2022 Legislation
Legislation that works for British Columbians
Fall 2022 session
-
Increasing homes for people in B.C.
Proposed amendments to the Strata Property Act will get more homes built faster for people, turn more vacant units into homes for renters, and remove unfair age restrictions that keep families out of strata housing – while preserving seniors’ communities. Another proposed to this Act would allow all strata corporations in B.C. to conduct virtual strata meetings on a permanent basis.
-
B.C. supports decision-making agreements with Indigenous Peoples
Proposed changes to the Judicial Review Procedure Act (JRPA) will provide transparency and clarity for judicial reviews of decisions made under consent-based decision-making agreements with Indigenous Peoples.
-
New tool for communities hosting major tourism events
A new Major Events Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) of up to 2.5% on short-term accommodation sales will be a tool to help communities cover the cost of hosting major international tourism events that help bolster provincial tourism and the economy.
-
Supporting injured workers
Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act will better support injured workers and their families by ensuring fair compensation, improved benefits and better access to independent health professionals. The changes also establish a Fair Practices Commissioner at WorkSafeBC, prohibit claim suppression and support the return-to-work process.
-
Modernization of commercial passenger vehicle industry continues
Proposed amendments to the Passenger Transportation Act will enhance B.C.’s taxi and ride hail industries by removing barriers for people with accessibility needs, supporting a more accessible taxi industry, and ensuring the regulation of ride hail evolves to keep people safe.
-
Making changes to advance hydrogen industry
Amendments to the Oil and Gas Activities Act and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act will further advance the production and use of low-carbon hydrogen, generating economic opportunities, reducing emissions and supporting the transition to clean energy.
-
Upholding Indigenous jurisdiction over child and family services
The Indigenous Self-Government in Child and Family Services Amendment Act will support Indigenous Peoples to develop and exercise child welfare laws for their community members and to recreate their own models for child and family service delivery, including family support, child protection and adoption services.
-
Improving patient safety, industry oversight and governance
The Health Professions and Occupations Act will replace its predecessor, The Health Professions Act. The new Act will protect people in vulnerable circumstances and build a commitment to cultural safety, humility and a new way to regulate lower-risk health occupations.
-
Holding the opioid industry accountable for deceptive marketing
Amendments to the Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act will enable the governments of British Columbia and Canada to pursue recovery from opioid manufacturers, wholesalers and other potential defendants in a class-action lawsuit that is in progress.
-
Helping B.C. families with rising costs
The B.C. government has taken another step to help families in the face of cost-of-living challenges with a temporary increase to BC Family Benefit payments.
-
Capping delivery service fees to support B.C. restaurants
The Food Delivery Service Fee Act will provide a measure of support to the restaurant industry by setting a limit on what delivery companies can charge restaurants for their core ordering and delivery services.
-
Enhancing consumer protection in mortgage services
The Province is improving the regulation of mortgage brokers, lenders and administrators by replacing the outdated Mortgage Brokers Act with the modern Mortgage Services Act.
-
Property tax relief for B.C. small businesses & non-profits
A new, municipal-led property tax rate flexibility will give municipalities the tool to support small businesses and non-profits struggling to pay high property taxes because of future development potential.
-
Bill amendments will help bring clarity and consistency
Minor housekeeping amendments will help to bring clarity and consistency to statutes and how they are interpreted and applied.
Spring 2022 session
-
Accelerating the use of low carbon fuels
Legislation creating a new Low Carbon Fuels Act will modernize and expand the B.C. Low Carbon Fuel Standard to encourage broader investment and innovation in the production and use of low carbon fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
-
Strengthening consumer protections for financially vulnerable people
Amendments to the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act will take effect May 1, 2022 to regulate high-cost credit products, such as high-interest installment loans and lines of credit. These changes will help protect financially vulnerable British Columbians who use high-cost financial services to make ends meet.
-
Helping fight systemic racism
New legislation will support the collection and use of demographic data such as age, gender identity, race and faith. Working with Indigenous Peoples and racialized communities, the Province will use this data to improve government programs and services for more people in B.C.
