Company and Finance News:

Cryptocurrency and Tax Reporting Obligations
Section 233.3 of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "ITA") requires Canadian resident taxpayers (subject to certain exceptions) and partnerships with Canadian resident members (subject to certain exceptions) (each referred to as a "specified Canadian entity") to report ownership of their "specified foreign property" if the total cost of their "specified foreign property" exceeds $100,000 in aggregate at any time during a taxation year. Taxpayers are required to file a Form T1135, "Foreign Income Verification Statement" ("Form T1135") in these circumstances. Read the full article by Molly Luu and Anish Kamboj with Miller Thomson LLP.

CSA Releases Enforcement Report for 2021
The Canadian Securities Administrators ("CSA") recently released its annual report on the enforcement activities of its members (the "Report"). The Report provides a snapshot of the enforcement activities taken by Canadian securities regulators over the last 12 months.

The number of enforcement proceedings commenced have increased slightly from 2020 and are significantly higher than 2019. While the number of whistleblower complaints and the total quantum of fines, penalties and general compensation have decreased from 2020, we do not believe this signals any intention on the part of regulators to diminish their enforcement efforts. Read the full article by René Sorell, Sean D. Sadler, Wendy Berman, Shane C. D'Souza and Jonathan Nehmetallah with McCarthy Tétrault.

From Deadlock to Liquidation – A Cautionary Tale
Petersen v. Hawley serves as a stark reminder that "shareholders of closely-held companies who go into business together without providing for the resolution of future conflicts in a written agreement are courting disaster – even if (and perhaps especially if) they are related by blood." In Reasons released May 18, 2022, the British Columbia Court of Appeal upheld a decision by the Chambers Judge that it was "just and equitable" to order liquidation of a deadlocked company due to an ongoing and bitter conflict between identical twin brothers, each holding 50% of shares of the family company. Read the full article by Jordanna Cytrynbaum, Carey Veinotte, Jessica L. Lewis and Shayna L. Clarke with Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP.

Mind the Gap: Comments on Canada's Tax Gap
In June 2022, Canada published a report concerning its tax gap. A "tax gap" is the difference between (a) the amount of money a tax authority could collect, in theory, if everyone complied with the law; and (b) the amount in fact collected. Canada's tax gap has remained stable for the period 2014 to 2018, at 9% of tax revenue. This translates to between $20 billion and $24 billion for the years in question (because Federal tax revenue increased). This briefing note addresses an interesting aspect of the Canadian approach to reporting the tax gap, namely the decision to publish both the "gross" and "net" gap (described in detail below) and makes certain comparisons with the UK and the US. Read the full article by Gareth O. Williams with Lawson Lundell LLP.

BCFSA Launches Capital Modernization
Framework Project for Credit Unions
On June 28, 2022, BCFSA launched the Capital Modernization Framework Project with an information session for all B.C. credit unions. The Project to modernize the capital framework for B.C.'s credit unions is a multi-year initiative to ensure that capital adequacy requirements for credit unions continue to reflect underlying risks and, as appropriate, developments in international standards and best practices. The ultimate outcome of this initiative is expected to be a new Capital Rule that will replace the existing Capital Requirements Regulation. Read the news release from BCFSA.

BC Securities – Policies & Instruments
The following policies and instruments were recently published on the BCSC website:

• 11-345 – CSA Consultation Paper 43-401 Consultation on National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects
• 94-102 – National Instrument 94-101 Mandatory Central Counterparty Clearing of Derivatives Adoption – National Instrument 94-102 Derivatives: Customer Clearing and Protection of Customer Collateral and Positions

For more information visit the BC Securities website.

Forest and Environment News:

Forest Practices Board Releases
2021-22 Annual Report
The Forest Practices Board has released its 2021-22 annual report, which provides a summary of the board's work in each of its program areas. The annual report also highlights strategic accomplishments, including work on Indigenous engagement and reconciliation, and the introduction of changes to the Forest and Range Practices Act, a number of which reflect past board recommendations. Read the report from the BC Forest Practices Board.

