co-Exist?
The Standard of Judicial Review of Local Government Bylaws
Bylaws frequently come under the microscope of judicial scrutiny. A recent decision of Justice Underhill of the BC Supreme Court provides clarity on the proper judicial standard of review of local government bylaws by reconciling and reading together the Supreme Court of Canada's 2012 decision in Catalyst Paper Corp. v. North Cowichan (District), 2012 SCC 2, which considered, prior to the Supreme Court of Canada's 2019 revision of the standard of review framework in Canada (Minister of Citizenship) v. Vavilov, 2019 SCC 65, the meaning of a reasonableness review in the context of local government bylaws. In Tantalus at Paradise Valley Inc. v. Squamish (District), 2025 BCSC 1599, two developers brought a challenge to the District of Squamish's rezoning bylaw, alleging that it was both unreasonable and adopted in a procedurally unfair manner. There was some disagreement between the petitioners and the District as to whether Catalyst Paper and Vavilov could be read together, and in particular about the continued application of the test set out in para. 24 of Catalyst: "only if the bylaw is one no reasonable body informed by these factors could have taken will the bylaw be set aside". Read the full article by Josh Krusell with SMS LAW.

Reminder – Official Community Plans
Update Deadline December 31
December 31 is the deadline for municipalities to complete the first review and update of their Official Community Plan, based on the Interim Housing Needs Report. After this, OCP updates will need to be completed every five years. The Interim HNR was due January 1, 2025, and the first regular HNR will be due December 31, 2028, and then every 5 years after that. For more information, see the province's proactive planning page or the Proactive Planning Guidance.

City of Langley Mayor Says Old Airspace Laws
Put a Ceiling on Future Development
The City of Langley is pushing to change federal airspace laws that are keeping it from constructing taller buildings, according to the city's mayor. As Langley prepares for new SkyTrain stations and more people in the coming years, Mayor Nathan Pachal says it would be a "missed opportunity" to not be able to build as much housing as possible near future transit. Current airspace rules only allow for structures about 15 storeys high. But a housing mandate from the province says new builds within 200 metres of SkyTrain stations should be a minimum of 20 storeys, according to Pachal. Read the CBC article. 

Building Regulation and Inspection: A Refresher
Local governments in British Columbia are empowered to enforce the 2024 BC Building Code (the "Code"). While they are not required to do so, many municipalities choose to adopt building bylaws and inspection regimes to regulate construction within their jurisdictions. By assuming this responsibility, municipalities may potentially expose themselves to liability where their actions – or inactions – in the permitting or inspection process fall below the standard of reasonable care. British Columbia courts have sometimes decided that municipal building inspectors owe a duty of care to both property owners and subsequent purchasers once a municipality elects to regulate construction under a building bylaw. Courts have confirmed that the purpose of regulating building construction is to protect the health and safety of building inhabitants by providing an independent review of the sufficiency of construction undertaken by builders who might otherwise intentionally cut corners to save cost or time, or who are unaware of mistakes in their work. If extant, exposure to liability can be significant and defects in construction often remain latent for many years, surfacing only after ownership has changed hands. When such defects are discovered, municipalities may face claims that their inspectors negligently approved, or failed to prevent, non-compliant construction. Read the full article by Elizabeth Anderson and Emma McCann with Young Anderson Barristers & Solicitors.

Oak Bay Rejects Six-home Uplands Development
The rejection comes as the municipality is under pressure from the province to pave the way for new home construction.

Oak Bay council has narrowly rejected a six-home subdivision on two lots in the leafy, upscale Uplands neighbourhood. A majority of councillors said this week the loss of mature trees and size and siting of the homes fell short of special design guidelines associated exclusively with the Uplands, which was designated a National Historic Site in 2019. Coun. Hazel Braithwaite said the municipality's guidelines for redevelopment in the neighbourhood of large homes and lots were designed to maintain the "parklike residential landscape and architectural rhythm." She said the development proposal was "pushing the edge of Uplands' character." Read the Times Colonist article. 

Province Publishes BC Risk Assessment
On November 4, the Province released its British Columbia Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment (DCRRA) report. The report assesses how communities across BC may be impacted by six hazards: riverine flooding, coastal flooding, extreme heat, wildfire, drought and water scarcity, and earthquakes. It also examines how these hazards may change with climate impacts, and how they may affect natural and built environments, the economy, governance and health. Read the UBCM article.

New Housing Income Limits Take
Effect December 1, 2025 
Housing Income Limits (HILs) represent the maximum gross household income for eligibility in many affordable housing programs and ensure eligibility for housing assistance is targeted to those with the most financial need within their community. In 2025, BC Housing updated the HILs calculation method to improve accuracy, transparency, and fairness, simplifying regional groupings and reducing categories – especially benefiting smaller and growing communities. Read the HILs FAQ to learn more or see the BC Housing Subsidized Housing page.

