2021 Legislation
Legislation that works for British Columbians
Fall 2021 session
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Upholding Indigenous rights in B.C.
Two bills introduced in fall 2021 are helping to strengthen Indigenous rights and advance reconciliation in B.C.
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Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2021
Updates to COVID-19 Related Measures Act, Judicial Compensation Act.
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Protecting key facilities from disruption
New legislation will establish 20-metre protected zones around hospitals, COVID-19 test and vaccination centres, and K-12 schools to prevent disruptive behaviour from affecting them.
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Changing forest laws for a sustainable future
Amendments to the Forest Act will give government the tools to better care for our forests, further support reconciliation with Indigenous Nations and encourage a more diverse forestry industry.
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New child care legislation to make life better for B.C. families
The approval of early learning and child care legislation will help the Province deliver on its Childcare BC commitment to build the affordable, quality and inclusive early learning and child care system families need.
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Annual allowance supports B.C.’s political parties
Amendments to the Election Act will make an annual allowance for political parties permanent.
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Supporting First Nations’ exercise of jurisdiction over education
Legislative changes to teacher certification and regulation brought forward have been co-developed with the First Nations Education Steering Committee, acting under the direction of the First Nations engaged in the initiative.
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Reducing plastic waste and supporting a cleaner environment
Proposed legislative amendments will allow the Province to ban more single-use plastics.
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Modernizing local government processes to support effective governance
Proposed legislative amendments respond to local government requests, give communities new tools to deliver housing, and dissolve the Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality.
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Revamped forest policy puts environment, people first
Amendments to the Forest and Range Practices Act support transformation of B.C.’s forest sector to one that is more diverse, focused on sustainability, and puts people first – now and into the future.
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Delivering better, more inclusive information access services, privacy protection
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act will help B.C. keep pace with new technology, strengthen privacy protections and improve services for thousands of people who request information each year.
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Supporting reconciliation, consumer protection, children and youth, amusement safety
The Miscellaneous Bill for the fall 2021 session will include amendments to the Adoption Act, Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, Child, Family and Community Service Act, Civil Resolution Tribunal Act, Offence Act, Oil and Gas Activities Act, Passenger Transportation Act, Representative for Children and Youth Act, Safety Standards Act and Treaty First Nation Taxation Act.
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Providing legislative framework for the creation and governance of societies
The Societies Amendment Act, 2021 amends the Societies Act which came into force in 2016. The new Act provides societies with a responsive legislative framework, giving them greater adaptability in their internal governance, while also ensuring transparency and accountability. The purpose of the proposed amendments is to address various issues that have come to light since the Act came into force. These proposed amendments will refine the Societies Act by making it more accessible, addressing uncertainties and omissions, and creating consistency within the Act and with other legislation.
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Conservation and culture at the heart of newly protected areas
Legislation is being introduced to establish a new 143-hectare Class A park near the Koksilah River in the Cowichan Valley, rename two parks with Indigenous names, and add more than 2,258 hectares of land and/or foreshore to nine existing parks and one conservancy.
Spring 2021 session
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New legislation moves B.C. towards inclusive universal child care
The proposed Early Learning and Child Care Act (ELCC) and the Early Childhood Educators (ECE) Act support the delivery of an inclusive, universal early learning and child care system for B.C. families.
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Virtual meetings an opportunity for B.C. corporations
Amendments to the Business Corporations Act, Cooperative Association Act, Credit Union Incorporation Act, Financial Institutions Act, and Societies Act will make permanent the ability for B.C. corporations to hold virtual meetings.
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Temporary tools become permanent improvements for local governments
New amendments to the Community Charter, the Local Government Act, the Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act (No.4) and the Vancouver Charter will give local governments more flexibility to better serve communities and people, as special authorities granted during the pandemic become permanent, including allowing people to participate in meetings and public hearings online.
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New measures to collect unpaid COVID-19 fines
Amendments are being made to the Motor Vehicle Act to extend “refuse to issue” (RTI) on driver’s licences and vehicle licences to outstanding fines issued under the Emergency Program Act (EPA) and the COVID-19 Related Measures Act (CRMA).
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Amendments to provincial statutes
The Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act will make changes to the COVID-19 Related Measures Act, the Family Law Act, and the Clean Energy Act.
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Paid sick leave program for British Columbians
Amendments to the Employment Standards Act will provide workers with three days of paid sick leave related to COVID-19 until December 31, 2021; and will create a permanent paid sick leave for workers who cannot work due to any personal illness or injury.
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Restoring independence to electoral boundaries commissions
The Province is introducing amendments to the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act (EBCA) to provide the upcoming Electoral Boundaries Commission with more independence and flexibility as they work to recommend an electoral map for the next two general elections.
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Making British Columbia more accessible and inclusive for everyone
The Accessible B.C. Act will support the development of new accessibility standards – in areas like employment, the built environment, and customer service – by identifying, removing and preventing barriers.
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$500-million InBC Investment fund builds a StrongerBC
InBC is a new $500-million strategic investment fund. Investments will target small and medium sized businesses with the growth potential and the ability to anchor talent, jobs, intellectual property and innovation in B.C.
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Paid leave for workers to get COVID-19 vaccine
Proposed amendments to the Employment Standards Act to provide paid leave to get a COVID-19 vaccine, ensuring no one has to choose between losing pay or their health. This leave helps make it as easy as possible to get someone’s doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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Amendments provide more clarity for whistle-blowers
The Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) is being amended to provide greater clarity for government employees who report serious wrongdoings under the act, and support the expansion of PIDA to the broader public sector.