Competency and Authority: Two Sides
of the Same Regulatory Coin
The die is cast and we now operate under the Professional Governance Act (PGA). It is in these nascent stages of professional governance and government oversight that forest professionals ought to take a moment to understand some terms being used that are cornerstone to our successful compliance and implementation of the PGA.

When the term "qualified registered professional" is used, what comes to your mind? For myself, it is the juxtaposition of competence and authority that give rise to being qualified, as they are two sides of the same regulatory coin. Read the full article by Garnet Mierau, published in the Summer 2022 issue of the BC Forest Professional Magazine.

Association of BC Forest Professionals Amends
Code and Bylaws [Reflects PGA]
The bylaws governing the Association of BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP) have been amended to reflect operational business needs and changes in authorities, terminology, and other provisions in the Professional Governance Act.

The ABCFP council approved the amended bylaws on June 9 and they were brought into force under the authority of the Superintendent of Professional Governance on July 4. Read the notice from Canadian Forest Industries.

Will the BC/Tahltan Project Consent
Agreement Deliver on Its Promises?
On June 6, 2022, Premier John Horgan announced that British Columbia (Province or BC) would be taking a historic step by entering into an agreement with the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) to review and, ultimately determine, whether the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project (Project) will be permitted to proceed. According to Premier Horgan, this "consent-based decision-making agreement" will:

• deliver on the promise of reconciliation;
• support predictability for business;
• encourage responsible investment for business in BC; and
• position BC as a preferred destination for ESG (environmental, social and governance) investors.

Read the full article by Arend J.A. Hoekstra and Viviana Berkman with Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP.

Auditing Forest Professionals: Why and How
Does the ABCFP Audit Registrants and
Authorize Practice Reviews
While most of you are generally aware the ABCFP conducts competence and professional conduct audits, the reasons for doing so and the audit process may not be well understood until you are notified by the ABCFP of audit selection. The why and how of auditing competence and professional conduct by the ABCFP has multiple scales.

At the smallest scale, the Professional Governance Act (PGA) requires the ABCFP to serve and protect the public interest with respect to the forestry profession, professional governance, and the conduct of registrants in regulated practice. At a larger scale, the PGA also establishes more specific responsibilities for the ABCFP to establish, monitor, and enforce standards of practice. The key objective at this scale is to enhance the quality of practice so registrants may avoid professional misconduct, conduct unbecoming a registrant, and incompetent performance of duties while engaged in the regulated practice of forestry. Read the full article by Paul Nuttall, published in the Summer 2022 issue of the BC Forest Professional Magazine.

Environmental Appeal Board Decisions
The following Environmental Appeal Board decisions were made recently:

Wildlife Act

• Paul Trepus v. Regional Manager of Recreational Fisheries and Wildlife Programs [Final Decision – Appeal Dismissed]
• James Horner v. Deputy Regional Manager, Fish and Wildlife Branch [Consent Order – Send Back with Direction]
• James (Jim) Munroe v. Deputy Regional Manager, Recreational Fisheries & Wildlife Program [Preliminary Hearing on Method of Hearing – Granted in Part]

Visit the Environmental Appeal Board website for more information.

Forest Appeals Commission Decisions
No Forest Appeals Commission decisions were made recently.

Visit the Forest Appeals Commission website for more information.

Health News:

British Columbia Court of Appeal Rules Against
Expansion of Private Health Care
Recently, the British Columbia Court of Appeal (the "BCCA") released its decision in the case of Cambie Surgeries Corporation v. British Columbia (Attorney General). The case raised issues about the constitutionality of the Medicare Protection Act (British Columbia) (the "MPA"), which restricts the ability of residents in British Columbia to pay privately for medically necessary health care services. At trial, the Plaintiffs argued that this restriction violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the "Charter'') as it prevents residents in British Columbia from accessing private medical treatment when the public system cannot provide timely care. Read the full article by Victoria Mitrova, Julia Kindrachuk and Shawn Foster with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP.

Ombudsperson Finds Only One-Third of Recommendations
Are Implemented Three Years After Report Calling
for Improved Safeguards for People Involuntarily
Detained in B.C. Psychiatric Facilities
Recommendations to protect the legal rights of people involuntarily admitted to psychiatric facilities across the province are still not being adequately implemented according to an investigative update released by the British Columbia Ombudsperson today.

In an update to his 2019 report, Committed to Change: Protecting the Rights of Involuntary Patients under the Mental Health Act, Ombudsperson Jay Chalke finds in the three years following the report, only 8 of 24 recommendations have been fully implemented. Read the full article from the Office of the Ombudsperson.

BC Receives Three-Year Exemption to Decriminalize
Small-Scale Drug Possession
British Columbia has received a three-year exemption to decriminalize possession of small amounts of certain illicit drugs for personal use, the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions announced.

The ministry confirmed that BC is the first province in Canada to receive the exemption from Health Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The exemption will provide another tool for the province to end the overdose crisis and reduce the stigma and harm associated with substance use. Read the full article by Katrina Eñano in the Canadian Lawyer.

Health Canada Implements New
Labelling Standards for NHPs
Health Canada has implemented sweeping amendments to labelling requirements under the Natural Health Products Regulations (NHPR) as a result of challenges identified in recent years surrounding the widespread use of Natural Health Products (NHPs) by Canadians. The amendments imposing revised labelling standards are subject to a three year transition period and will come into force on June 21, 2025. NHPs licensed under the former Regulations, which are labelled in compliance with prior standards before the end of the three-year transition period, will have a further three years from that date to conform to the new requirements. Read the full article by Julia Schatz, Shelby Morrison and Maximillian Pivetta with Bennett Jones LLP.

Labour and Employment News:

The Federal Government Unveils the Proposed
Regulations for Paid Sick Leave
On July 15, 2022 the federal government released its proposed Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Canada Labour Code (Medical Leave with Pay) (the "Proposed Regulations"), with respect to paid sick leave for federally regulated employees. Read the full article by Nicole K. Skuggedal and Miny Atwal with Lawson Lundell LLP.

Pregnancy and Employment –
the Statutory Requirements
Pregnancy can create tricky issues in an employment relationship, triggering both requirements of the BC Employment Standards Act (the "Act") and considerations under the Human Rights Code (the "Code"), making termination or revision of the terms of employment fraught with difficulty.

The Act establishes the statutory requirements, setting the minimum standards for working conditions for all eligible employees in BC. With respect to pregnancy in particular, the Act includes a number of provisions placing responsibilities on employers. The Code provides that an employee cannot be treated differently because of pregnancy or childbirth. Differential treatment in such circumstances would be discrimination for the purposes of the Code. An employer cannot fire an employee because they are pregnant or because they have taken maternity or parental leave and they cannot unilaterally change a fundamental condition of employment because of a pregnancy. Read the full article by Rose Keith, QC with Harper Grey LLP, published in The Verdict.

Case Summary: Court Upholds Decision of the WCAT
Dismissing Appeal for the Failure to File Claim
Application Within the One-Year Limitation Period
Aghili v. British Columbia (Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal), [2022] B.C.J. No. 778, 2022 BCSC 717, British Columbia Supreme Court, May 4, 2022, D. MacDonald J.

On May 1, 2019, the petitioner was allegedly injured while lifting heavy tubing at work. The Workers' Compensation Act requires an application for compensation to be commenced within one year of the date of the injury. The petitioner filed a claim application on June 25, 2020. After being informed that his application was late, the petitioner submitted a letter explaining that he was not able to meet the one year deadline because he understood that the cause of the injury had to be known. The petitioner also claimed that he was unfamiliar with the application process and the one-year time limit. Read the full article by Jackson C. Doyle with Harper Grey LLP.

