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2nd Session, 43rd Parliament

(2026) THIRD READING

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

Certified correct as passed Third Reading on the 29th day of April, 2026

Kate Ryan-Lloyd, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

HONOURABLE NIKI SHARMA

ATTORNEY GENERAL

AND DEPUTY PREMIER

BILL 16 – 2026

MISCELLANEOUS STATUTES

AMENDMENT ACT, 2026

HIS MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

Part 1 – Attorney General Amendments

Judicial Review Procedure Act

Section 11 of the Judicial Review Procedure Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 241, is repealed.

2 The following

section is added:

Disclosure of confidence of Executive Council

(1) In this section:

"cabinet secretary" means the deputy minister appointed under the Public Service Act with the title of cabinet secretary;

"secretary to the Treasury Board" means the person appointed as secretary under

section 3 (2) of the Financial Administration Act .

(2) A minister, the cabinet secretary or the deputy cabinet secretary may certify in writing that information is a confidence of the Executive Council or any of its committees.

(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the secretary to the Treasury Board or the deputy secretary may certify in writing that information is a confidence of the Treasury Board.

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) apply in relation to a power, duty or function delegated to the chair or vice chair of the Treasury Board under

section 4 of the Financial Administration Act as if the power, duty or function were exercised or performed by the Treasury Board.

(5) A person may not be compelled to disclose in an application for judicial review information certified as a confidence under subsection (2) or (3).

Transitional Provision

Judicial Review Procedure Act transition

Section 23 of the Judicial Review Procedure Act applies in relation to an application for judicial review commenced before, on or after the date that

section comes into force.

Part 2 – Energy and Climate Solutions Amendments

Fuel Price Transparency Act

Section 1 of the Fuel Price Transparency Act, S.B.C. 2019, c. 46, is amended by adding the following definition:

"fee" means a fee or other charge imposed under

section 23 (2.1) [regulations respecting administration expenses] ; .

5 The following Division is added to

Part 4:

Division 4 – Recovery of Administration Expenses and Interest

Interest on unpaid fees

21.1

(1) If a fee is payable under this Act by a person and the person fails to pay the fee as required under this Act, the person must pay to the government interest on the amount unpaid from the date the fee was payable until the date of payment.

(2) Interest payable under subsection (1) must be calculated at the prescribed rate and in the prescribed manner.

Recovery of administration expenses and interest

21.2

(1) A fee payable under this Act, and any interest payable in relation to the fee, may be recovered as a debt due to the government.

(2) If a person fails to pay a fee as required under this Act, or any interest in relation to the fee, the administrator may file a certificate in a court that has jurisdiction and, upon filing, the certificate has the same force and effect, and all proceedings may be taken on it, as if it were a judgment of the court with which it is filed.

(3) A certificate under subsection (2) must

(

a) be signed by the administrator, and

(

b) contain the following information:

(

i) the name of the person who is liable to pay the fee and any related interest;

(ii) the particulars of the matter in relation to which the fee is imposed;

(iii) the amount of the fee and any related interest.

Section 23 is amended by adding the following subsections:

(2.1) Without limiting subsection (1) or (2), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, for the purpose of recovering the expenses arising out of the administration of this Act in a fiscal year, make regulations as follows:

(

a) authorizing the administrator, by order of the administrator, to

(

i) set fees,

(ii) require payment of the fees in a specific manner or at a specific time, and

(iii) exempt a responsible person or a class of responsible persons from the payment of a fee;

(

b) authorizing the administrator to collect fees from responsible persons, a class of responsible person or a particular responsible person;

(

c) requiring the administrator, before setting a fee under paragraph (a) (i), to hold a hearing;

(

d) providing for the manner in which a hearing required under paragraph (

c) is to be held and authorizing the administrator to make rules respecting the hearing;

(

e) prescribing interest rates and the manner of calculating interest for the purposes of

section 21.1 (2) [interest on unpaid fees] .

(2.2) In setting a fee under subsection (2.1) (a) (

i) for a fiscal year, the administrator may take into consideration any factor the administrator considers appropriate.

(2.3) An order made under subsection (2.1) (

a) in a fiscal year may be retroactive to the extent necessary to recover the expenses of administering this Act in the fiscal year.

(2.4) In making an order under subsection (2.1) (a), the administrator may make different orders in relation to different persons and different classes of persons, things, circumstances or other matters.

