Company and Finance News:

Corporate Governance: New Corporate Rules and
Enhanced Societal Expectations
There have been rapid developments in ESG-related corporate governance over the past year, including increased ESG-related activism, evolving expectations relating to mandatory climate-related disclosure and developments in diversity. We discuss these developments further in our ESG article.

At the same time, several ongoing and new corporate law changes are affecting, in a less dramatic fashion, the ways corporations are governed. These include changes to the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) in relation to director elections and shareholder proposals, as well as amendments to the Alberta Business Corporations Act (ABCA) in relation to unanimous shareholder agreements, shareholder resolutions and other matters intended to reduce administrative burdens. We review the impact of these changes as well as a number of other developments in areas such as financial institution legislative reform, universal proxy requirements in the U.S. and board diversity. Read the full article by John Valley, Andrew MacDougall and Justin Sherman with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP.

Canadian Securities Administrators to Strengthen
Rules for Crypto Trading Platforms
On December 12, 2022, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) announced the expansion of existing requirements for crypto trading platforms operating in Canada (CTPs) in an effort to strengthen its approach to oversight of such platforms, which changes are said to be in response to recent events in the crypto market. It is important to note that CTPs located outside of Canada but which are accessible by Canadians are regarded as operating in Canada for the purposes of securities regulation.

Previously, on August 15, 2022, the CSA announced that CTPs operating in Canada and pursuing registration are required to provide a pre-registration undertaking (PRU) in favour of their principal regulator, in which they agree to comply with terms and conditions that address investor protection concerns and are consistent with requirements applicable to registered CTPs.

The CSA has announced that deadlines will soon be introduced with respect to the delivery of a PRU by a CTP and that if a CTP does not deliver a PRU to its principal regulator prior to such deadline or otherwise cease operating in Canada, then the CTP may face enforcement action. Read the full article by Sydney Kert with DLA Piper.

Revisiting the "New" Testamentary Donation Rules
The legal landscape for testamentary charitable gifts underwent a significant sea-change in 2015. In that year, amendments to the Income Tax Act (Canada), R.S.C. 1985, c.1 (5th Supp.) ("Tax Act") were implemented that apply to deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2016.

Under what we now call the "old rules" – which applied to deaths occurring prior to January 1, 2016 – the Tax Act deemed a testamentary charitable gift made by will to have been made by the deceased taxpayer immediately before death, and the gift was valued as of the date of death. Since the gift was deemed to have been made immediately before death, the donation tax credits arising from the gift could be used to reduce or eliminate the deceased taxpayer's tax liability on their terminal tax return. The Tax Act also permitted the donation tax credit to be applied to the year immediately preceding the year of death. Read the full article by Darren Lund with Miller Thomson LLP.

Bank of Canada Releases Retail Payments
Supervisory Framework
The Bank of Canada (the "BoC") has released its supervisory framework for retail payments under the Retail Payment Activities Act (the "RPAA").

In June 2021, the Federal Government enacted the RPAA, a new legislative framework to regulate retail payment activities in Canada. Pursuant to the RPAA, the BoC has been designated as the authority responsible for retail payments governance (see Federal Government Releases Draft Legislation to Regulate Retail Payments). The BoC's new supervisory framework explains how it will assess Payment Service Providers ("PSPs") for compliance with the RPAA, promote compliance, and monitor and evaluate trends and issues in the payment system.

This framework covers three activities: (1) registration; (2) risk monitoring; and (3) enforcement. Read the full article by Koker Christensen, Kathleen Butterfield, Nicolas Faucher, Caitlin Sabetti and Sabrina Jackson-Nazereth (Articling Student) with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP.

Changes to the CRA's FATCA/CRS Guidance for
Financial Accounts Held by Trusts
Canadian financial institutions (FIs) are subject to the due diligence and reporting obligations in Part XVIII (FATCA) and Part XIX (CRS) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

With respect to a financial account of a trust that is a non-financial foreign entity for FATCA or a non-financial entity for CRS (a trust), an FI must report the particular account on its FATCA information return or CRS information return if the trust has one or more "controlling persons" that are either (i) a citizen of the United States or (ii) a tax resident of a jurisdiction other than Canada. Controlling persons of a trust include its settlor, trustee, protector (if any), beneficiary and any other natural person exercising ultimate effective control over the trust. Read the full article by Grace Pereira and Tony Zhang with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.