Employee or Independent Contractor? BC's Court of Appeal
Reminds Employers That Employment Relationships Are
Determined Based on a Fact-Specific, Contextual Approach
Employment lawyers are often asked to consider whether an individual is an "employee" or an "independent contractor". This is an important distinction for employers as the consequences for misclassification can be significant. If independent contractors are misclassified, employers may face liabilities relating to (i) entitlements under applicable employment standards legislation – including unpaid wages, overtime pay, vacation pay and holiday pay; (ii) wrongful dismissal damages (i.e. pay in lieu of notice); (iii) Canada Pension Plan deductions and remittances; (iv), Employment Insurance deductions and remittances; (v) penalties, and interest, for failure to make income tax withholdings and failure to issue T4s; and (vi) retroactive workers' compensation premiums and penalties. Read the full article by Danielle Douglas and Reed D. Smith with McCarthy Tétrault.

Collective Agreement Allows New Federal Statutory
Holiday To Be Added: B.C. Arbitrator
A British Columbia employer must add the new National Day of Truth and Reconciliation to its collective agreement's list of statutory holidays, an arbitrator has ruled.

The company argued that it wasn't the intention of the agreement's holiday provision to add any new holidays proclaimed by government, but the language used left it open to such change, says James Kondopulos, a partner at Roper Greyell in Vancouver. Read the full article by Jeffrey R. Smith in the Canadian HRReporter.

Dismissed Employee's Pursuit of New Career
Results in Reduced Notice Period
In the wrongful dismissal context, a dismissed employee typically has a duty to mitigate their losses following a dismissal. That duty to mitigate most often requires an employee to search, apply for, and accept reasonable new employment to mitigate any claimed losses. A Court may reduce the notice period where a dismissed employee fails to take reasonable steps to mitigate, usually by failing to reasonably pursue new opportunities. At times, the Courts have held that an employee's attempt to train themselves for a new career can be considered an appropriate mitigation strategy, but only after the employee has first made reasonable and diligent efforts to test the market and find new employment in their area of expertise. This issue was revisited in Okano v. Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, 2022 BCSC 881, where the Supreme Court of British Columbia found that a dismissed employee had not properly sought employment in her field before looking for work outside of it. Read the full article by Boris Subara with Fasken Martineau Du Moulin LLP.

New Pension Plan Information & Records Guidelines
Come into Effect September 30th
As noted previously on this blog, pension regulators have been working towards increasing guidance for pension plan administrators in relation to protecting pension plan information and records. The BC Financial Services Authority (FSA) issued drafts of its Information Security Guideline and its Outsourcing Guideline, invited consultation, and in October 2021, issued final versions of those guidelines, which can be found here and here. It has advised that the guidelines are considered to be in effect on September 30, 2022. Read the full article by Lisa Chamzuk with Lawson Lundell LLP.

Local Government News:

New Reference Guide for Regional Districts
Published on Quickscribe
The Community Charter provides the statutory framework for most municipalities in BC, and sets out municipalities' core areas of authority. In order for certain provisions of the Community Charter to apply equally to regional districts, cross references were added to the Local Government Act. For your convenience, Quickscribe has published an updated guide that provides a reference showing which provisions in the CC also apply to regional districts. The guide is accessible via the left navigation.

Pre-Campaign Period for B.C. Municipal
Elections Begins Monday
B.C. municipal elections are scheduled for October 15
B.C. residents who come across political ads for the upcoming municipal election can now check if they comply with election laws.

Elections BC says the "pre-campaign period" for the 2022 General Local Elections begins Monday, July 18 and runs until Sept. 16, 2022. Election advertising rules come into effect at the start of the pre-campaign period and last until the election on October 15. Read the BIV article.

Wildfire Act Review
The BC Wildfire Service is assessing provincial wildfire legislation and policy framework to determine whether improvements could be made to better support local governments with preventing human-caused wildfires. Local governments are encouraged to complete the survey. Read the notice from UBCM.

The Future of Builder's Lien Law
The BC Court of Appeal recently clarified builder's lien law in JVD Installations. The court also hinted at ways the law may develop in the coming years. The decision has significant implications for both owners and builders. So, let's dig into what the decision says. Then, let's discuss what it means and how you can prepare. Read the full article by Sheldon Falk with Civic Legal LLP.