Canadian Aviation Regulations –
Updates to Air Traffic Services
On November 19, provisions were introduced to Subpart 801 (Air Traffic Services) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations to add requirements for air traffic service providers for maintaining a system for air traffic flow management (ATFM) that aligns with the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Specifically, the requirements must be performed in accordance with Standard 821 – Air Traffic Flow Management, which was developed in collaboration with NAV CANADA, the privately run, non-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system. ATFM is a system used by air traffic control agencies to ensure the safe and efficient movement of air traffic within controlled airspace, preventing congestion and delays while ensuring safety. The new provisions will require the holder of an air traffic operations certificate to:

• assess the capacity of the air traffic services (ATS) system, including the required staffing level, to ensure they have the necessary resources to support safe aircraft operation;
• develop procedures to increase staffing levels and implement alternative measures, such as traffic management initiatives, when sufficient staff are not available;
• implement ATFM when air traffic demand exceeds or is expected to exceed the capacity of the ATS;
• develop and implement procedures to make ATFM information publicly available; and
• ensure that those performing air traffic management functions are adequately trained.

The changes were implemented in response to ICAO's 2023 audit of Transport Canada, which evaluated the effectiveness of Canada's regulatory system and its alignment with international standards.

Business Practices and Consumer Protection
Amendments Receive Royal Assent
Bill 28, the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Amendment Act (No. 2), 2025, received Royal Assent on December 3. The Bill will amend the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act to protect against credit fraud and other misleading business practices, provide people in BC with advanced tools to set up security alerts and credit freezes, and improve access to personal credit reports and scores monthly. While a couple minor clarifying amendments are now in force, most of the changes will come into force by regulation.

The Notice of Non-Compliance: CRA Gets a
New Tool to Help Audit Taxpayers
In the 2025 Federal Budget, the Canadian government confirmed that it intends to proceed with measures with respect to non-compliance with information requests which were set out in the August 2025 legislative proposals.

Key among those measures is an amendment to the Income Tax Act that, if passed, would give the Canada Revenue Agency ("CRA") a new, powerful tool – the notice of non-compliance ("NONC") – to compel taxpayers to provide information and documentation, and also give itself more time to audit.

Proposed s. 231.9
Finance first proposed the NONC in the 2024 Budget and then, after receiving commentary and feedback from the public, reiterated the proposal with minor tweaks in the 2025 draft legislation. The new tool, provided for in s. 231.9, permits the CRA to issue an NONC "at any time" if it determines that a person has failed to comply "in full or in part" with certain requests for information by the CRA.

Read the full article by Almut MacDonald, Al-Nawaz Nanji and Anu Koshal with McCarthy Tétrault LLP.

Canada Revenue Agency Sets Out New Policy for
GST/HST-Related Voluntary Disclosure
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recently released GST/HST Memorandum 16-5-1, which sets out its new policy for GST/HST-related voluntary disclosures.

The new policy appears to be less restrictive than the previous one and will likely expand the circumstances in which it is worthwhile for taxpayers to make voluntary disclosures. Read the full article by Alan Kenigsberg and Roger Smith with Osler.

The Taxpayer Relief Provisions: Accessing
Relief from Penalties and Interest
Tax disputes generally hinge on whether the imposition of taxes and penalties is correct. However, there are situations where a taxpayer can be granted relief from the imposition of penalties and/or interest even if they were correctly levied. Subsection 220 (3.1) of the Income Tax Act ("ITA") provides the Minister of National Revenue (the "Minister") with discretion to cancel or waive all, or a portion of, penalties and interest that were correctly imposed on a taxpayer. Section 281.1 of the Excise Tax Act ("ETA") is the corresponding provision for GST matters (together, the "Relief Provisions").

To be clear, the Minister's discretion under the Relief Provisions only extends to the cancellation or waiver of penalties and interest but not to the imposition of taxes. This discretion, however, can still drastically reduce the ultimate amount owing to the CRA since the quantum of certain penalties can be significant (e.g., gross negligence penalties are generally computed as 50% of the taxes imposed), and the interest on tax debts (including penalties) compounds daily at a high prescribed rate, currently 7%. In 2023 and 2024, per the CRA's financial statements, over $652 million and $563 million respectively in penalties and interest were waived or cancelled, demonstrating the significant potential relief available to taxpayers. Read the full article by Sam Lewis with Thorsteinssons LLP.

