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1998/99 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 36th Parliament

FOR REPORT

The following electronic version is for informational

purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

Certified correct as amended in Committee of the Whole on the 29th day

of June, 1999

Ian D. Izard, Law Clerk

HONOURABLE JOY K. MacPHAIL

MINISTER OF FINANCE AND CORPORATE RELATIONS

BILL 71 – 1999

FINANCE AND CORPORATE RELATIONS

STATUTES AMENDMENT ACT, 1999

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the

Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

Community Financial Services Act

Section 30 (2) (

b) of the Community Financial Services Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c.

61, is amended by striking out "90 (1) or (2)," .

Corporation Capital Tax Act

Section 33 of the Corporation Capital Tax Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 73, is amended

by adding the following subsection:

(5.1) An appeal under this

section is a new hearing that is not

limited to the evidence and issues that were before the minister.

Financial Institutions Act

Section 88 of the Financial Institutions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 141, is

repealed and the following substituted:

Definition

88 For sections 94 to 96, "transaction" has the

prescribed meaning.

Section 90 is repealed.

Section 112 (2) (

a) is amended by striking out "under

section

90" and substituting "in prescribed circumstances" .

Section 160 (2) (

c) is repealed and the following substituted:

(

c) if

(

i) a corporation is an extraprovincial insurance corporation that

will carry on insurance business, and

(ii) there is an insurance compensation plan designated by

regulation for the purposes of

section 66 (2),

the commission is satisfied that the corporation will not carry on

a class of insurance business in respect of which insurance is offered under that plan

unless the corporation is a member of that plan, .

Section 171 is amended

(

a) by repealing subsection (1), and

(

b) by repealing subsection (3) and substituting the following:

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a person or class of persons

exempted under the regulations.

Section 178 (3) is amended by striking out "to a person described

in paragraph (

i) of

section 171 (3) for acting as described in that paragraph."

and substituting "to a trust company, credit union, an extraprovincial trust

corporation or a bank or the officers and employees of any of them, while acting as agent

in respect of credit insurance, incidental to the ordinary business of the trust company,

credit union, extraprovincial trust corporation or bank."

Section 180 (2) is repealed and the following substituted:

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person or class of persons

exempted under the regulations.

Section 222 is amended

(

a) in subsection (1) by striking out "a general manager"

and substituting "an executive director" , and

(

b) in subsection (2) by striking out "general manager"

and substituting "executive director" .

Section 225 (2) is amended by striking out "general manager"

and substituting "executive director" .

Section 231 (1) is amended

(

a) by adding "employee," after "director," ,

and

(

b) in paragraph (

a) by adding "or at any later time"

after "issued" .

Section 242 is amended by adding the following subsection:

(4) A decision or order referred to in subsection (1) is not

stayed by the filing of an appeal under the Commercial Appeals Commission Act but

section 12 (2) (

b) of that Act applies.

Section 252 (2) is amended

(

a) in paragraph (

a) by striking out "90 (2),", and

(

b) in paragraph (

b) by striking out "90 (1),".

14.1

Section

253 is amended

(

a) in subsection (1) by adding "or under a

regulation made under

section 289 (3) (s)" after

"or (f)" , and

(

b) in subsection (2) by adding "or under a

regulation made under

section 289 (3) (t)" after

"or (g)" .

Section 289 (3) is amended by striking out "and" at

the end of paragraph (

q) and by adding the following paragraphs:

(

s) respecting disclosure by financial institutions and their

agents to a customer of the details of a transaction, including the identity of the

parties to the transaction and the time at which the disclosure must be made, and

respecting similar disclosure by financial institutions to persons with whom a financial

transaction is arranged by a third party in which the financial institution is to provide

a service or product to the person,

(

t) respecting disclosure by financial institutions and their

agents to a customer in respect of whom the financial institution arranges a transaction

in which a person other than the financial institution provides a service or product to

the customer, and

(

u) exempting persons or classes of persons from the requirements

of regulations made under paragraphs (

s) and (t).

