Energy and Mines News:

BC's mineral exploration sector supports government revenue sharing with First Nations – Leaders of British Columbia's mineral exploration sector applaud the recent announcement of provincial government resource revenue sharing with First Nations. Resource tax revenues collected from new mining projects in BC will be shared with First Nations and play an important role in building on the New Relationship. BC is the first province in Canada to share direct revenue generated from mining. See News Release.

Forest and Environment News:

Coming Soon! New Forestry/Environment service enhancements – Quickscribe is pleased to report that we are very close to launching a new "forestry-environment" version of Quickscribe Online – EnviroFor. While the new site will look very familiar to users, we have added some "behind-the-scenes" features that will enable us to add new material that will better cater to professionals who work within the forestry/environment sectors. More details coming soon!

Province creates more forestry opportunities — The number of woodlots will be expanded, creating more opportunities for individuals, small business, and First Nations to benefit from forestry for decades to come, it was recently announced. The Province will offer 60 to 75 new woodlots over the next three years, which will result in a total of about 900 woodlots operating in British Columbia by 2011. The new licences are being offered throughout the province and all woodlot opportunities will be advertised on BC Bid at [www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca]. See the News Release.

Local Communities benefit from tree farm license – The Provincial government has decided to remove over 4,000 hectares of private land from a provincially regulated tree farm licence in the Kootenays in exchange for $6 million in benefits to regional communities. A similar decision was made less than a year ago, when the government removed land from a tree farm license on Vancouver Island but sought no compensation. This time, the government of B.C. responded to the critics of last year's deal and negotiated $6 million in benefits to the local community in exchange for the land. See Kootenays towns to gain from forestry agreement from the Vancouver Sun.

Province invests in future aboriginal foresters – A $120,000 grant to the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Forestry will help increase Aboriginal enrolment and participation and meet the growing demand for future professional foresters, it was recently announced. See News Release.

BC government releases Compliance Summary – The Ministry of Environment has released the second Quarterly Compliance and Enforcement Summary for 2008. The summary reports on compliance and enforcement actions taken across the entire ministry between April 1, 2008 and June 30, 2008. See News Release.

Health News:

B.C. opens up health profession disciplinary process — Effective Nov. 1, changes to health profession colleges will protect British Columbia patients and provide the public with information about health professionals who have been disciplined, it was recently announced. The requirements are part of the Health Professions Regulatory Reform Amendment Act, which was passed in May 2008 and made important changes to the Health Professions Act. In addition to ensuring that the outcomes of disciplinary proceedings are publicly posted, colleges will also be required to notify complainants of the outcome of investigations into allegations of professional misconduct. Colleges can comply with the public posting requirements by issuing a notice on their website. Quickscribe will posted these amendments as soon as they are in effect. See News Release.

B.C. launches patient care review process – A new toll-free phone number and website was recently announced as part of a new process that better enables patients to register complaints about the quality of their experience in the public health-care system in British Columbia. See News Release.

Canada Bans BPA in Bottles – Canada has become the first country to ban the use of bisphenol A in products like baby bottles, and will formally announce today that the chemical is a hazardous substance. See Full story from CTV News.

Labour and Company News:

Insurance lawsuits are increasing outside of the USA – Recent evidence suggests that insurance lawsuits are increasing outside of the U.S. U.S.A. today has an article in which Lloyd's of London CEO Richard Ward answers questions such as which type of lawsuit poses the biggest threat and what steps can companies take to reduce the risk of litigation. See News Article.