CSA Requests Comments on Proposed Amendments to Non-GAAP and
Other Financial Measures Disclosure Requirements
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) are requesting comments on proposed amendments to National Instrument 52-112 – Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosures (NI 52-112) and related instruments and policies (Proposed Amendments). The Proposed Amendments respond to the new accounting standard, IFRS 18 Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements (IFRS 18), issued by the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB), and are intended to ensure that NI 52-112 continues to apply to certain financial measures disclosed outside of financial statements. IFRS 18 will apply to annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2027.

The Proposed Amendments update the definition of "non-GAAP financial measure" in NI 52-112 in light of new requirements of IFRS 18 related to the disclosure of management-defined performance measures (MPMs). The Proposed Amendments also allow the incorporation by reference of certain information into the notes of an issuer's financial statements, add prominence requirements relating to the use of additional subtotals outside an issuer's financial statements, and codify existing exemptions for issuers that are currently exempt from NI 52-112. Read the full article by William S. Osler, Mia Bacic, Ali J. Naushahi and Tinashe Muzah with Bennett Jones LLP.

OSFI Looks to Help Banks Boost Lending
with Capital Requirement Changes
Canada's federal banking regulator is moving to make it easier for banks to loan money to small and medium-sized businesses and for some real estate projects.

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions says the changes to capital requirements will better reflect risks faced by institutions while freeing capacity for them to extend credit and support growth.

It says the proposed changes would give financial institutions more flexibility and reduce their regulatory burden.

OSFI has launched a 90-day public consultation on the proposed changes which would come into effect Nov.1, 2026 or Jan. 1, 2027 for institutions with a financial year ending Oct. 31 or Dec.31, respectively.

The proposed changes come as the regulator also makes changes to the capital requirements for insurance companies and looks to improve the way institutions report climate-related financial risks. Read the full article published by the Canadian Press.

Supreme Court of Canada Rejects Narrow Interpretation of
Disclosure Standard For "Material Changes"
The Supreme Court of Canada has released its long-awaited decision on Lundin Mining Corp. v Markowich, dismissing the issuer's appeal, and addressing the interpretation of "material change" under securities legislation and clarifying when public companies are required to disclose material information.

Timely disclosure is one of the key obligations of public companies under Canadian securities legislation. To foster fair, efficient and competitive markets and confidence in those markets, reporting issuers are required to disclose material changes "forthwith" and file a material change report within 10 days of the change. This is different than the requirement to disclose material facts, which is done periodically, typically in regular quarterly and annual filings as well as part of any prospectus offering. Read the full article by Andrew McCoomb and Katherine Prusinkiewicz with Norton Rose Fulbright.

B.C.-incorporated Crypto Exchange Cryptomus
Appeals Record $177M Penalty
A cryptocurrency firm incorporated in British Columbia is appealing a penalty of almost $177 million issued by Canada's anti-money-laundering agency last month.

Xeltox Enterprises Ltd. says in an appeal filed in Federal Court that the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) penalties for violations of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act were based on "errors of law."

The company says FINTRAC found the company in violation for failing to report suspicious transactions, including more than 7,500 with connections to Iran, over which Xeltox claims it had "no knowledge or control." Read the CBC article.

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

• 31-103 – Registration Requirement, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations – Annex C and Annex D
• 52-112 – CSA Notice and Request for Comment on the Proposed Amendments to National Instrument 52-112 Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure
• 11-312 – National Numbering System
• 81-102 – Proposed Amendments to National Instrument 81-102 Investment Funds and Proposed Changes to Companion Policy 81-102 Investment Funds and Consultation Paper on Liquidity Risk Management Tools, Liquidity Classification, and Regulatory Disclosure and Data – CSA Notice and Request for Comment
• 31-367 – Notice and Consultation Regarding CSA Coordinated Blanket Order 31-930 Exemption to Allow Exempt Market Dealer Participation in Selling Groups in Offerings of Securities Under a Prospectus – CSA Multilateral Staff Notice
• 44-102 – Adoption of Amendments to National Instrument 44-102 Shelf Distributions Relating to Well-Known Seasoned Issuers
• 13-102 – Adoption of Multilateral Instrument 13-102 System Fees

For more information, visit the BC Securities website.

Eby Says No to Harvesting Old Growth for
Pulp to Extend Life of BC Mill
The British Columbia government is looking for ways to help a pulp mill closing on Vancouver Island, Premier David Eby said Wednesday [December 3], but logging the province's old-growth forests for pulp is not an option.

Eby was scheduled to meet Wednesday with the head of the union representing the 350 Domtar workers who are set to lose their jobs, as well as the mayor of Crofton, B.C., where the mill is located.

A team from the Ministry of Jobs will be going to the community of about 1,500 people to identify opportunities around retraining and employment, the premier said, adding the government was mulling ways to keep some jobs at the site.

"If there's something else we can do, absolutely," he told an unrelated news conference earlier Wednesday. "But the idea that we would pulp old growth in order to buy a little bit of time is not a solution we're looking for."