Hotel Room Tax Act

Section 17 of the Hotel Room Tax Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 207, is amended

by adding the following subsection:

(10) A person who has paid an amount imposed under subsection

(7) may, in a court of competent jurisdiction, sue the person who was liable to pay the tax in

order to recover the amount imposed under subsection (7), and any amounts recovered in the

action may be retained by the plaintiff as compensation for the amount paid under

subsection (7).

Section 18 (4) is repealed and the following substituted:

(4) On receiving the notice of appeal, the minister must

(

a) consider the matter,

(

b) affirm, amend or change the assessment, decision, estimate,

interest charge, penalty or the nature of the assessment, and

(

c) promptly notify the appellant in writing of the result of the

appeal.

Section 19 is amended by adding the following subsection:

(4.1) An appeal under this

section is a new hearing that is not

limited to the evidence and issues that were before the minister.

Insurance Premium Tax Act

Section 18 of the Insurance Premium Tax Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 232, is amended

by adding the following subsection:

(4.1) An appeal under this

section is a new hearing that is not

limited to the evidence and issues that were before the minister.

Section 34 (1) is amended by renumbering paragraph (

a) as paragraph (

b) and by

adding the following paragraph:

(

a) if delivered to the person personally, or .

Land Title Act

Section 278 of the Land Title Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 250, is amended

(

a) in subsection (1) by striking out everything after "may

be," and substituting "signed by the Surveyor of Taxes or other

proper officer." ,

(

b) by repealing subsections (3) and (4) and substituting the following:

(3) A certificate of forfeiture or vesting filed under this

section is satisfactory evidence to the registrar that the Crown is entitled to a good,

safeholding and marketable title in fee simple to the land described in the certificate.

(4) On filing of a certificate of forfeiture or vesting under this

section, the registrar must

(

a) cancel every indefeasible title and duplicate indefeasible

title relating to the land described in the certificate of forfeiture or vesting, and

(

b) register a new indefeasible title to the land described in the

certificate in the name of the Crown.

(4.1) If the certificate affects an absolute certificate of title,

the registrar must make such entry in the records the registrar considers necessary to

give notice of the interest of the Crown. , and

(

c) in subsection (5) by striking out "under subsection (3)"

and substituting "under this section" .

Logging Tax Act

Section 24 of the Logging Tax Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 277, is amended by adding

the following subsection:

(4.1) An appeal under this

section is a new hearing that is not

limited to the evidence and issues that were before the minister.

Mining Tax Act

Section 24 of the Mining Tax Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 295, is amended by adding

the following subsection:

(4.1) An appeal under this

section is a new hearing that is not

limited to the evidence and issues that were before the minister.

Motor Fuel Tax Act

Section 1 of the Motor Fuel Tax Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 317, is amended

by repealing the definition of "tractor" and substituting the

following:

"tractor" means a motor vehicle designed for use

primarily as a power unit for drawing vehicles, machinery or equipment, and includes farm

tractors and industrial tractors, but does not include

(

a) a motor vehicle designed to carry goods or materials the

weight of which rests entirely on the frame of the motor vehicle, or

(

b) a truck tractor that is designed for use on public highways,

or has been modified for that use, and that is eligible for licensing as a truck tractor

under the Commercial Transport Act; .

Section 2 (1) is amended by striking out "This Act does not apply

in respect of the following:" and substituting "Subject to

subsection (2), the following are exempt from tax under this Act:" .

Section 13 (2) is amended by striking out "under

section 4

(2)" and substituting "under

section 4 (3)" .

Section 15 (1) (

g) is amended by striking out "area;"

and substituting "area or used by or for the government in construction or

repair of roads maintained by the government;" .

Section 44 is amended by renumbering the

section as

section 44 (1) and by

adding the following subsection:

(2) A person who has paid an amount imposed under subsection

(1) may, in a court of competent jurisdiction, sue the person who was liable to pay the tax in

order to recover the amount imposed under subsection (1), and any amounts recovered in the

action may be retained by the plaintiff as compensation for the amount paid under

subsection (1).

