Energy and Mines News:

OHS Regulation Compliance Alert -
Flame Retardant Clothing
Recent discussions with employers in the Drilling and Well Servicing sector have revealed that not all Contractors are adhering to the requirements of the OHS Regulation with regards to providing FRC clothing to their workers. See the Compliance Alert.

Forest and Environment News:

Logging contractors lose financial backing -
Loans called for up to 35 coast operators after
financier goes into receivership
Up to 35 contract loggers on the B.C. coast are having their loans called now that Nanaimo financier Forest & Marine Group has gone into receivership. "There’s going to be a lot of forced liquidations," said Kevin Mason, investment analyst at Equity Research Associates. "People are going to be scrambling around looking for alternatives." See the News story as reported in the Vancouver Sun.

B.C. budget bites into green programs
Public transit and energy-efficient renovations are two programs that will take a hit from the B.C. budget courtesy of changes due to the new harmonized sales tax. See the News story as reported by the CBC.

Wood Roofing on the Rise In Northern China
The commercial use of B.C. wood for apartment re-roofing has expanded for the first time into northern China. Through a memorandum of understanding with the Province of Hebei, the apartment re-roofing in Shijiazhuang is a two-phase project. The first phase is confirmed, and the second phase is contingent on the results of the first phase. See the News Release.

Federal Court Decision Interpreting Species at Risk Act
May Create Problems for Landowners and
Resource Users
The Federal Court recently issued its first substantive decision interpreting the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The decision, hailed as a victory for the environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) that brought the application, and for the species they are interested in protecting, may prove to be problematic for the government, and for those private property owners or entities operating in areas with habitat for species listed as endangered or threatened in SARA. See the Full Article as published by Janice Walton at Blakes.

Health News:

MSP premiums to rise six per cent
Most British Columbians and major employers will face a six-per-cent hike in monthly Medical Services Plan premiums effective Jan. 1, 2010 to match the rise in health care spending this fiscal year. Premiums will go up each year to deal with escalating costs. See the News Story as reported by the Vancouver Sun.

Benefit Process Simplified for Parents
of B.C. Newborns
A new federal-provincial automated benefit service will give B.C. parents the option of applying for all child benefit programs when they register the birth of their newborn. See the News Release.

Flu Vaccine Plan Will Be Too Slow: CMAJ
Canada's approach to vaccinating people against swine flu is too slow to protect the most vulnerable, an editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal says. See the News story as reported by the CBC.

Labour and Company News:

Consumer Taxation Branch
For the latest Bulletins from the Consumer Taxation Branch, see What's New.

Local Government News:

B.C. First Nations Leaders Declare Reconciliation Act
Officially Dead - Watershed Legislation Fails Over
Provincial Rights And Powers
British Columbia's proposed Recognition and Reconciliation Act, which would have recognized aboriginal land claims throughout the province, was recently declared officially dead. See the News story as reported by the Vancouver Sun.

LoGo Notebook
Staples McDannold Stewart has posted the Summer 2009 issue of their LoGo NoteBook which includes articles on "Damages for Digging" and "Awarding Costs in Public Interest Cases" among others. See the LoGo Notebook.

Motor Vehicle News:

B.C. to Ban Talking, Texting While Driving
During the Speech from the Throne, the B.C. government announced that it plans to ban texting while driving. The new law will also prohibit new drivers from talking on their cellphones, while experienced drivers would be limited to the use of hands-free telephones. See the News story as reported by the Vancouver Sun.

Real Estate and Builders Lien News:

Privacy Commissioner's Office Releases
Strata Corporation Guidelines
B.C.'s Privacy Commissioner's office this month released "Privacy Guidelines for Strata Corporations and Strata Agents". These new guidelines support B.C.'s strata corporations in meeting their privacy obligations under the Personal Information Protection Act and the Strata Property Act. Noting that strata corporations are run by condo owners who volunteer their time, Information and Privacy Commissioner David Loukidelis said, "We know those who volunteer their time to help with condo management need support in complying with the privacy law, which is why we created this tool." See the Guidelines.

No More Leaky Condo Repair Loans: Minister
The Homeowner Protection Program abruptly stopped accepting applications at the end of July. In protest, when the Legislature opened some angry condo owners gathered on the lawn, demanding the interest-free loans be continued. B.C. Housing Minister Rich Coleman has rejected the protesters' demands to reinstate the loans for leaky condos. See the News Story as reported by the CBC.