2023 Legislation
Legislation that works for British Columbians
Fall 2023 session
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Improving working conditions for online platform workers
Amendments to B.C.’s labour laws will support ride-hail and food-delivery gig workers by providing them with employment standards and workers’ compensation protections.
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More housing coming near transit hubs
New proposed legislation aims to speed up delivery of homes and encourage more communities near the transit, services and amenities that make life better for people.
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Streamlining the delivery of homes, services and infrastructure
As part of work underway to deliver more homes for people, faster, the Province has introduced new legislation to reduce construction delays and streamline processes to fund key services, infrastructure and amenities for growing communities.
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Addressing homelessness and professional governance
The Miscellaneous Bill contains amendments to the Local Government Vancouver Charter Amendment Act, Professional Governance Act, Water Users’ Community Act; Drainage, Ditch and Dike Act and Insurance Corporation Act.
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More small-scale multi-unit homes coming for people
The Province is introducing new housing legislation to deliver more small-scale, multi-unit housing for people – including townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes – and fix outdated zoning rules to help build more homes faster.
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Modernizing Money Judgment Enforcement in B.C.
New legislation completes work to update and modernize process for the enforcement of money judgements in British Columbia.
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Introduction of Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act
The Miscellaneous Bill contains amendments to the Supreme Court Act, Low Carbon Fuels Act, Protected Areas of British Columbia Act, Residential Tenancy Act; Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act, North Island-Coast, Southern Interior & Northern Development Initiative Trust Acts and Local Government Act.
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New official fossil emblem enriches B.C.’s cultural identity
The elasmosaur is now British Columbia’s official fossil emblem. The adoption of a provincial fossil elevates the importance of the presence of fossils in this province and enriches B.C.’s cultural identity.
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Systemic change to improve outcomes for Indigenous learners
First Nations and Indigenous people will soon have more input into the decisions and processes impacting the education of Indigenous children and youth in B.C. public schools.
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Accelerating Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) sales targets
The Zero-Emission Vehicles Act amendments accelerate our transition to a clean transportation economy by five years, allowing the province to meet its CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 commitment of new light-duty ZEV sales targets: 26% by 2026, 90% by 2030, and 100% by 2035.
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Streamlining international credential recognition
The International Credentials Recognition Act will require 18 regulatory bodies to remove unfair barriers, increase transparency and streamline the international credential recognition process for 29 professions. Some of these occupations include: engineers, social workers, early childhood educators, veterinarians, biologists, and notary publics.
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Assisting British Columbians impacted by violent crime
The amendments to the Crime Victims Assistance Act (CVAA) will address critical gaps, including barriers to eligibility, that negatively impact the people the Crime Victims Assistance Program (CVAP) was created to assist.
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Improving process for changes to police of jurisdiction
Amendments to the Police Act will clarify the process any municipality must follow when they wish to change their Police of Jurisdiction, actioning the government’s commitment to remove uncertainty, enhance public confidence and keep people safe throughout British Columbia.
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Limiting short-term rentals and creating more homes
The Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act will turn short-term rentals into long-term homes for people by changing how and where short-term rentals are allowed in B.C.
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B.C. takes critical step to address illegal drug use
The B.C. has introduced the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act which will restrict public use of illegal drugs in designated public spaces.
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New pension plan options for employers
Updates to the Pension Benefits Standards Act give B.C. employers more options to support their employees with a pension plan, including a new lifetime pension solution. Changes also help reduce various administrative costs and burdens for both employers and employees.
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Paving the way for resilient communities
The Emergency and Disaster Management Act will implement a more proactive approach to emergency management – with an emphasis on disaster risk reduction – to keep people and communities safer.
Spring 2023 session
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The Haida Nation Recognition Act
The legislation is a significant and important step needed to enact the GayG̱ahlda/Kwah.hlahl.dáyaa “Changing Tide” Framework for Reconciliation, Bill 18 2023, which is paramount in moving reconciliation forward. It’s overdue that the Province and Canada legally recognize the Haida Nation and the Council of the Haida Nation as its government in accordance with the Haida Nation’s Constitution.
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Revised legislation aims to protect B.C.’s natural environment
Proposed amendments to the Environmental Management Act will help ensure owners and operators of high-risk industrial projects are responsible for the full cost of environmental cleanup if their projects are abandoned.
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B.C. makes it easier to get money awarded through the courts
New legislation will make it easier for people to get money owed to them following a civil court decision.
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Protecting families in strata corporations with 55+ age-restriction bylaws
Changes to the Strata Property Regulation will ensure that people living in stratas with 55+ age restrictions will be able to stay in their homes even if their family structure changes.
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Province assists with Vancouver housing approvals
To help deliver more homes faster for people in Vancouver, the Province is making legislative amendments through the Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act.
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Changes to act ensure every vote counts in provincial elections
In response to recommendations from the independent Electoral Boundaries Commission, the Province is introducing amendments to the Electoral Districts Act to make sure votes are weighted evenly across B.C.
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Improving access to electric vehicle charging stations in residential strata buildings
Amendments to the Strata Property Act will now make it easier for strata corporations and owners to access electric vehicle charging stations.
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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.
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Removing financial motive behind organized crime
Amendments to the Civil Forfeiture Act will require people to explain how they acquired their assets if there is suspicion of unlawful activity. The amendments are based on recommendations from the Cullen Commission Report on Money Laundering in British Columbia, which was released in June 2022.
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New legislation establishes new provincial regulator for money services businesses
The new Money Services Businesses Act provides powers to the BC Financial Services Authority to monitor and regulate money services businesses, and keep bad actors out of the industry.
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Ending hidden ownership in private business corporations
Through changes to the Business Corporation Act, the B.C. government will establish a Beneficial Ownership Registry to disrupt the use of B.C. companies in financial crime and deter and reduce money laundering in B.C.
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Changes to Family Law Act will make it easier for separating couples
Proposed amendments to the Family Law Act will clarify the law around pets, property and pensions to better meet the modern-day needs of separating couples.
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New legislation helps to reduce barriers for British Columbians
The Government is amending provincial laws to correct outdated gendered and binary language to better reflect British Columbia’s diversity and ensure that everyone can see themselves represented in Provincial programs and services.
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Pay transparency legislation will help close B.C.’s gender pay gap
New pay transparency legislation was passed on May 11, 2023, to shine a light on pay discrimination in the workplace and help close the gender pay gap in B.C.
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New legislation will stop the sharing of intimate images without consent
To better protect people from the harmful effects of having their intimate images shared without their consent and improve access to justice for survivors of sexualized violence, the Province is introducing the Intimate Images Protection Act.
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Amendments will fight disinformation, make elections more accessible
Proposed amendments to the Election Act will make it easier for voters in B.C. to cast their ballots, while continuing to combat disinformation, increase transparency and strengthen third-party advertising rules in the provincial electoral process.
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Province taking action to reduce ER wait times for people in mental health crisis
People in mental health crises at hospital emergency rooms will have quicker access to care, as nurse practitioners are now able to assess patients for involuntary admission under the Mental Health Act.
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Increased protection for science and technology facility
Proposed legislation under the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act will help continue the protection of the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory by extending the land use contract for an additional 10 years.
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Minor legislative amendment made to FOIPPA
The section 3 amendment will correct the inadvertent exclusion of the records of officers of the Legislature from FOIPPA that resulted from structural changes made to section 3 of the Act in Bill 22. This amendment will fully restore coverage and will be retroactive to the date Bill 22 received royal assent, Nov. 25, 2021.
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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.
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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation enshrined in B.C. law
Government is establishing September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as a provincial statutory holiday to honour the strength and resilience of residential school survivors and remember the children who never came home.