Section 50 (4) is repealed and the following substituted:

(4) On receiving the notice of appeal, the minister must

(

a) consider the matter,

(

b) affirm, amend or change the assessment, decision, estimate,

interest charge, penalty or the nature of the assessment, and

(

c) promptly notify the appellant in writing of the result of the

appeal.

Section 51 is amended by adding the following subsection:

(4.1) An appeal under this

section is a new hearing that is not

limited to the evidence and issues that were before the minister.

Mutual Fire Insurance Companies Act

Section 12 of the Mutual Fire Insurance Companies Act, R.S.B.C. 1960, c. 262,

is repealed.

Pacific Coast Fishermen's Mutual Marine Insurance Company Act, 1945

Section 13 of the Pacific Coast Fishermen's Mutual Marine Insurance Company

Act, 1945, S.B.C. 1945, c. 82, is repealed.

Partnership Act

Section 81 of the Partnership Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 348, is amended by

adding the following subsections:

(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), a person may submit the

declaration or written authority by sending the prescribed information by electronic means

to an address provided by the registrar.

(4) If the declaration provided in accordance with subsection

(1) is satisfactory to the registrar and the prescribed fee is paid, the registrar must

(

a) make and file a paper copy of the declaration, and

(

b) acknowledge receipt of the declaration, and the date it was

filed, by sending an acknowledgment by mail, fax or electronic means to the person who

submitted it.

Section 83 is amended by adding the following subsection:

(3) Section 81 (3) applies to this section.

Section 86 is amended by adding the following subsection:

(3) Section 81 (3) applies to this section.

Section 88 is amended by renumbering the

section as

section 88 (1) and by

adding the following subsection:

(2) Section 81 (3) applies to this section.

37 The following

section is added to

Part 4:

Electronic signature

90.1 For the purposes of an electronic filing under

sections 81, 83, 86 and 88, an electronic signature on the declaration has the same effect

for all purposes as an original signature.

Property Transfer Tax Act

Section 21 of the Property Transfer Tax Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 378, is amended

by adding the following subsection:

(4.1) An appeal under this

section is a new hearing that is not

limited to the evidence and issues that were before the minister.

Purchasing Commission Act

Section 1 of the Purchasing Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 392, is

amended by adding the following definition:

"services" means any service or class of service

provided under a written contract and supplied

(

a) to the government, a government institution or a public

institution, or

(

b) to a person on behalf of the government, a government

institution or a public institution; .

Section 4 (2) is amended by adding the following paragraph:

(

n) acquire services required by the government and, on request,

services required by government institutions.

41 Sections 4 (2) (

g) and (k), 12 (1), 14 (1), 15 and 21 (3) (

a) are amended by

adding "and services" after "supplies" .

Section 7 is amended by adding "or services" after "supplies"

in both places.

Section 8 is amended by adding "or services" after "goods"

wherever it appears.

Section 9 is amended

(

a) by striking out "acquiring supplies" and substituting

"acquiring supplies and services" , and

(

b) in paragraph (

b) by striking out "acquire supplies"

and substituting "acquire supplies or services" .

Real Estate Act

Section 1 of the Real Estate Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 397, is amended in

paragraph (

e) of the definition of "agent" by striking out "or

transfer, of" and substituting "or transfer of," .

Section 23 is amended by adding the following subsection:

(4) Subsection (2) does not apply if the agent holds the money

under a duty under the Residential Tenancy Act to pay the interest to a tenant.

Social Service Tax Act

Section 74 (

a) of the Social Service Tax Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 431, is

amended by striking out "taxed under" and substituting "taxed

under or exempted from tax under" .

Section 115 is amended by adding the following subsection:

(7) A person who has paid an amount imposed under subsection

(5) may, in a court of competent jurisdiction, sue the person who was liable to pay the tax in

order to recover the amount imposed under subsection (5), and any amounts recovered in the

action may be retained by the plaintiff as compensation for the amount paid under

subsection (5).

Section 118 (4) is repealed and the following substituted:

(4) On receiving the notice of appeal, the minister must

(

a) consider the matter,

(

b) affirm, amend or change the assessment, decision, estimate,

interest charge, penalty or the nature of the assessment, and

(

c) promptly notify the appellant in writing of the result of the

appeal.