City Councillor's Restaurant Ownership Not Part
of Common Interest: BC Court of Appeal
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has ruled that a councillor had a conflict of interest when he participated in and voted for a program meant to ease pandemic restrictions while having pecuniary interest in a restaurant that was among the first to secure permits for the programs.

In Redmond v. Wiebe, 2022 BCCA 244, Michael Wiebe was an elected member of the Vancouver City Council who also had interest in a restaurant and a pub. When indoor attendance at restaurants was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city adopted a program that allowed an extension of outdoor seating. This program required restaurants to secure permits. Read the full article by Jason Tan in the Canadian Lawyer.

Local Election Resources for Candidates
General local elections in B.C. are held every four years on the third Saturday in October. The next general local elections will be held on October 15, 2022. Resources for the elections are now available on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs website. Read the full article from UBCM.

Ombudsperson Renews Call for Oversight of
Municipal Jails in RCMP Policed Communities
In the wake of a recent investigation by the Independent Investigations Office into a case that identified serious concerns about the conduct of a civilian jail guard who failed to provide adequate care to a man in custody, the Ombudsperson is renewing calls for independent oversight of jail guards in municipalities policed by the RCMP. Read the full news release from the Office of the Ombudsperson.

Motor Vehicle and Traffic News:

Changes to Passenger Transportation
Act – Coming September 1st
The Passenger Transportation Amendment Act, 2022, was originally introduced in March 2022 and is now scheduled to come into force on September 1st. The bill amendments the Passenger Transportation Act by making permanent two transitional authorities that were established in 2019. These provisions establish a process which allows people who were deemed ineligible to drive a passenger directed vehicle to appeal that decision, as well as requiring that passenger-directed vehicle drivers operating under a temporary operating permit meet record-check requirements. The Act applies to drivers of commercial vehicles that carry passengers, such as taxis, limousines and ride-hail vehicles.

Limits on Recoverable Costs in Motor Vehicle
Cases Unconstitutional, B.C. Judge Rules
British Columbia has been dealt another blow in its fight to defend a massive revamp of the provincial automobile insurance system after a regulation limiting recoverable costs in car accident cases was found to be unconstitutional.

In a decision released July 11, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Nathan Smith wrote the regulation would prevent or discourage some plaintiffs from accessing the court for a decision of their case on its merits (Le v. British Columbia (Attorney General) 2022 BCSC 1146). Read the full article by Ian Burns in The Lawyer's Daily.

B.C. Government Appealing Decision
Striking Down Cap on ICBC Costs
The B.C. government says it intends to appeal a court decision striking down a recently enacted regulation that limits how much a plaintiff can be reimbursed for expert testimony and other expenditures arising from motor vehicle accident claims.

The regulation caps reimbursement of fees, such as those charged by experts, at 6% of either the total damages awarded by the court or of the amount agreed to in a settlement. Read the BIV article.

A Review of Ammonium Nitrate Regulations
and Best Practices in Canada
Read the review published by Transport Canada on July 6th.

CVSE Bulletins & Notices
The following documents were posted recently by CVSE:

• CVSE1016 – 9-Axle Logging Truck Routes
• Notice 05-21 – Oversize Restriction for Travel on Highway 1 on Vancouver Island
• Notice 01-22 – Oversize and Overweight Restrictions for Hwy 1 Between Hope and Spences Bridge
• NSC Bulletin 01-2022 –  Publication of Carriers Cancelled for Cause
• CVSE1014 – LCV Operating Conditions & Routes (July 2022)
• NSC Bulletin 02-2022 – Recording Hours of Service for Taxis waiting in the queue at Airport, Ferry or Cruise Ship Terminals

For more information on these and other items, visit the CVSE website.

