2019 Legislation
Legislation that works for British Columbians
Fall 2019 session
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Gaming Control Act changes benefit First Nations in B.C.
The Gaming Control Amendment Act provides an entitlement to gaming revenues for Indigenous communities that will enable long term revenue-sharing between the Province and First Nations that will support self-government and self-determination, strong, healthy communities and services that make life better for families.
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Bringing transparency to B.C. gas prices
The Fuel Price Transparency Act is designed to lift the shroud of secrecy around the way gasoline prices are established in B.C. by requiring oil and gas companies to publicly share information that goes into setting prices.
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Making voting faster and easier
Changes to the Election Act will pave the way for modern technology to reduce lineups at polling places, make vote counting faster and more consistent, and give voters more flexibility in where they can cast their ballot in provincial elections.
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Setting the stage for permanent daylight saving time
The Interpretation Amendment Act will enable British Columbia to observe year-round Daylight Saving Time in the future and allow for the re-naming of B.C.’s time zone as “Pacific Time.”
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Keeping accountable for climate change commitments
Better accountability, transparency, and more detailed targets for climate action will be mandated under a strengthened Climate Change Accountability Act.
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Recognizing and protecting Indigenous peoples’ human rights
New legislation will put BC laws in line with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This is a historic moment for everyone in BC.
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Better protecting people’s finances
Updates to the Financial Institutions Act and Credit Union Incorporation Act will modernize British Columbia’s regulatory framework and bring it in-line with international best practices.
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Cracking down on white collar crime
Major amendments to the Securities Act improve the BC Securities Commissions fine collection abilities, establish clear regulations for derivatives, and modernize the regulations to better protect people.
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Better access to social supports
Amendments to employment and assistance legislation will create better access to social supports for people experiencing or at risk of poverty and homelessness.
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Encouraging more clean, renewable energy
Amendments to the Assessment Act will encourage the future development of solar power plants, helping B.C. reach its CleanBC goals of using more clean and renewable energy.
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Supporting emerging transportation technology
People who choose new types of transport, like e-scooters, electric unicycles or Segways, to get around will benefit from proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act. If passed, the amendments will enable the establishment of a regulatory framework to allow the use of increasingly diverse modes of personal transportation.
Spring 2019 session
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Restoring fairness and stability to B.C.’s worksites
Greater protections for workers labour rights and stability for employers are the focus of amendments to the Labour Relations Code.
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Better protections and supports for workers
Changes to the Employment Standards Act will better support a wide-range of industries and workers, including young people, servers, caregivers, and those vulnerable to unfair treatment.
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All British Columbians to benefit from forest industry
Amendments to the Forest Act will enhance public trust and ensure public forests are managed in the best interests of British Columbians.
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Supporting the physical and mental health of firefighters
B.C. will support wildfire fighters, fire investigators and firefighters working for First Nations and other indigenous organizations suffering from work-related heart diseases, cancers and mental health disorders.
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Zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) are more available/affordable
New legislation will help reduce climate pollution by phasing out gas-powered light-duty vehicles by 2040 and make ZEVs more available and affordable for British Columbians.
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Making ticket buying fairer
By eliminating ticket bots and mass-buying software, new ticket buying laws will provide more consumer protections and fairer processes for people for when they buy tickets for events, online or at the ticket booth.
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New Financial Services Crown Agency
New legislation establishing the BC Financial Services Authority will more effectively protect people when they use financial services and boost oversight of the sector to support a strong, sustainable economy and make life better for people.
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Targeting problem properties to help gang-proof streets
B.C. will empower people to feel safer reporting drug labs and other nuisance properties linked to gun and gang violence and is giving authorities more powers to shut down those sites with the Community Safety Act (CSA).
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Improving ferry services for coastal communities
Amendments to the Coastal Ferry Act are intended to re-frame the model to better reflect the public interest and the view that ferry services are an integral part of the transportation network.
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Improving transparency of private companies
The amendments to the Business Corporations Act improve transparency by requiring private companies to hold accurate and up-to-date information about the true owners of their shares.
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Ending hidden ownership
The Land Owner Transparency Act establishes a publicly accessible registry of beneficial ownership of real estate in B.C. – the first of its kind in the world.
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Improving transparency and accountability
Information Management Act amendments further promote a culture of openness in the public service by making government’s requirement to record key decisions law.
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Keeping electricity rates affordable
To make sure BC Hydro is working for people, a package of legislative amendments will implement recommendations from the first phase of government’s comprehensive BC Hydro review, including enhancing oversight of BC Hydro by the province’s independent energy regulator, the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC).
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Improving forest management practices
Amendments will restore public trust in how our forests and range lands are managed.
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Eliminating MSP premiums
The Medicare Protection Amendment Act, 2019 sets the stage for the elimination of MSP premiums on Jan. 1, 2020.
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More land protected in B.C.
Amendments to the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act will add approximately 107 hectares to the parks and protected area system, including six Class A parks.
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Investing in jobs and benefits for British Columbians
The LNG Investment Fiscal Framework works to build a competitive LNG industry in B.C. that will generate thousands of new jobs for people, support local communities and meet our CleanBC climate action goals.
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Protecting archeological sites and objects
Amendments to the Heritage Conservation Act strengthen protection for archeological sites and acts on government’s commitment to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
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New court and legal processes help families
The Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2019 will make improvements to the Family Law Act and the Wills, Estates and Succession Act.
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Helping people out of debt cycles
The Consumer Financial Protection Action Plan will strengthen consumer protections for the provinces’ most vulnerable people and those who use high-cost credit products and services.
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Taking down gangs with stronger witness security
British Columbia’s proposed Witness Security Act will encourage more people with knowledge of murders, drug trafficking and other gang-led crimes to share details with police—helping to de-stabilize gangs and support prosecutions.