Articles related to provincial and federal legislation that affects local governments.
BC’s decriminalization pilot will come to an end on January 31, 2026. The aim of this initiative was to address the overdose crisis by removing stigma that prevents individuals from seeking life-saving support and treatment.
The BC Wildfire Service will be hosting two webinars to engage with local governments on how local bylaws and provincial legislation work together to prevent human-caused wildfires.
The webinars are an opportunity to join staff from the BC Wildfire Service for an interactive workshop and engagement session. Content will include current approaches used in B.C. to protect public safety through regulating open burning and other activities.
The provincial government has announced postponement of proposed amendments to the Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) that had originally been anticipated for spring 2026. In a November 2025 report submitted to the Ministry of Forests on proposed changes to the HCA, UBCM conveyed members’ overwhelming support for a pause to legislative development to allow for face-to-face consultation.
UBCM’s request for an extended submission period has been approved by the select standing committee. Local governments and public now have until January 6, 2026 to submit comments to the committee which is tasked with reviewing the private member’s bill, Professional Reliance Act. The deadline was originally December 2, 2025.
Submissions can be made online directly to the committee.
Private member’s bill M216 passed second reading and has been sent to the Select Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ Bills for review. UBCM’s submission to the committee warns that the bill will disrupt an already strained planning system.
On October 23, the federal government introduced the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, which includes more than 80 proposed amendments to the Criminal Code. Many changes broadly respond to local government concerns, including resolutions and correspondence seeking stricter bail conditions for repeat offenders. A UBCM analysis follows.
The legislation includes the following proposed amendments to the Criminal Code:
More organizations are publicly sharing their concerns about the harms the bill could cause if passed. The bill has passed second reading, and is moving into the committee stage for review.
The Professional Reliance Act bill (M216) threatens to weaken the oversight of new home construction and increase the liability risk of taxpayers
UBCM members overwhelmingly support a pause to legislative development to allow for
face to face consultation.
MLA George Anderson, Parliamentary Secretary for Transit, has brought forward a private member’s bill that would apply a professional reliance model to local approvals. If passed, this legislation would require that, with limited exceptions, local governments accept submissions certified by registered professionals including engineers and architects as meeting permit or bylaw requirements. UBCM was not consulted on this legislation before its introduction and has significant concerns with the proposed approach that would erode local approval authorities.