Eby said the province was looking for "long-term, sustainable solutions."

Domtar announced the closure Tuesday [December 2], citing continued poor pricing for pulp and lack of access to affordable fibre as driving factors behind the closure. Read the BIV article. 

Company Officers and Managers Can Be Subject to Fisheries Act Inspector's
Directions: What Terrapure Means for Industry and Individuals
The Federal Court (Court) recently set aside the direction of an Environment and Climate Change Canada inspector (Inspector) issued pursuant to the Fisheries Act (Direction). The Direction named the company as well as the company's president and on-site managers of environmental affairs, in relation to alleged deposits of deleterious substances into waters frequented by fish.

While the matter was ultimately sent back to the Inspector for redetermination, Terrapure BR Ltd. v. Canada (Attorney General) [2025 FC 1715] (Terrapure) highlights the risks for company officers and operational managers who may be personally named in a direction requiring immediate corrective measures, imposing direct compliance obligations for those individuals. For more information on individual culpability for environmental offences, please see our August 2023 Blakes Bulletin: "The Buck Stops at the Top" – Lessons Learned: Mining Company Executive Found Guilty of Environmental Offences. Read the full article by Paulina Adamson, Tony Crossman and Maria Georgsen with Blakes.

Implementation Framework for the Right
to a Healthy Environment Under CEPA
In June 2023, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) was amended to recognize the Right to a Healthy Environment (Right) and to require the development of an implementation framework outlining how the Right would be applied in administering CEPA.

Following public engagement on the draft implementation framework and accompanying discussion document, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Health Canada (HC) released the final Implementation Framework for the Right to a Healthy Environment Under CEPA in July 2025 (Framework). A What We Heard Report summarizing public and stakeholder feedback was published concurrently with the final framework.

The Framework establishes how CEPA will be administered to fulfill the Government of Canada's duty to respect, protect and fulfill the Right. Importantly, this Right applies only within the scope of CEPA and does not extend to other federal or provincial statutes. Read the full article by Terri-Lee Oleniuk, Elyse Bouey and Blessing Okoroma with Blakes.

BC Supreme Court Finds Preserving Rule of Law "Paramount"
in Walbran Valley Injunction Ruling
In TsawakQin Forestry Limited Partnership v O'Connell, 2025 BCSC 1880, the British Columbia Supreme Court granted an interim injunction halting the efforts of a group of protestors who had blocked an access road near Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park on Vancouver Island. The blockade was constructed in protest to lumber harvesting activities by the plaintiffs, Tsawak-Qin Forestry Inc. and Tsawak-Qin Forestry Limited Partnership (collectively, "Tsawak-Qin") and had prevented the plaintiffs and their contractors from accessing their harvest sites for the two weeks prior to the application.

Based on social media evidence, the court observed that the protestors appeared to be a well-organized, social media savvy group, and that many participants were the same individuals who had organized the "Fairy Creek Blockade", a series of protests against old-growth logging in 2020 and 2021 that resulted in significant media attention and considerable litigation before the Supreme Court of BC. Despite the size of the group, only one protestor responded to the application. Read the full article by Marie Ong with BCLI.

Lumber Industry Responds to Announcement
of New Federal Supports
Representatives for lumber producers across the country responded to the announcement of new supports coming to the sector made by Prime Minister Mark Carney on November 26.

The Prime Minister announced new supports for the steel and lumber industries, building on previously announced measures. Read the Canadian Forest Industries article.

Federal Environmental Racism Legislation
Update for First Nations
A great many First Nations, Métis and Inuit are the victims of environmental racism. There is a legacy of industrial contamination that has been permitted to impact Indigenous communities and other marginalized communities in more severe ways than most settler Canadians. Many such communities are in need of support to remediate lands and waters and compensation is needed. Many others are still experiencing the effects of discriminatory government and industrial decisions that create ongoing contamination issues.

There have been recent legislative changes that are intended to provide progress on these issues. The National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act (Environmental Racism Act) became federal law in June of 2024. Along with these legal changes, there were similar changes to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to recognize the effects of toxic substances on vulnerable communities and recognizing the role of science and Indigenous knowledge in the process of making decisions related to the protection of the environment and human health. Read the full article from the DWF Group.

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

Environmental Management Act

• Canadian Natural Resources Limited v. Director, Environmental Management Act [Consent Order – Stay Extended]
• Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. v. Director, Environmental Management Act [Dismissal Order – Appeal Dismissed]

Wildlife Act

• Michael Schneider v. Regional Manager, Wildlife Act [Final Decision – Appeal Allowed in Part]
• Raymond Majerus, Fraser MacDonald, Michael Schneider & Alan Jarvis v. Executive Director, Wildlife Branch [Preliminary Decision – Appeals Dismissed in Part]

Visit the Environmental Appeal Board website for more information.

