Earlier this week, Bill 15 (Infrastructure Projects Act) passed second reading. Since UBCM’s initial commentary, Bill 15 continues to generate discussion concerning the powers it provides to the provincial cabinet to override local regulatory processes in order to fast-track permitting for major infrastructure projects that the Province designates as ‘provincially significant’. UBCM has questioned the rationale for these additional powers and the lack of meaningful consultation prior the drafting of legislation.
Bill 15 has also received considerable pushback from the First Nations Leadership Council and environmental groups. Both the BC Green Party and BC Conservative Party MLAs voted against the Bill on second reading, with two independent MLAs abstaining from the vote.
Local government concerns have been featured in several news stories:
- Fran Yanor in the Northern Beat responded to the legislation by interviewing UBCM President Trish Mandewo, Minister of Infrastructure Bowinn Ma, and Mayors Brodie, Krog and Wilks.
- Vaughan Palmer in the Vancouver Sun canvassed the range of opposition to the bill.
- The May 12 edition of The Jas Johal Show starts with an interview with Keith Baldrey, who said that the government “opened a can of worms that they didn’t see coming and created a problem where one did not exist”.
- Doug Todd in the Vancouver Sun sets Bill 15 within a larger North American trend to deregulate development and centralize land use decisions.
Minister Ma has invited Mayors, Chairs and Area Association presidents to a virtual meeting Friday to respond to questions about Bill 15.
Bill 15 moved into committee yesterday and is anticipated to come to a third and final vote before the current legislative session ends on May 29.