Section 119 is amended by adding the following subsection:

(4.1) An appeal under this

section is a new hearing that is not

limited to the evidence and issues that were before the minister.

Society Act

Section 7 (3) (

a) of the Society Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 433, is repealed and

the following substituted:

(

a) allow a society or class of societies to adopt a system, as

described in the order, of delegate voting, voting by mail or voting by any other means

approved by the registrar, or .

Section 20 (3) is repealed and the following substituted:

(3) If the registrar approves a special resolution changing the

name of a society, the registrar must issue a certificate under the registrar's seal of

office setting out particulars of the change of name.

53 The following

section is added:

Proceedings of directors

25.1

(1) A director who is entitled to do one or both of

participate in and vote at a meeting of directors or of a committee of directors may

participate or vote, as the case may be,

(

a) in person, or

(

b) unless the bylaws provide otherwise, by telephone or other

communications medium if all directors participating in the meeting, whether by telephone,

by other communications medium or in person, are able to communicate with each other.

(2) A director who participates in a meeting in a manner

contemplated by subsection (1) is deemed for all purposes of this Act and the bylaws to be

present at the meeting.

Taxation (Rural Area) Act

Section 11 of the Taxation (Rural Area) Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 448, is

amended by adding the following subsection:

(6) An application under subsection (5) may be made to the

Surveyor of Taxes by electronic means or other format if that means or format is

acceptable to the Surveyor of Taxes.

Section 14 (1) is amended by striking out "payable at the office

of the Surveyor of Taxes in the City of Victoria, or at the office of the local collector

appointed for the collection district in which they are due," and substituting "payable

at the office of the local collector appointed for the collection district in which they

are due, or at a bank, credit union or trust company acceptable to the Surveyor of

Taxes," .

Section 40 is amended

(

a) in subsection (4) by striking out "the minister" and

substituting "the Surveyor of Taxes" , and

(

b) in subsection (5) by striking out everything before "considers

it" and substituting "The Surveyor of Taxes may, if he or

she" .

Section 41 (1) is amended by striking out "of the minister" .

Tobacco Tax Act

Section 22 of the Tobacco Tax Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 452, is amended by adding

the following subsection:

(9) A person who has paid an amount imposed under subsection

(5) may, in a court of competent jurisdiction, sue the person who was liable to pay the tax in

order to recover the amount imposed under subsection (5), and any amounts recovered in the

action may be retained by the plaintiff as compensation for the amount paid under

subsection (5).

Section 23 (5) is repealed and the following substituted:

(5) On receiving the notice of appeal, the minister must

(

a) consider the matter,

(

b) affirm, amend or change the assessment, decision, estimate,

interest charge, penalty or the nature of the assessment or, in the case of a seizure

referred to in subsection (2), determine whether the person from whom the tobacco was

seized was entitled to possess that tobacco, and

(

c) promptly notify the appellant in writing of the result of the

appeal.

Section 24 is amended by adding the following subsection:

(1.1) An appeal under this

section is a new hearing that is not

limited to the evidence and issues that were before the minister.

Saving provision for certificates filed under

section 278 of Land

Title Act

(1) If a certificate of forfeiture or vesting was filed

under

section 278 of the Land Title Act before the coming into force of the

amendments to that

section as enacted by this Act, the filing and endorsement of the

certificate in the register continues to have effect as it did when filed and until the

registrar cancels every indefeasible title and duplicate indefeasible title relating to

the land described in the certificate of forfeiture or vesting and registers a new

indefeasible title to the land described in the certificate in the name of the Crown.

(2) The registrar is not required, in relation to a certificate

described in subsection (1), to do anything more in respect of the certificate than was

required at the time of filing unless a further application is made under

section 278 of

the Land Title Act as amended by this Act.

Commencement

(1) This Act, except sections 6, 20, 26 and 45, comes

into force by regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

(2) Sections 6, 20, 26 and 45 are deemed to have come into force

on April 21, 1997 and are retroactive to the extent necessary to give them effect on and

after that date.

Copyright © 1999: Queen's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada