BILL M247 – 2026
CROWN LAND AND FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY ACT

HIS MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

Definitions

1 In this Act:

"affected person" means a person that would reasonably be expected to be affected, monetarily or otherwise, by the disposition of Crown land;

"Crown land" means land, whether or not it is covered by water, or an interest in land, vested in the government of British Columbia;

"disposition" means every act of the government of British Columbia where Crown land or any right, title, interest or estate in Crown land is granted, disposed of or affected, or by which the government of British Columbia divests itself of or creates a right, title, interest or estate in, or permits the use of Crown land;

"fiscal year" has the same meaning as in the Financial Administration Act;

"public money" has the same meaning as in the Financial Administration Act.

Notice to affected person

2 (1) Before a disposition of Crown land is made, the minister must provide notice to an affected person and an opportunity for the affected person to make representations.

(2) A notice provided under subsection (1) must be provided to the affected person by leaving the notice with the affected person or by mailing the notice by ordinary mail to the last known address of the affected person.

Reporting

3 (1) The minister must, by April 30 of each year, prepare a report including the following information:

(a) a list of all Crown land in respect of which there has been a disposition;

(b) a list of all public money disbursed or received by the government of British Columbia in the preceding fiscal year in respect of a disposition of Crown land;

(c) any other prescribed information.

(2) Upon completion of a report referred to under (1), the minister must, as soon as practicable,

(a) table the report in the Legislative Assembly if then sitting, or deposit the report with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly if the Legislative Assembly is not then sitting, and

(b) publish the report on a publicly accessible website maintained by or on behalf of the minister.

Special committee

4 (1) At the earliest opportunity following the date on which this Act comes into force, a special committee of the Legislative Assembly is to be appointed for the purposes of examining and providing recommendations respecting

(a) the disposition of Crown land by the government of British Columbia,

(b) the disbursement of public money by the government of British Columbia in relation to the disposition of Crown land,

(c) establishment of an oversight authority to review the impact on affected persons, and

(d) establishment of a compensation fund for affected persons.

(2) Within one year after the date on which the special committee is appointed, the special committee must submit a report respecting the results of the examination referred to in subsection (1), including any recommendations, to the Legislative Assembly.

Offence Act

5 Section 5 of the Offence Act does not apply to this Act or the regulations.

Regulations

6 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations referred to in section 41 of the Interpretation Act.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations as follows:

(a) prescribing the content of and requirements for notice to an affected person for the purposes of section 2 (1);

(b) prescribing information for the purposes of section 3;

(c) defining any word or expression used but not defined in this Act.

Commencement

7 This Act comes into force on the date of Royal Assent.

Explanatory Notes

This Bill requires an affected person be given notice and an opportunity to provide representations before a disposition of Crown land is made.

This Bill also requires reporting in respect of a disposition of Crown land and the establishment of a special committee of the Legislative Assembly to examine and provide recommendations respecting dispositions of Crown land.