News & Events - Legislative Watch
March 21 – April 11, 2008
Issue: 4
Government Announcements
- The Province bans expiry dates and service charges under legislation introduced by the Public Safety and Solicitor General (Gift Card Certainty) Statutes Amendment Act. Read more
- The Electoral Districts Act 2008, introduced by Attorney General Wally Oppal, will increase BC’s electoral districts to 85, up from the current 79 seats. To view the electoral districts proposed for 2009, visit the commission website at: http://www.bc-ebc.ca/final_report/province_smp. Read more
- The BC government introduced the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap and Trade) Act, which will make BC the first Canadian province to introduce legislation authorizing hard caps on greenhouse gas emissions. Read more
- The Oil and Gas Activities Act establishes new requirements for notification and consultation of individuals directly affected by oil and gas proposals and will add new regulatory powers to improve the protection of environmental and landowner interests. Read more
- Health Minister George Abbott introduced the Health Care Costs Recovery Act, which will enable the government to recover millions of dollars annually in health-care costs from third party wrongdoers and their insurers. Read more
- The Health Professions Regulatory Reform Act expands patient access to and choice of health professionals. The act will enable qualified physicians working in other provinces and countries to practice in British Columbia with a restricted licence in their specific areas of qualification. Read more
- The new e-Health (Personal Health Information Access and Protection of Privacy) Act moves BC a step closer to giving citizens access to their health records and medical information, while strengthening privacy protection. Read more
- New regulations that restrict the promotion and sale of tobacco products, and ban smoking in indoor public spaces and workplaces took effect in BC on March 31. Read more
- A new website gives instant access to the latest information on collective agreements in BC. Visitors to www.bcbargaining.ca can find information on the status of labour negotiations throughout the province and the latest data on settlements, expiring agreements, work stoppages and wages. Read more
- The Province gives $1-million to improve international credential recognition programs in BC. The funding is directed at BC regulators of occupations and trades and will allow them to design new or enhance existing foreign and inter-provincial credential assessment and licensing practices. Read more
- Easy-to-access immigration information is now available at WelcomeBC’s new website, www.WelcomeBC.ca. Read more
- The Province plans to invest $5 million to further develop a cruise ship facility in Nanaimo’s inner harbour, which is expected to draw up to 50 cruise ship visits annually. Read more
- Premier Gordon Campbell announced the interim appointment of John van Dongen as acting Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Read more
- Television and radio journalist Bridgitte Anderson has been appointed the new press secretary to Premier Gordon Campbell. Read more
- The Province and the Lil’wat Nation have signed a historic land-use agreement that encompasses just under 800,000 hectares. Read more
- BC is linking its 13 independent policing agencies and 110 RCMP detachments through one system that will enable them solve complex cases more quickly. Read more
- New figures from Statistics Canada show BC led all provinces in inter-provincial migration in 2007, attracting nearly 13,400 people, a 31 per cent increase over 2006. Read more
Question Period Topics
- Investigation into ICBC vehicle sales
- Funding for post-secondary education
- Recommendation from Sullivan mine accident inquest
- Special prosecutor investigation of former Solicitor General
- ICBC performance bonuses to Paul Taylor
- Protection of information in CORNET database
- Great Bear Conservancy and Nascall River power project
- Funding for Royal Columbian Hospital
- Agricultural Land Reserve regulations
- Wild salmon fishery
- Non-essential pesticide use
- Product labeling of carcinogens
- Proposed power project for cascade falls
- Surgical services at Kelowna General Hospital
- Agricultural Land Reserve Regulations
- Sale of school lands
- Homelessness
- Independence of representative for children and youth
- Deaths of children in Merritt
- Ferry safety
- Inquiry into death of Frank Paul
- Funding for forestry program at College of New Caledonia
- Future of Elk Falls sawmill
- Penalty provisions for mining industry
- Safety inspectors of mines
- Investigation into tree farm licence land removals
- Support for women and children in bountiful
- BC Place roof replacement
- Disclosure of documents in BC Rail court case
Status of Bills
BILLS INTRODUCED
Government Bills
- Bill 15 – Utilities Commission Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 16 – Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirements) Act
- Bill 17 – Public Safety and Solicitor General (Gift Card Certainty) Statutes Amendment Act
- Bill 18 – Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap and Trade) Act
- Bill 19 – Electoral Districts Act
- Bill 20 – Oil and Gas Activities Act
- Bill 21 – Medicare Protection Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 22 – Health Care Costs Recovery Act
- Bill 23 – Public Health Act
- Bill 24 – E-Health (Personal Health Information Access and Protection of Privacy) Act
- Bill 25 – Health Professions (Regulatory Reform) Amendment Act, 2008
BILLS DEBATED
Government Bills
- Bill 11 – Small Business and Revenue Statutes Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 13 – Labour and Citizens’ Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 15 – Utilities Commission Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 19 – Electoral Districts Act
- Bill 16 – Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirements) Act
BILLS PASSED
Government Bills
- Bill 2 – Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2008
- Bill 11 – Small Business and Revenue Statutes Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 13 – Labour and Citizens’ Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 15 – Utilities Commission Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 19 – Electoral Districts Act
Reports Tabled
- 2007 annual report of the Conflict-of-Interest Commissioner:
- Auditor General report No. 7, Improving Financial Reporting for British Columbians: Report on the 2006/07 Public Accounts;
- Auditor General report No. 8, Managing Access to the Corrections Case Management System;
- British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission, Amendments to the Preliminary Report.
- Capital project plan, integrated case management project.
- The provincial health officer's annual report, entitled An Ounce of Prevention Revisited: A Review of Health Promotion and Selected Outcomes for Children and Youth in B.C. Schools.