Passenger Transportation Board Bulletins
The following updates were recently published by the BC Passenger Transportation Board:

Industry Updates & Advisories

• Final Deadline to Activate Additional Taxis
  The Board is issuing a final activation deadline of December 31, 2022. Licensees will have until this date to activate additional vehicles, or they will no longer be valid.
• Vancouver Cruise Ship Schedule for TNS and Taxi Operators
  As the 2022 cruise season commences in Vancouver, TNS and Taxi Licensees are reminded to review their terms and conditions of licence and the cruise schedule. The Board will continue its efforts to ensure that any changes or amendments are posted in the Weekly Bulletin and on the website.
• TOPs Processing Reminder
  With grad and summer fast approaching, licensees planning to apply for a Temporary Operating Permit (TOP) should do so well in advance and not wait until the day before or the day of the requested TOP start date. Processing cannot be guaranteed in this short a time period. To learn more about TOPs (including Peak Season and Regular), please see Reference Sheet 17.

Applications Received

• 14713-22 – Ali Farbehi (YVRTransfer.ca Transportation)
• 15318-22 – Andre Louis Joseph Cyr (Driverseat, Driverseat Kamloops)
• 15352-22 – Pacific Western Charters Ltd. (Pacific Western Charters, Ebus, & Red Arrow)

Application Decisions

• 15480-22 TOP – Penticton Eco Taxi Ltd. [Approved]
• 15498-22 TOP – Williams Lake Taxi Ltd. [Approved]
• Combined Decisions 14922-22, 15021-22, 14949-22, 14924-22 & 14923-22 – Yellow Cab Company, Black Top Cabs Ltd., Maclure's Cabs (1984) Ltd., Vancouver Taxi Ltd. (PT 70538) & Vancouver Taxi Ltd. (PT 70546) [Approved]
• 14109-22 – Royal City Taxi Ltd. [Approved]
• 15572-22 TOP – Elite Limousine Service (2003) Ltd. [Refused]
• 14721-22 – 1151905 B.C. Ltd. (Helix Limousine) [Approved in Part]
• 14303-22 – Avent Charter Inc. [Approved]
• 14491-22 – 2 Brown Dogs Sidecar Adventures Incorporated [Refused]
• 13854-21 – Green Coast Ventures Inc. (Whistle!) [Refused]
• 15230-22 – Tofino Bus Services Inc. (VI Connector, Tofino Bus, Island Bus Company) [Approved]
• 15677-22 PS TOP – Presidential Limousines Ltd. [Approved]
• 14168-22 – Mauricio Varas (Freewest Tours Services) [Approved]
• 14107-22 – Transfer from the Estate of Randell Arthur Ralph (RRR Transportation) to RRR Limousine Services Ltd. [Approved]

Visit the Passenger Transportation Board website for more information.

Occupational Health & Safety News:

Are Employers Liable for Injuries
When Working from Home?
The COVID‑19 pandemic has made remote work the "new normal". The increase of remote work in British Columbia and worldwide has led to many important discussions regarding the rights of remote workers and employers' corresponding obligations. An important question that has come up concerning remote work, is regarding employers' liability for employees' work injuries while they perform their work duties remotely. Read the full article from Overholt Law LLP.

Notices and Reports: How to Properly
Report a Workplace Incident in B.C.
What are employers' obligations with regards to reporting, investigations?
When it comes to OHS regulations hierarchy, B.C. is a little different than any other province because the overarching Act regulating workplace safety is the Workers' Compensation Act (WCA). This provides the legal authority and framework for all of WorkSafeBC's activities – including their occupational health and safety activities (which is under Part 2 of the Act).

Part 2 is made up of eight parts and schedules, which are beefed up with supporting regulations (33 sections in total). Most of these additional regulations are hazard-based legal requirements which get their authority from the Act. Read the full article by Maia Foulis in Canadian Occupational Safety.

Harassment Investigation Protocols Under Scrutiny
In Ahluwalia v. British Columbia (Workers' Compensation Board), a worker's appeal was dismissed after the Court of Appeal determined that the WorkSafeBC Review Division had properly applied law and policy in relation to a bullying and harassment investigation conducted by the employer. Read the full article by Cathy Chandler with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP.