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

Forest and Range Practices Act

• McLeod Lake Indian Band v. Government of British Columbia [Final Decision – Appeal Dismissed]

Visit the Forest Appeals Commission website for more information.

Changes to Legal Liability under the
Mental Health Act [Now in Force]
Bill 32, the Mental Health Amendment Act (No. 2), 2025, was introduced on November 21. The Bill proposes to replace section 31 (1) of the Mental Health Act to give greater clarity with respect to legal liability protection for front-line workers who provide psychiatric treatment to involuntary patients. The new provision will be moved to section 16 and states that workers are not liable if they provide care or other services to a patient as authorized by a director, if the care is reasonable and delivered in good faith. The Bill came into force by Royal Assent on December 3.

Helping People Understand Their Rights
Under Mental Health Act
People experiencing a mental-health crisis now have a legal right to meet with an independent rights adviser to better understand their rights and the supports available to them, with amendments to the Mental Health Act coming into force.

The Independent Rights Advice Service helps inform people involuntarily admitted under the Mental Health Act of their Charter rights and improves access to justice for vulnerable populations. The service was introduced in phases over the past two years and is now available throughout B.C. Full implementation was required before the amendments could come into force. Read the government news article.

Vaping Product Damages and Health Care Costs
Recovery Act Now in Force
Bill 24, the Vaping Product Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, received Royal Assent on December 3. The new Act will enable the province to take legal action for damages and health care costs associated with vaping products.

Consultation Opens on Proposed Changes to Medical
Device Establishment Licence Requirements
On November 8, 2025, Health Canada published the Regulations Amending the Medical Devices Regulations (Establishment Licences) (Draft Regulations) in the Canada Gazette, proposing changes to the medical device establishment licence (MDEL) requirements. These changes follow Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada's Report on Red Tape Reduction (published September 8, 2025), which promised that changes to the MDEL regime would come in fall 2025 (see our earlier Blakes Bulletin).

Subject to limited exceptions, the current Medical Devices Regulations (MDR) generally require both foreign distributors and their Canadian importers to hold an MDEL. As provided in the Regulatory Analysis Impact Statement published with the Draft Regulations, industry stakeholders have raised concerns that requiring both parties to hold an MDEL creates unnecessary burdens and costs and have argued that this requirement is not aligned with other jurisdictions. Industry stakeholders have further expressed that this requirement disincentivizes some medical device companies from doing business in Canada, which ultimately affects the availability of medical devices that Canadians have access to. Read the full article by Laura Weinrib, Pei Li and Lindsay Toth with Blakes.

The B.C. CDC Wants to Hear from Residents
with Climate-Related Health Concerns
If your health and well-being has been affected by catastrophic flooding, wildfires or intense heat and drought, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control wants to hear about it.

British Columbians can now share personal stories about how climate change is contributing to their physical and mental health on ecolens.ca, a new website launched by the centre.

Ecolens.ca allows people to share insights into how climate change is affecting their lives through writing, art and photos, according to a news release Thursday [Nov. 20].

Officials say the information will help scientists and health professionals better understand climate change impacts and inform the development of adaptive strategies. Read the Vancouver Sun article.

New Sick Note Regulations Reduce
Administrative Burden for Doctors
New employment standards regulations introduced by the provincial government limit when employers can require sick notes, effective immediately. Doctors of BC welcomes the new rules, having advocated for over a decade to eliminate routine sick notes, highlighting the significant administrative burden they place on physicians.

The new regulations reflect concerns raised by physicians during consultation with Doctors of BC and outlined in a submission to the Ministry of Labour earlier this year. Read the full article from Doctors of BC.

B.C. to Require Most Drug Users Receiving Safe
Supply to Have Their Doses Witnessed
Advocates warn changes will increase barriers and could lead to patients reverting to taking toxic street drugs
The provincial government is making changes to its safer-supply drug program, requiring most of those enrolled to have their doses taken in the presence of a nurse or pharmacist.

The program provides untainted alternatives to toxic street drugs for people with severe addiction challenges.

The program's detractors say it has led to drugs being diverted into the hands of youth, while advocates have long warned that requiring witnessing will place new barriers on drug users and blunt the effectiveness of the program, potentially leading to an increase in overdoses and deaths. Read the Vancouver Sun article.

Serious Illness or Injury Leave Bill Now in Effect
Bill 30, the Employment Standards (Serious Illness or Injury Leave) Amendment Act, 2025, came into force on November 27. The Employment Standards Act was amended to allow workers up to 27 weeks of unpaid leave each year due to serious illness or injury.

