Articles related to provincial and federal legislation that affects local governments.
Responding to a Federal invitation for engagement, UBCM submitted an overview of our policy regarding taxation of vacant lands. UBCM policies include requests for vacant land taxation to incentivize and fund development of affordable housing or shelters. Resolutions seek greater local authority through legislative support from the Province.
Last month, the BC Court of Appeal released its decision in Kitsilano Coalition for Children & Family Safety Society v. British Columbia (Attorney General), 2024 BCCA 423, examining and interpreting new provincial legislation. The legislation had been enacted to support the completion of a housing development, but was challenged as unconstitutional, a view that was upheld by the Court of Appeal in a decision released December 23, 2024.
On December 19, 2024, the provincial government repealed the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly in November 2023, but was not brought into force due to a court injunction.
The Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) on Emergency and Disaster Management Act regulations has concluded its first series of meetings, which focused on some of the primary responsibilities assigned to local governments under the Act. Key themes and issues raised by LGAC members are summarized below. These were also discussed at the EDMA in Action session at the 2024 UBCM Convention.
The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship is working to develop provincial flood policy guidance, and is seeking input on a variety of flood-related topics. This work relates directly to the BC Flood Strategy, released on March 21, 2024. Written feedback will be accepted until December 20, 2024, 4 pm.
The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) has released a summary of input received to its 2023 discussion paper, BC’s Modernized Emergency Management Legislation: Regulations for Local Authorities.
New regulations came into force on June 3, 2024 that require drivers to take proper precautions, including new minimum distances, when interacting with vulnerable road users.
Vulnerable road users are now defined in BC as: a pedestrian or person on a cycle, motorcycle, animal or animal-driven vehicles, electric kick scooter or electric wheelchair, or a mobility scooter.
The Province has developed new guidance for emergency management partners, including local governments, related to engagement responsibilities included in the Emergency and Disaster Management Act (EDMA). The guidance will be updated annually, and as new tools and regulations associated with the EDMA come into effect.
This document includes the following information:
The federal government has approved the Province of BC’s request to further control consumption of illicit drugs in public spaces. The change took place immediately as of May 7, 2024. Possession of small amounts of illicit drugs is still permitted.
The Province has introduced new legislation to address some issues created by pre-zoning large areas of BC communities for increased density. The new legislation addresses: inclusionary zoning; updates to the density bonus framework; providing local government with expanded authority to require site-specific works and services, and transportation demand management measures; and tenant protection bylaws.