What You Need to Know About Workplace Inspections
Even for the most compliant workplaces, inspections can be a daunting prospect. Workplace inspections are conducted by whichever regulatory board in the province enforces legislation (in B.C. this would be WorkSafeBC, in Ontario inspections are conducted by the Ministry of Labour).

Workplaces cannot refuse an inspection, "they have to let the inspector in, and they have to provide whatever documentation they're asking for," says Catherine Bergeron. "They basically have all the rights when coming to your workplace." Bergeron is Health and Safety Team Lead at HR and safety consultancy Peninsula Canada. Read the full article by Maia Foulis in Canadian Occupational Safety.

New Public Health Orders
The Public Health Office (PHO) recently issued the following orders and guidance:

Order:

• Industrial Camps – July 8, 2022 (PDF, 398KB)

Guidance:

• Industrial Camps and Communicable Diseases Guidelines – July 8, 2022 (PDF, 638KB)

Visit the PHO website to view these and other related orders and notices.

OHS Policies/Guidelines – Updates
No OHS updates were posted in July.

Visit the WorkSafeBC website to explore previous OHS updates.

Property and Real Estate News:

Residential Tenancy Act Amendments
On July 11, part of the Tenancy Statutes Amendment Act, 2018 was brought into force, amending the Residential Tenancy Act. The amendment adds section 51.5, regarding tenant compensation and requirement to vacate, which:

• adds an amount of compensation payable to a tenant if the reason for including, in a fixed term tenancy agreement, a requirement to vacate at the end of the term is not accomplished or is accomplished but not maintained for at least the prescribed period of time, and
• authorizes the director to excuse the landlord from paying that compensation amount in extenuating circumstances.

The New Homebuyer Protection Period:
What It is and How It Works
On Thursday, July 21, 2022, the British Columbia Provincial Government released details on its latest real estate consumer protection initiative – the Homebuyer Protection Period.

Effective January 1, 2023, purchasers of residential properties in British Columbia will be provided with a mandatory 3 business day 'Homebuyer Protection Period'. During this protection period, buyers may choose to walk away from an accepted offer to purchase a residential real estate property for any reason. Read the full article by Ephraim Fung and Michael Switzer with Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP.

Case Summary: Petition for Judicial Review Struck
as Improper Attack on Administrative Proceedings
Deng v. Real Estate Council of British Columbia, [2022] B.C.J. No. 927, 2022 BCSC 879, British Columbia Supreme Court, May 25, 2022, K.W. Ball J. (In Chambers)

The petitioner was a licensed realtor. She attempted to arrange the purchase of a strata unit for her clients. The clients were interested in Unit 59; however, it had an accepted offer in place. The petitioner then showed the clients Unit 134. After the clients made an offer on Unit 134, but before that offer was accepted, the petitioner was advised that the conditions precedent on the offer on Unit 59 had not been satisfied and Unit 59 was available. The petitioner never communicated that information to her clients. Read the full summary by Joel A. Morris with Harper Grey LLP.

BC to Expand Speculation and Vacancy
Tax to Six Additional Municipalities
British Columbia is set to expand its speculation and vacancy tax (SVT) to six additional municipalities, the Ministry of Finance announced. The SVT will soon be imposed on municipalities of North Cowichan, Duncan, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Lions Bay, and Squamish. At present, it applies only to areas of Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Victoria, Kelowna, Nanaimo, and Lantzville. Read the full article by Katrina Eñano in the Canadian Lawyer.

BC Supreme Court Awards Damages
for an Improperly Filed Lien
Under the British Columbia Builders Lien Act, a contractor may be liable to an owner for the wrongful filing of a claim of lien, but there have been very few cases where this remedy has been awarded. In a recent case, the BC Supreme Court ordered a contractor to pay an owner's costs and damages suffered as a result of a lien that was filed after the 45-day time limit set out in the Act. Read the full article by Edward Hulshof and Karen Martin with Dentons.