-
Helping people understand their mental health rights
Amendments to the Mental Health Act will help people experiencing a mental health crisis better understand their rights and the supports that are available to them.
-
Supporting francophone students, families
The Province has introduced legislative amendments to the School Act that will expand access to and improve French-language schools for francophone British Columbians, to ensure students in B.C. have access to high-quality learning environments, in both of Canada’s official languages.
-
Improving operations, best practices
To improve consistency and best practices across registered professions, B.C. has announced proposed amendments to the Professional Governance Act.
-
Expanding cancer coverage for firefighters
B.C. firefighters will soon have easier access to workers’ compensation benefits and support services in recognition of the higher risk of work-related cancers they face.
-
Requirements for elected officials charged with criminal offences
The Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act (No. 4), 2022 will strengthen current legislation and give local governments new tools to assist them when elected officials are charged with or convicted of a criminal offense so they can better serve people.
-
Increasing housing, services near transit hubs
Amendments to the Transportation Act will enable the Province to acquire land to build housing and community amenities near transit stations or exchanges.
-
Protecting workers’ rights to join a union
Workers will now be able to join a union when a clear majority of employees indicate their wish to do so through a single-step process, in line with other jurisdictions such as Quebec, New Brunswick and in the federal sector.
-
Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2022
Updates to the Insurance (Vehicle) Act, Ministry of Mines and Energy Act, and Offence Act
-
Simplifying, strengthening paid sick leave
Changes are being made to B.C.’s paid sick leave legislation to simplify its administration and ensure all eligible workers are entitled to the full five days of paid sick leave each year.
-
Establishing a cooling off period
The amendments to the Property Law Act will establish the framework for a cooling off period for residential real estate. This legislation is about consumer protection. The creation of a cooling off period will ensure that purchasers have time the peace of mind that they have made the right choices.
-
Wildlife Act changes support reconciliation
The B.C. government has introduced Bill 14, the Wildlife Amendment Act, 2022, to ensure greater collaboration and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in the management of wildlife in the province.
-
Supporting the critical work of skilled tradespeople
The Skilled Trades BC Act lays the foundation to address labour shortages and modernize the Crown agency responsible for trades training.
-
Modernizing passenger transportation
Two amendments introduced under the Passenger Transportation Act will make permanent the supports government introduced for gig-economy workers, maintain passenger safety for British Columbians, and align our province’s record check process with the BC Human Rights Code.
-
New act reforms B.C. law for commercial liens
The new legislation will modernize B.C. law for liens that secure payment for repairing, storing or transporting goods so that service providers can more easily understand and use liens and their customers can protect their rights to their own property.
-
Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act
Updates to Civil Resolution Tribunal Act, Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act, Family Law Act, and Legal Profession and Notaries Acts.
-
Increasing oversight of the delivery of coastal ferry services
People rely on BC Ferries every day to get to work, appointments, or to visit loved ones. The B.C. Government has introduced changes to the Coastal Ferry Act that will increase oversight of the delivery of ferry services, with consideration of the importance of an affordable and reliable ferry service for our coastal communities.
-
New protections for people working with asbestos
Government is introducing new standards under the Workers Compensation Act to establish mandatory licensing and certification for workers who handle asbestos.
-
Online Insurance Renewals for ICBC customers
The May 1 introduction of Online Insurance Renewals offers British Columbians the opportunity to renew basic auto insurance from their computer or tablet, and marks the end of the decal program (date of insurance expiry) on licence plates.
-
Supporting skilled trades professionals
The Skilled Trades BC Act will modernize the crown agency responsible for trades training and establish a made-in B.C. system to support and train apprentices. It lays the foundation for Skilled Trades Certification and the supports needed to ensure skilled trades people can be successful in their careers.
-
Supporting Lytton’s recovery
Legislative amendments to the Municipalities Enabling and Validating (No.4) Amendment Act, 2022, will enable the Village of Lytton’s council to repeal and replace bylaws that were destroyed in the catastrophic fire on June 30, 2021.
-
Protecting wildlife habitat and ecosystems
Legislative amendments to the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act would add 352 hectares of land and foreshore to 10 provincial parks.