Now in Effect: B.C.'s Expanded Job-Protected Leave
Employers must comply both with ESA and Human Rights Code
Workers in British Columbia who are dealing with cancer, major injuries or other serious health conditions now have a clear legal right to step away from work for months of treatment and recovery, with a guarantee that their job will be waiting when they return.

The B.C. government's new "serious personal illness or injury" leave under the Employment Standards Act (ESA) allows employees to take up to 27 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12‑month period when they cannot work for medical reasons. Read the full article by Sarah Dobson in the Canadian HRReporter.

British Columbia Legislation Prohibiting Sick Notes
for Short-Term Absences Now in Force
In May 2025, the British Columbia government passed Bill 11, Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2025 ("Bill 11"), which amends the Employment Standards Act (the "ESA") to prohibit employers from requesting a medical note in "specified circumstances" to prove that an employee's short-term absence was related to illness or injury.

On November 12, 2025, the government passed a regulation setting out the "specified circumstances" in which employers are prohibited from requesting a medical note. Employers are now prohibited from requesting a medical note for an employee's first two health-related leaves of up to five consecutive days in the same calendar year. Read the full article by Jordan Thompson, Fabian Jankovic and Andrew J. Gould with Fasken.

Treasury Board President "Looking Into" Potential
Changes to Return to Office Rules
Treasury Board president Shafqat Ali on Monday [Dec. 1] denied having any knowledge about discussions to potentially order public servants to return to the office full time in 2027.

Ali was responding to questions from reporters after the Canadian Association of Professional Employees president Nathan Prier wrote to Ali to ask about rumours of the impending change.

"I'm hearing from news outlets, so I'm not aware of that," Ali said, before question period on Parliament Hill.

He said he was looking into the matter but "nothing has changed."

La Presse reported that the federal government is considering implementing a policy to have public servants work in office five days a week by January 2027, with executives possibly returning full time even sooner.

Canadian Association of Professional Employees president Nathan Prier told Ali in the letter that the union wants clarification on the rumours about an imminent new return-to-office directive. Read the full article published by the Canadian Press.

Contract Negotiation: Honesty Not Required
In recent years, the job market has experienced instability across numerous industries. In response, employers have increasingly transitioned regular employees to casual employment statuses through written contracts, creating a reduction of working hours for hourly employees. Oftentimes, employees, hesitant to lose their jobs before securing alternative opportunities, sign these restructured contracts without fully considering the implications. By the time they realize the unfavourable changes to their employment, the contracts have already been executed, leaving them with limited recourse.

In light of this trend, a crucial question arises: does deceptive conduct during negotiations for new contracts, which transition regular employees to casual employees, amount to a breach of the contractual duty of honest performance in relation to the new contracts? A recent Court of Appeal decision in British Columbia, Ocean Pacific Hotels Ltd. v Lee (2025 BCCA 57), provides insight into this issue. The Court concluded that the contractual duty of honest performance does not extend to negotiating in good faith and declined to expand this duty to pre-contractual negotiations. Read the full article by Shemay Lee in BarTalk.

'Unusual;" Canada Post, Union Reach Tentative
Deal Without Signed Contract
After more than two years of negotiations, Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have reached agreements in principle. However, the development represents an "unusual" approach to labour negotiations, according to one expert.

The agreement means "both sides have agreed on the main points of the deals, but we need to agree on the contractual language that will form the collective agreements that would be put to a vote by the members," says the union. Read the full article by Jim Wilson in the Canadian HRReporter.

SCC Outlines Proof Prosecutors Need to Rely on
Breath Test Results in Drunk Driving Cases
In two separate 8-1 decisions on Friday [November 14], the Supreme Court of Canada clarified what conditions the Crown needs to meet to rely on breath test results in a drunk driving case, concluding that a broader range of acceptable conditions aligns with Parliament's intent to simplify and streamline impaired-driving cases. The decisions shed light on amendments that Parliament made to the Criminal Code in 2018, which changed the rules that prosecutors have to follow to prove blood alcohol concentration in impaired operation offences. The changes allow prosecutors to rely on a person's breath alcohol test results as "conclusive proof" of their blood alcohol concentration. Read the full article by Jessica Mach with Canadian Lawyer.

Concerns Raised about Reckless Driving Changes as
Xavier's Law Debated by MLAs
[Proposed Motor Vehicle Act Amendments]
Xavier Rasul-Jankovics died after being hit by a teenage driver not far from his home near Shawnigan Lake on Aug. 25, days before he was to begin Grade 7 at Queen Margaret's School in Duncan. The family has been asking for stronger reckless-driving laws since his death. On Monday [December 1], they were at the legislature gallery to watch MLAs debate proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act known informally as Xavier's Law. Juan de Fuca-Malahat MLA Dana Lajeunesse, who is proposing the changes as part of a private member's bill, said during second reading that Xavier's death was "completely avoidable" if police officers and the courts had stronger tools to deal with reckless driving. Xavier's Law proposes giving police the power to issue 30-day roadside driving bans for reckless drivers, and to give the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles the ability to extend those reckless-driving bans for up to three years if the behaviour continues. Read the Times Colonist article.