Zero-Emission Vehicles Act

7 The heading to

Part 2 of the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act, S.B.C. 2019, c. 29, is repealed and the following substituted:

Part 2 – Provincial Target .

Section 7 is amended

(

a) by striking out " targets are established " and substituting " target is established ",

(

b) by repealing paragraphs (

a) and (b), and

(

c) in paragraph (

c) by striking out " 100% " and substituting " 75% ".

Section 8 (1) is amended by striking out " targets " and substituting " target ".

10 Sections 9 and 30 (1) (

a) are repealed.

Part 3 – Housing and Municipal Affairs Amendments

Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Act

Section 58.1 of the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Act, S.B.C. 1956, c. 59, is amended

(

a) by renumbering the

section as

section 58.1 (1),

(

b) in subsection (1) in the definition of "eligible development" by adding the following paragraph:

(

e) a category prescribed under subsection (2); , and

(

c) by adding the following subsection:

(2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing categories for the purposes of paragraph (

e) of the definition of "eligible development" in subsection (1).

Local Government Act

Section 563 (1) of the Local Government Act, R.S.B.C. 2015, c. 1, is amended by adding the following paragraph:

(

e) a category prescribed by regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act

Section 72 (2) (

a) and (

b) of the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act, S.B.C. 2002, c. 77, is amended by striking out " hearing " wherever it appears and substituting " dispute resolution proceeding ".

Section 80.3 is amended by adding the following subsection:

(2.1) The director may admit as evidence, whether or not it would be admissible under the laws of evidence, any oral or written testimony or any record or thing that the director considers to be

(

a) necessary and appropriate, and

(

b) relevant to the imposition and review of administrative penalties under this Part.

Residential Tenancy Act

Section 79 (2) (

a) and (

b) of the Residential Tenancy Act, S.B.C. 2002, c. 78, is amended by striking out " hearing " wherever it appears and substituting " dispute resolution proceeding ".

Section 87.3 is amended by adding the following subsection:

(2.1) The director may admit as evidence, whether or not it would be admissible under the laws of evidence, any oral or written testimony or any record or thing that the director considers to be

(

a) necessary and appropriate, and

(

b) relevant to the imposition and review of administrative penalties under this Part.

University Endowment Land Act

Section 3 (

d) of the University Endowment Land Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 469, is amended by striking out " all fees, rates " and substituting " all fees, fines, rates ".

Section 12 is amended

(

a) in subsection (1) by adding the following paragraph:

(g.01) for the purposes of enforcing bylaws made under this Act; ,

(

b) in subsection (4) by striking out " Provisions in a bylaw " and substituting " Subject to subsection (4.1), provisions in a bylaw ", and

(

c) by adding the following subsection:

(4.1) A bylaw imposing a fine, cost or other penalty may not vary under subsection (4) (b).

Section 14 is amended

(

a) in subsection (2) by adding the following paragraph:

(

d) Division 3 [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences] of

Part 8 [Bylaw Enforcement and Related Matters] . , and

(

b) by adding the following subsections:

(3) For the purposes of this section,

(

a) a reference in

section 265 (1) [penalties in relation to ticket offences] of the Community Charter to a bylaw under

section 260 (1) [enforcement powers] of that Act must be read as a reference to a bylaw under

section 12 (1) (g.01) of this Act,

(

b) a reference in

section 416 (1.1) of the Local Government Act to a bylaw under

section 413 (1) [bylaw enforcement: fines and other penalties] of that Act must be read as a reference to a bylaw under

section 12 (1) (g.01) of this Act,

(

c) a reference in

section 28 (2) [service on individual] of the Offence Act to a bylaw enforcement officer appointed under

section 36 of the Police Act must be read as a bylaw enforcement officer designated under this Act, and

(

d) a reference in

section 28 (3) of the Offence Act to a bylaw of a municipality or regional district must be read as a reference to a bylaw under

section 12 (1) (g.01) of this Act.

(4) A fine, cost or other penalty imposed under a bylaw made under this Act constitutes a debt due to the government and may be recovered as such in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 15 (2) is amended by striking out " a decision made under subsection (1) (

b) may appeal " and substituting " a decision made under subsection (1) (b), other than a decision relating to the enforcement of a bylaw, may appeal ".

21 The following

section is added:

Prosecution by enforcement officer

15.01

(1) A bylaw enforcement officer may appear as, and may exercise the powers and perform the functions of, a prosecutor in relation to a ticket under this Act whether or not the bylaw enforcement officer is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.

