News & Events - Legislative Watch
April 12 – April 25, 2008
Issue: 5
Government Announcements
- Economic Development Minister Colin Hansen introduced legislation to implement the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) between BC and Alberta. TILMA was designed to allow a freer movement of people and services across the provincial boundary. Read more
- The Province has introduced Bill 27, legislation to help municipalities and regional districts create more compact, sustainable and greener communities. Read more
- Recently introduced Bill 33, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2008, affects a variety of provincial statutes ranging from the Motor Vehicle Act to the Business Paper Reduction Act. Read more
- The Resource Road Act is designed to enhance safety and provide a more consistent, fair and flexible approach to regulating industrial use of resource roads. Read more
- New legislation will update and simplify the making of wills and administering of estates. Bill 28, the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, reduces the number of separate acts that involve estate law from seven to one. Read more
- The newly introduced Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Emissions Standards) Statutes Amendment Act focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from certain types of industrial operations while opening opportunities in the bio-energy sector. Read more
- The Province is investing $5.7-million in geoscience projects to enhance the exploration and development of oil and gas in BC. Read more
- The Sea-to-Sky Land and Resource Management planning process is now complete. The plan and agreements cover an area spanning the headwaters of the Lillooet River to its outflow into Harrison Lake, and from Lions Bay and Indian Arm to D’arcy. Read more
- The Province has launched the $90-million BC Renaissance Capital Fund, and secured six top-tier institutional venture capital fund managers to help attract market expertise and venture capital investment to BC, announced Colin Hansen, Minister of Economic Development. Read more
- Disclosure of executive compensation across BC’s public sector will be clarified and expanded through amendments to the Public Sector Employers Act, announced Finance Minister Carole Taylor. Read more
- Health Minister George Abbott introduced the Health Miscellaneous Statutes Act, which will make a number of changes to existing legislation, including greater transparency in the work of the Medical Services Commission. Read more
- Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon and TransLink chair Dale Parker announced that the Evergreen Rapid Transit Line will be constructed on the northwest route, connecting Lougheed Town Centre with Coquitlam Town Centre through Port Moody. Read more
- Geoff Plant has been appointed to the British Columbia Law Institute board for a three-year term that began Feb. 7, 2008. Read more
- The $4.5-million remediation of an abandoned Mount Washington open pit copper mine will support the recovery of Vancouver Island fish stocks, announced Environment Minister Barry Penner and Minister of State for Mining Kevin Krueger. Read more
- The Province is providing $20.5 million in additional funding to BC Transit this fiscal year. Of the provincial funding, $9.1-million is earmarked for a 10 per cent increase in BC Transit’s bus services, while $11.4-million will help pay for 48 new buses for 26 transit systems. Read more
- The April 23, 2008 sale of oil and gas land rights in northeast BC generated $39.5 million in bonus bids. Forty-one parcels covering 26,939 hectares in northeast BC were offered, and bids were accepted on 31 for an average price of $2,635 per hectare. Read more
- The Province has granted university status to the University College of the Fraser Valley, Kwantlen University College, Malaspina College and Capilano College.
Question Period Topics
- Government response to tree farm licence land removals
- Post-secondary education funding
- Ferry fares
- BC Ferries board appointment and remuneration
- Independent power project proposals
- Access to information on Olympic secretariat and VANOC meetings
Status of Bills
BILLS INTRODUCED
Government Bills
- Bill 26 – Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 27 – Local Government (Green Communities) Statutes Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 28 – Wills, Estates and Succession Act
- Bill 29 – Environment (Species and Public Protection) Statutes Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 30 – Resource Road Act
- Bill 31 – Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Emissions Standards) Statutes Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 32 – Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement Implementation Act
- Bill 33 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 35 – Social Workers Act
- Bill 36 – Motor Vehicle (Banning Smoking When Children Present) Amendment Act, 2008
- Bill 37 – Carbon Tax Act
- Bill 38 – Protected Areas of British Columbia (Conservancies and Parks) Amendment Act, 2008
Members’ Bills
- Bill M 202 – British Columbia Rail Corridor Safety Act, 2008
- Bill M 203 – TransLink Openness Act, 2008
BILLS DEBATED
Government Bills
- Bill 17 – Public Safety and Solicitor General (Gift Card Certainty) Statutes Amendment Act
- Bill 18 – Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap and Trade) Act
- Bill 20 – Oil and Gas Activities Act
BILLS PASSED
Government Bills
- 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
Reports Tabled
- Chair of the board of directors ICBC, letter
- Fort St. John Hospital and residential care facility, major capital project plan
- WorkSafe BC, annual report, 2007
- WorkSafe BC, service plan, 2008-2010