Bill 21 Now Partially in Force
Bill 21, the Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2025, received Royal Assent on November 27. Amendments to the Insurance (Vehicle) Act, which are intended to ensure the province retains the reimbursements made by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia since the early 1970s for health-related services costs arising out of vehicle accidents, are now in force. The amendments to the Public Guardian and Trustee Act will come into force by regulation.

What Evidence Is Needed to Prove Income
Loss in Personal Injury Claims?
Takeloo v Flahmeri, 2024 BCSC 2380, a trial decision last year in which I was defence counsel along with Kayla Wrolson, demonstrates the importance of coherent and organized evidence to establish past and future loss of income claims. This was a personal injury case related to injuries that the 44-year-old plaintiff suffered in a motor vehicle accident in 2017. The plaintiff sought more than $3 million in damages. His award was $90,000. The plaintiff alleged that he had to shut down his truck driving business after the accident due to his injuries. He sought approximately $370,000 in past loss of earnings and almost $2.5 million in future loss of earnings for this loss. He provided a large volume of documents for his business in 2015, 2016, and 2017, along with numerous income tax records. The plaintiff also relied on an expert report by an economist who provided past and future income loss projections based on average truck driver incomes in BC. The defendants relied on an expert report by an accountant and business valuator, who opined that the plaintiff's business was not successful at the time of the accident. Read the full article by Jimmy Peterson with Harper Grey.

BC Redrawing EV Sales Mandate, Scraps Goal of
100% by 2035, Leaves Rebates to Feds
British Columbia has abandoned a rebate program for electric vehicles that it paused six months ago and is scrapping a mandate that every new vehicle sold in the province must be zero-emission by 2035. Energy Minister Adrian Dix is shifting goal-setting, cash incentives and blame for high electric-vehicle prices to Ottawa. Dix said the 100-per-cent sales goal, and a 90-per-cent target for 2030 were no longer "realistic," and the government saw rebates "as a federal responsibility." "The rebate programs were never intended to be permanent," Dix said of the provincial scheme that offered up to $4,000 for battery-electric-vehicle buyers before it was paused in May. Read the CBC article.

Directional Winter Tire Basics
All motorists in British Columbia should be aware that the Motor Vehicle Act and associated regulations require passenger vehicles to use winter tires from October 1 through April 30 on most highways throughout the province. To be compliant, passenger vehicles and light trucks must be equipped with tires that have the 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol or "M+S" on the sidewall. Winter tires are engineered to perform optimally in cold weather conditions providing enhanced safety and performance significantly improving traction, braking and handling compared to all-season tires. At temperatures below 7°C, all-season and summer tires begin to lose elasticity, leading to reduced traction, while winter tires maintain their elasticity and grip. Read the full article published in the Forest Safety Newsletter December 2025.

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

• NSC Bulletin 02-2023 – Publication of Carriers Cancelled for Cause
• NSC Bulletin 01-2024 – Safety Rating Certificate and Status for B.C. Carriers

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

• 22703-25 – Canada Ever Rising Enterprises Ltd.
• 23670-25 – Transfer from RDY Enterprises Ltd. to YLW Limousine and Transportation Service Inc.
• 23674-25 – 0838255 B.C. Ltd.
• 24256-25 – Kalum Kabs Ltd.
• 23191-25 – Anda Limousine
• 22888-25 – Bearly There Tours Ltd.
• 24283-25 – Northern Spirit Transportation Services Ltd.
• 23803-25 – Tri City Limo
• 23248-25 – Electric Taxi Limited
• 23761-25 – S.A.M. Productions Ltd.
• 22883-25 – 1377565 BC LTD.
• 23743-25 – Kami Cabs Ltd.

Application Decisions

• 22686-25 – Transfer from SAFO Transportation Ltd. to Golden Cabs BC Ltd. [Approved]
• 23289-25 – Naturally Pacific Resort Ltd. [Approved]
• 23181-25 – AGL Whistler Transport & Tours Inc. [Approved in Part]
• 24508-25 FS TOP – Associate Taxi Ltd. [Approved]
• 21719-24 – Prestige Party Busses [Refused]

Visit the Passenger Transportation Board website for more information.