Consumer Taxation Branch — The following bulletins have been revised:

• for minor changes:
  • SST 023, Bona Fide Farmers
  • SST 025, Bona Fide Commercial Fishers
• to include information on how PST applies to real property contracts that are entered into on, or after, October 1, 2008:
  • GEN 008, Refunds of Overpayments of Tax
  • SST 057, Building and Home Improvement Stores
  • SST 107, Telecommunications Industry
  • SST 133, Home-Based Businesses

Local Government News:

Province launches new, improved infrastructure funding — Improving local infrastructure has become easier for even more communities as a result of the launch of the expanded Towns for Tomorrow program and the latest round of LocalMotion funding, it was recently announced. Applications are now being accepted for both programs. It was announced at the UBCM annual convention that an additional $50 million has been allocated to Towns for Tomorrow to accommodate communities with populations of 15,000 or less. Now a five-year, $71-million program, Towns for Tomorrow provides funding for infrastructure projects that address climate change and contribute to the overall health, sustainability and livability of communities. See the News Release.

New food resource guide promotes healthy eating — A new tool will be given to local governments to help them improve local access to healthy foods for their communities, it was recently announced. "A Seat at the Table" will help provide local governments with some practical workable ideas they can use in their own communities to help ensure more locally grown food is available. The program was funded and developed by B.C.'s Community Food Action Initiative through a partnership with UBCM. The guide provides ideas and initiatives to help improve access to healthy foods by communities and also provide ways to reduce the burden of chronic illnesses often related to eating. It outlines how local governments can encourage the availability of healthy foods while improving local economies, the environment and the well-being of communities. See News Release.

Premier launches initiatives to boost rural economies — A host of new initiatives to support rural communities was recently announced, including a major expansion of the Towns for Tomorrow infrastructure program, extending cell phone and Internet service, a new medical accommodation assistance program and a commitment to help communities utilize industrial resource roads to create better transportation networks. The Towns for Tomorrow community infrastructure program will be expanded to communities with a population up to 15,000 and extended for an additional two years for a total commitment of $50 million; $10 million for the remainder of this year and $20 million for each of the next two years. Previously, the program was only available to communities with a population up to 5,000. See the News Release.

Consumer Taxation Branch — Bulletin HRT 007, Municipal and Regional District Tax, has been completely rewritten. It replaces and combines Bulletin HRT 001, Municipal and Regional District Tax: Information for Municipalities and Regional Districts, dated October 1997 and Bulletin HRT 007 dated June 2008. Bulletin HRT 001, Municipal and Regional District Tax: Information for Municipalities and Regional Districts has been completely removed. See Bulletin HRT 007.

Client Bulletin — Staples McDannold Stewart has posted a Client Bulletin with an informative article entitled "Anti-Camping Bylaw Found Unconstitutional". On October 14, 2008, the Supreme Court of British Columbia released the decision of Madam Justice Ross in the case of Victoria (City) v. Adams, 2008 BCSC 1363. The case concerned the constitutionality of certain provisions in the City of Victoria's Parks and Regulation Bylaw which prohibit a person from taking up a temporary abode overnight in a park, and which also prohibit the erection or construction of tents, buildings or structures within City parks and other public spaces. Also in issue were provisions of the City's Streets and Traffic Bylaw which prohibit the obstruction of City streets and sidewalks. See Client Bulletin.

Motor Vehicle News:

Interpretation of "Oil Well Service Vehicle" clarified – The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure recently released a bulletin to clarify the definition of "Oil Well Service Vehicle" as defined in Division 37.01 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations. See Safety Code Bulletin.

Consumer Taxation Branch — The following notices have been published:

• Notice to Commercial Motor Carriers: This notice applies to commercial motor carriers who operate IFTA qualified commercial vehicles, whether registered under IFTA or not, and explains how to pay carbon tax, in addition to motor fuel tax, on fuel purchased or used in British Columbia. See Notice.
• Notice to Motor Fuel Tax Collectors: This notice outlines recent changes to the Motor Fuel Tax Act that will affect motor fuel tax collectors. All motor fuel tax collector appointments authorized before July 1, 2008 will be cancelled effective December 31, 2008. Persons who were appointed as motor fuel tax collectors before July 1, 2008 will need to re-apply for a collector appointment. See Notice.