(2) Section 15 (1) [authority to practise law] of the Legal Profession Act does not apply in respect of anything authorized under this section.

Section 15.01 (2), as enacted by

section 21 of this Act, is repealed and the following substituted:

(2) Section 37 [unauthorized practice of law] of the Legal Professions Act does not apply in respect of anything authorized under this section.

Section 15.1 is amended by striking out " powers and functions " in both places and substituting " powers and duties ".

Section 16 is repealed.

Vancouver Charter

Section 523D of the Vancouver Charter, S.B.C. 1953, c. 55, is amended

(

a) in subsection (10.3) by adding the following paragraph:

(

d) a category prescribed under subsection (21). , and

(

b) by adding the following subsection:

(21) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing categories for the purposes of paragraph (

d) of the definition of "eligible development" in subsection (10.3).

Consequential and Related Amendments

Administrative Tribunals Statutes Amendment Act, 2015

26 Sections 132 and 178 of the Administrative Tribunals Statutes Amendment Act, 2015, S.B.C. 2015, c. 10, are repealed.

South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act

Section 34.24 of the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act, S.B.C. 1998, c. 30, is amended

(

a) in subsection (1) by striking out " eligible in accordance with an applicable bylaw or regulation under this

section " and substituting " eligible in accordance with an applicable bylaw under subsection (4) or an applicable regulation under subsection (5) ",

(

b) in subsection (1) by adding the following paragraph:

(

e) a category prescribed by regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council. , and

(

c) by adding the following subsection:

(6) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing categories for the purposes of paragraph (

e) of the definition of "eligible development" in subsection (1).

Part 4 – Public Safety and Solicitor General Amendments

Correction Act

Section 12 of the Correction Act, S.B.C. 2004, c. 46, is amended

(

a) in subsection (1) by adding the following paragraph:

(

e) to assist a treatment provider to give treatment to an inmate. , and

(

b) by adding the following subsection:

(3) In subsection (1) (e):

"treatment" means treatment

(

a) within the meaning of the Mental Health Act , and

(

b) that is authorized by the director under that Act to be given to an inmate, including treatment described in a consent to treatment form signed under

section 8 (

a) of that Act;

"treatment provider" means a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or other person who is authorized to provide treatment.

29 The following

section is added to Division 5 of

Part 2:

Investigation and Standards Office

26.1

(1) The minister must maintain the Investigation and Standards Office.

(2) The director may delegate in writing one or more of the director's powers and duties to an employee of the Investigation and Standards Office.

(3) An employee to whom a power or duty is delegated under subsection (2) may not delegate that power or duty to another person.

Section 27 is amended

(

a) by striking out " The minister " wherever it appears and substituting " The director ",

(

b) in subsection (1) by striking out " that the minister considers appropriate " and substituting " that the director considers appropriate ", and

(

c) by adding the following subsection:

(4) As soon as practicable after completing an inspection, the director must report the findings of the inspection to the minister and the public.

Section 28 is amended

(

a) by repealing subsections (1), (2) (

a) and (4),

(

b) in subsection (2) (

d) by striking out " must, subject to subsection (3), investigate complaints about the administration of this Act as it affects the complainant, on receiving a written complaint " and substituting " may investigate complaints about the administration of this Act as it affects the complainant, on receiving a complaint ", and

(

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

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) (d), the director may refuse to investigate a complaint or may stop or postpone investigation of a complaint if, in the opinion of the director, any of the following apply:

(

a) having regard to all the circumstances, the complaint has already been addressed adequately and further investigation is not necessary;

(

b) the law or an existing administrative procedure provides a remedy adequate in the circumstances, and, if the complainant has not used the remedy, there is no reasonable justification for the failure to do so;

(

c) in the circumstances, investigation would not benefit the complainant;

(

d) the complaint is frivolous, vexatious, not made in good faith or concerns a trivial matter.

Section 29 is amended by striking out " the minister " wherever it appears and substituting " the director ".

Commencement

33 The provisions of this Act referred to in column 1 of the following table come into force as set out in column 2 of the table:

Item

Column 1

Provisions of Act

Column 2

Commencement

Anything not elsewhere covered by this table

The date of Royal Assent

Section 13

April 8, 2024

Section 15

April 8, 2024

Sections 17 to 24

By regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council

Sections 28 to 32

By regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council

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