WorkSafeBC Reports Strong Uptake of
New Tower Crane Rule
One year after British Columbia introduced a new requirement for employers to file a Notice of Project – Tower Crane (NOP‑TC), WorkSafeBC says compliance is generally strong and the rule is helping it intervene earlier on high‑risk work, even as serious crane hazards persist on increasingly complex sites. The NOP‑Tower Crane regulation took effect on October 1, 2024, as part of amendments to Part 14 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. It requires employers responsible for tower crane activities to submit a notice to WorkSafeBC at least two weeks before any assembly, climbing, repositioning, or dismantling begins. Read the full article by Shane Mercer with Canadian Occupational Safety.

Extreme Cold Events and Planning for Worker Safety
Winter officially begins December 21st, and with it brings plunging temperatures, snow, ice and frosty winds that can increase risks for workers. In addition to extremely cold temperatures, wet, cool conditions also pose a significant risk of cold stress and hypothermia. Between 2013 and 2023, there were 167 accepted claims for short-term or long-term disability benefits for injuries related to cold stress in BC, including frostbite, hypothermia and abrasions. More work-related motor vehicle crashes occur in November, December and January than in any other three-month period. Read the full article published in the Forest Safety Newsletter December 2025.

OHS Policies/Guidelines – Updates
Guidelines – Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
November 6, 2025
The following guideline was issued on November 6, 2025:

• Part 31 Firefighting
  G31.4 Instruction and direction of firefighters

Visit the WorkSafeBC website to explore this and previous updates.

Update on Bill 25, Housing and Municipal
Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2025
Bill 25, the Housing and Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, received Royal Assent on November 2. The amendments to the Local Government Act and Vancouver Charter are now in force.

The Bill also amended the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act. The changes in force include some clarifications to the wording, as well as:

• providing that a coordination agreement may apply different provisions of the Act or the regulations to different geographic areas within the Nisg̱a'a Lands or the treaty lands of a treaty first nation
• enabling compliance and enforcement actions when false information is provided during the registration process; and
• publishing compliance orders and penalties.

The remaining changes will come into force by regulation.

Appeal Court Finds "No-Build" Covenant Not Obsolete
Due to Delay in Road Project
In Kelowna (City) v. Watermark Developments Ltd., 2025 BCCA 382, the Court of Appeal found a chambers judge had erred in ordering that a "no-build" covenant be cancelled as "obsolete" under s. 35(2)(a) of the Property Law Act ("PLA"). The lower court's error lay in applying a "watered-down" test for determining whether a charge should be cancelled under the PLA. Section 35 of the PLA allows the court to cancel charges against land on five grounds. Two of those grounds were engaged in the Watermark case: (i) the charge was obsolete, and (ii) cancellation of the charge would not injure the person entitled to its benefit. Read the full article by Barry Williamson with Young Anderson Barristers & Solicitors.

Condo Smarts: Age Restriction Bylaw
Must Conform to Strata Act

Dear Tony:

Our strata is in opposition over a current age restriction bylaw. Our bylaw is quite simple. "All owners and residents must be 55 and over." Sixty per cent of the owner residents are over 55 and they are constantly threatening residents with family members under 55 who are residing with them. Fines have been issued but no one has gone any further and before we end up with a costly legal dispute we are hoping there may be an easier solution. – Dirk J., Penticton

A primary principle of bylaws is that they must comply with the Strata Property Act, the BC Human Rights Code and every other enactment of law. A strata corporation is permitted to maintain and adopt an age restriction bylaw that applies to only residents who are not less than 55 years of age. A bylaw cannot apply to ownership. In many situations family members over 55, residing in retirement communities, are often not on title as the owners. There are also a number of exemptions that apply under the Act and Regulations, that permit other persons under the age of 55 to reside with the specified resident. Read the full article by Tony Gioventu in the Times Colonist.

Construction Prompt Payment Act
Given Royal Assent
The Construction Prompt Payment Act received Royal Assent on November 27. The Act creates prompt payment system in the construction industry, aiming to reduce financial strain on contractors, subcontractors and workers. The new law will come into force by regulation after a transition period to allow for the establishment of an adjudication authority and to ensure all businesses understand their rights and responsibilities under the new system.

Key Updates to the CCDC 30 – 2025
This summer, the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) released the CCDC 30 – 2025, the revised standard form contract for Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). Construction professionals will recall this contract breaking ground when it was first released, introducing a standard form contract intended to encourage cooperation, rather than competition for a contract structure that provided for owners, consultants, contractors, and key trades to signing one contract, pooling profit, and sharing in both risks and rewards. Since the CCDC 30 was first released in 2018, projects across Canada have tested the model. Key updates now reflect years of practical experience in Canada and introduce changes that make the model clearer, and more practical and aligned with today's construction landscape. They include a structure organized around the natural phases of a project (from validation through to execution and general conditions), as well as refinements to financial provisions such as to reimbursable costs, overhead rules, and audit requirements. Read the full article by Scott Lamb and Kim Do with Clark Wilson LLP.