Energy and Mines News:

Province Releases Energy Plan Report on Progress
The Province has released an Energy Plan Report on Progress detailing the work that's been done to date in achieving the goals and targets set out in the BC Energy Plan: A Vision for Clean Energy Leadership released in 2007, it was recently announced. Click here to read the full government release.

Family, Wills and Estates News:

B.C. Court Tells Ottawa to Amend Indian Act
The B.C. Court of Appeal has given the federal government a year to change parts of the Indian Act (federal) that violate the charter rights of some aboriginal women and their children. Click here to view full story as reported in the CBC.

Providing Notice to Estranged Beneficiaries
A recent British Columbia court case addressed the degree of diligence required of an executor in sending notice to estranged beneficiaries, and highlighted the consequences of not going far enough. Click here to read the full story from Clark Wilson.

Forest and Environment News:

U.S. Black Liquor Law Threatens to Kill
Canadian Pulp Sector
The Canadian pulp and paper industry says it is facing mill closures and the loss of its global markets over a massive United States green energy subsidy that could provide a $6 billion taxpayer handout to American kraft pulp producers. The subsidy, a tax credit for mixing alternative fuels with fossil fuel, can cut as much as 60 per cent off the cost of chemical pulp in the United States. It has opened up a competitive gap no producer in the northern hemisphere can match. View full story as reported by Gordon Hamilton, Vancouver Sun.

New Discussion Paper on the Future
of Silviculture in BC
The intent of this discussion paper is to solicit input on a new vision to guide silviculture on public forest lands and make British Columbia a world leader in growing trees. This paper outlines challenges and opportunities, benefits, the current silviculture framework, principles to guide the development of a new framework, and some questions to stimulate discussion on the future of silviculture in British Columbia. Click here to view Discussion Paper.

Carbon Trust Looks to Invest in Forest
The Pacific Carbon Trust has released a request for information to develop forest-based carbon offsets, marking the first major step toward positioning B.C. forests as a key supplier in the global carbon market, it was recently announced. Click here to view the official government news release.

Tree Poachers hit B.C. Conservation Area
When an old-growth maple tree falls in the majestic woods of British Columbia's Burnaby Mountain, does it make a sound? Yes . . . but only once it's been transformed into a guitar. Poachers have chopped down five trees and slashed at least 25 more within the mountain's conservation area in search of a specific grain used in high-end guitars. Click here to view the full story as reported by CTV.

Air Pollution Monitoring Market
to Rise 20% in 2010 Due to
Greenhouse Gas Measurement Needs
The world market for stack and ambient continuous monitoring plus periodic monitoring and other related services will rise to $2.2 billion in 2010. This is a 20 percent increase over the projected 2009 market. The rapid expansion in CO2 measurement investment and the increased activity for stack monitoring in Asia will account for most of the increase. Click here to view the full article as posted on EnvironmentalExpert.com.

Health News:

B.C. Gives Naturopaths Right to Prescribe Drugs
Naturopaths in B.C. will now be able to prescribe drugs to their patients, making them the first alternative health-care providers in the country to do so. Click here to view full story as reported in the CBC.

H1N1 Influenza (Swine flu) Virus Under Surveillance
British Columbia is working closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada, which, in turn, is working with health officials from the United States and Mexico to investigate an outbreak of the H1N1 influenza (swine flu). A number of cases of the flu have been confirmed in British Columbia. Click here to view the April 28, 2009 B.C. government news release. Updates on this developing story are posted regularly on the CBC website, including this article with the Prime Minister's comments.

Labour and Company News:

TILMA in Effect
Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) legislative changes have been passed. TILMA is a comprehensive agreement on trade, investment and labour mobility that applies to all sectors of the economy in Alberta and British Columbia. TILMA-related Corporate Registry transactions commence effective April 27, 2009. Please Note: The related amendments to legislation affected by this agreement were originally intended to come into effect on March 30, 2009 but were subsequently delayed pending the passage of Alberta legislation. Quickscribe intends to post these amendments within the next 24 hours. The amendments will not be listed in this Reporter, but will be made available via our RSS feeds and on the Recent Changes section of your online service as they are posted.

Life after Death of Mandatory Retirement
When Larry Anderson turned 65 a few years ago, he was forced to retire from his job as an instructor at what is now Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Anderson wasn't ready to go, nor could he afford to. Click here to view the full story as reported in the Vancouver Sun.

SMS Labour Bulletin
The law firm Staples McDannold Stewart released a new Labour Bulletin — Human Rights Tribunal May Reinstate Employee Where Discrimination a Factor in Dismissal. Please click here to view the Bulletin.

Local Government News:

Ministry of Community Development Releases
Annual Summary of Legislation Relating to
Local Governments
This is a summary of legislation passed during the 2008 Spring and Fall sittings, as well as the January 2009 special sitting of the Legislature that may be of direct interest to local governments. Click here to view the summary report.

SMS Labour Bulletin
The law firm Staples McDannold Stewart released a new Labour Bulletin — Human Rights Tribunal May Reinstate Employee Where Discrimination a Factor in Dismissal. Please click here to view the Bulletin.

Motor Vehicle News:

BC Legislation Planning for Safer Trucking Industry
A four-point plan to improve the safety of commercial vehicles has been tabled in the B.C. government. The four points of the plan are:

• Implement a Premium Carrier Program where privileges are given to carriers that follow best practices.
• Ensure enforcement activities target shippers who overload or improperly load vehicles.
• Remove vehicles with critical defects from the road by seizing their license plates for up to 30 days.
• Enhance the auditing program for the facilities in the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program.

Recognition of US Recreational
Vehicle Standards:
The CVSE released a circular this month to advise that Commercial Vehicle Safety & Enforcement (CVSE) will recognize the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Z240 RV and the United States Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) certification process for recreational vehicles manufactured or constructed in North America. This updates the BC Motor Vehicle Act Regulations (MVAR) Division 31.01 which only references CSA Z240 RV and will apply to vehicles manufactured on or after October 1, 1972. Click here to view the official Circular.

New Rules of the Road to Protect
Emergency Workers' Safety

On April 6, 2009, Solicitor General John van Dongen announced a new regulation that will require drivers to slow down and move over when passing stopped emergency vehicles at the roadside. On roads with speed limits of 80 km/hr or higher, drivers will be required to slow down to 70 km/hr. On roads with speed limits of less than 80 km/hr, drivers will be required to slow down to 40 km/hr. This will create a safer environment for municipal emergency workers at the roadside. The regulation takes effect on June 1, 2009. Drivers who do not comply can receive a $150 ticket and three points on their driving record. Click here to read the news release.

Real Estate and Builders Lien News:

Foreclosure Risk: Location, Location, Location
Canadian mortgage default laws are set by provinces and vary so sharply that homeowners in different corners of the country may as well be on different planets. Click here to view full story as reported by the Globe and Mail's ReportonBusiness.com .