The Judicial Review Procedure Act will be modernized to “keep judicial reviews fair, timely and affordable.” There will be changes clarifying how sensitive cabinet information is protected during court challenges while also ensuring judicial reviews “remain streamlined and focused on accountability, rather than becoming expensive, trial-like proceedings.”
The amendments will introduce a 60-day deadline to apply for judicial review in most cases, which will reduce delay, uncertainty and legal costs for tribunals, individuals and government, the province said.
It added that this would result in quicker resolution of disputes with government decision-makers, clearer rules and a more efficient and predictable justice system, demonstrating how the government is working to improve access to justice.
There are two proposed amendments to the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act and Residential Tenancy Act to “ensure both acts operate as they were intended,” with the changes being “housekeeping in nature.”
One amendment will correct an error in the Acts by clearly confirming the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) director’s authority to review decisions and orders from facilitated settlements. The amendment would retroactively apply to reflect how the RTB has been conducting reviews since 2024.
The second amendment “aligns the evidence rules for administrative penalty proceedings with the existing dispute-resolution process.” It will provide clarity that the proceedings use evidence rules designed for administrative decision-making, rather than the court rules of evidence, which would support fair and efficient decisions.
Proposed amendments to the Correction Act are for timely and appropriate responses from correctional officers in the case of an inmate’s mental health crisis by “formally authorizing correctional officers to assist health care providers when delivering involuntary psychiatric treatment under the Mental Health Act.”
Currently, health providers rely on non-corrections security officers when assistance is required due to correctional staff lacking clear statutory authority. These changes were said to close the legal gap and ensure effective use of public resources through the reduction of dependence on external security services.
“The amendments will also seek to better reflect the authority of the Attorney General’s Investigation and Standards Office (ISO) to conduct inspections and investigations and review disciplinary hearing appeals,” the province added.
“The changes will require the ISO to report inspection findings to the Minister of Attorney General and the public, as well as refine the inmate complaint process to make it more accessible and give the ISO director broader discretion regarding complaint investigations.”
The proposed amendments to the University Endowment Land (UEL) Act would apply to enforcement of university endowment land bylaws using ticketing similar to that which is already used by local governments.
“Currently, these bylaws can only be enforced through Offence Act prosecutions or civil proceedings, which are time-consuming and expensive,” the province said. “Residents living in university endowment lands adjacent to Vancouver have asked for improved enforcement tools to encourage compliance with UEL bylaws.”
These changes will allow the UEL administration to “implement long-needed tools to enforce bylaws, improve local governance and meet community expectations for effective and accountable enforcement.”
The proposed amendments to the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Act, South Coast BC Transportation Authority Act, Local Government Act and Vancouver Charter provide for communities accessing new tools to help get more homes built and lower upfront costs for home builders.
The amendments will better position communities to access federal funding that supports infrastructure and greater flexibility to encourage more homes for people in the communities. There will be new eligible project categories that local governments can choose to apply to reduce cost charges.
Local governments and TransLink will be allowed to collect charges from new projects to help fund infrastructure for community growth. Under current provincial legislation, they can only waive or reduce charges for a few specific project types to reduce the cost of building them.
The province will be able to set these categories through future regulation and receive funding through the federal Build Communities Strong Fund. It said that this builds on earlier measures allowing home builders to delay paying 75 per cent of development fees for up to four years or until occupancy, whichever comes first, helping reduce the cost of delivering new homes.
“Making these changes will put B.C. in a strong position to engage Canada’s proposed program and quickly implement any conditions required to enter a future bilateral agreement once program details are finalized,” the province said.
The proposed amendments to the Fuel Price Transparency Act will allow for an industry-funded model where the administrator (the British Columbia Utilities Commission) can recover costs of administering the Act from fuel suppliers. The Act “promotes transparency, competitiveness and public confidence in the transportation fuel market,” the province said.
For the Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) Act, the proposed amendments will “adjust the target to respond to evolving market conditions, while continuing to drive ZEV supply to British Columbia and support consumer choice, affordability, economic development, public health and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”
Under the Act, automakers are required to meet an escalating annual percentage of ZEV sales in B.C. The Act’s amendments include the reduction of the 2035 ZEV sales target from 100 per cent to 75 per cent to match the federal government.
“The alignment will provide certainty for automakers, reduce their regulatory burden and support them in addressing challenges, such as slower than expected consumer adoption driven by supply chain disruptions and U.S. tariffs,” the province said.
It is also removing the prohibition on the sale of new internal-combustion-engine vehicles from Jan. 1, 2035, and shifting the 2026 and 2030 ZEV sales targets to only the ZEV regulation, which is expected to retain the 26 per cent of ZEV sales compliance requirement for 2026 and 2027.
If you have information, story ideas or news tips for Law360 Canada on business-related law and litigation, including class actions, please contact Anosha Khan at anosha.khan@lexisnexis.ca or 905-415-5838.