Articles related to provincial and federal legislation that affects local governments.
Local governments are invited to provide feedback to the Ministry of Infrastructure as part of the engagement process on the policies and regulations that will support implementation of the Infrastructure Projects Act (Bill 15). Webinars will solicit feedback about Provincially Significant Projects.
Provincial staff provided an update to UBCM delegates on proposed changes to the Heritage Conservation Act at 2025 Convention
UBCM issued a press release this morning calling on the Province to pause progress on changes to the Heritage Conservation Act until meaningful consultation can be conducted with local governments.
Victoria, BC – The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) is calling on the Province to pause progress on changes to the Heritage Conservation Act until meaningful consultation can be conducted with local governments.
The Province has announced that the timeline is being extended to introduce a new regulation for local authorities, under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act. The Honourable Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, speaking at a Convention session, Climate Hazards & Housing: Risk, Resilience, and Local Action, delivered the announcement that new regulation will not take effect until early 2027.
The Ministry of Infrastructure has launched an engagement portal to collect feedback on the implementation of the Infrastructure Projects Act. The deadline for feedback on the topic of ‘Provincially Significant Projects’ is September 30. Feedback on the ‘Qualified Professional Reliance Model’ and the ‘Expediated Environmental Assessment Process’ will occur in the fall/winter of 2025/2026.
Senior and technical local government staff and elected officials are encouraged to attend a BC government webinar on proposed amendments to the Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) on August 12, 9am – noon PDT. Register in advance to ensure you receive an information package from the Ministry of Forests beforehand.
The Ministry of Attorney General in BC is developing a proposal regarding prompt payment in the construction sector.
The BC Government has amended the Local Government Act, enabling regional districts to designate fire inspectors and investigators and establish fire inspection and fire investigation services without requiring a service establishing bylaw. These amendments, which came into force on May 29, 2025, are directly related to responsibilities under the Fire Safety Act, which came into effect on August 1, 2024.
The Province has provided additional details about engagement activities to inform its review of the CleanBC climate action plan. The review will evaluate the effectiveness of CleanBC policies and programs, examine progress toward B.C.’s emissions reduction targets, and recommend areas for improvement. The Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions is encouraging Local governments and other interested parties to share their experience with CleanBC.