ISS to Consider Racial and Ethnic Diversity in
Making Voting Recommendations
Board diversity (gender, racial and ethnic), climate accountability, deferred share unit plans and venture-issuer overboarding are the focus of updates to Institutional Shareholder Services' (ISS) Proxy Voting Guidelines (the Guidelines) for the 2023 proxy season. Read the full article by Philippe Tardif, Laura Levine, Jennifer Jiang and Emma Ouellet Lizotte with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.

Canada Makes Welcome Amendments to the
Income Tax Act for EIFEL Rules
In the Federal Budget tabled on April 19, 2021 (Budget 2021), the Government of Canada announced its intention to introduce legislation to implement limitations on interest deductibility. The relevance of introducing limits on interest deductibility legislation comes from a recommendation from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's project dealing with base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS Action 4) that Canada has yet to adopt. Read the full article by Robert Nearing with Borden Ladner Gervais.

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

• 13-315 – Securities Regulatory Authority Closed Dates 2023
• 23-329 – Joint CSA and IIROC Notice 23-329 Activist Short Selling Update
• 45-106 – CSA Notice of Amendments to National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions and Changes to Companion Policy 45-106CP Prospectus Exemptions Relating to the Offering Memorandum Prospectus Exemption
• 24-101 – Proposed Amendments to National Instrument 24-101 Institutional Trade Matching and Settlement and Proposed Changes to Companion Policy 24-101 Institutional Trade Matching and Settlement
• 81-335 – Investment Fund Settlement Cycles [CSA Staff Notice]
• BC Notice 2022/03 – Notice of Revised British Columbia Securities Commission Policy 15-601 Hearings [BCN]

For more information visit the BC Securities website.

Forest and Environment News:

Investigation Examines Enforcement
of the Wildfire Act
A new investigation report released looks at how well government is investigating, deciding compliance and recovering costs from those responsible for causing wildfires in B.C.

The investigation found government has a well-defined and consistent process. Most decisions are appropriate, but there are some opportunities for improvement. Read the full news release from the Forest Practices Board.

6 New Climate Policies Anticipated for B.C. in 2023
Will it be enough to meet the province's critical climate and biodiversity goals?
As the world continues to grapple with the climate and ecological crises a number of new environmental policies are anticipated for 2023 in 2023. But are they going to be enough to meet critical climate and biodiversity goals, and help us adapt to the increasingly frequent and severe impacts of global warming? Here's a look at a few changes coming:

Cap on emissions from oil and gas sector
This is a federal pledge that will affect the natural gas sector in B.C. Canada's Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has said this cap will be ready by the end of next year, with draft regulations expected this spring.

Read the Vancouver Sun article.

New Carbon-Reduction Requirements
Lower Emissions on the Road
The Province is fulfilling a commitment identified as a key action in the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 to increase the 2030 carbon-intensity reduction target for the diesel and gasoline fuel pools from 20% to 30% under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).

The LCFS was implemented in 2010, requiring fuel suppliers to progressively lower the average carbon intensity of the fuels they supply in British Columbia by 10% by 2020. In 2020, the Province extended the LCFS and increased the carbon-intensity reduction requirement to 20% by 2030.

Amendments to the Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirements Regulation will now require fuel suppliers to reduce the carbon intensity of diesel and gasoline fuel pools supplied in B.C. to reach an overall reduction of 30% by 2030, relative to 2010 levels. Read the government news release.

New GAR Order
Ministerial Order M299/2022, made under the Government Actions Regulation, sections 7(1) and (2) on September 15, 2022 and posted in the BC Gazette Part I on December 15, 2022, impacts the Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs) in the Sunshine Coast Natural Resource district as follows:

1. scenic areas and Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs) in the Sunshine Coast Natural Resource District, which were established through a district manager's letter, dated May 16, 1997, under the provisions of the Operational and Site Planning Regulation, are cancelled;
2. scenic areas and Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs) in Tree Farm Licence 39, Block 1, which were established under the Sunshine Coast Forest District VQO GAR Order, dated June 19, 2009, are cancelled; and
3. scenic areas and VQOs for the Sunshine Coast Natural Resource District are established.

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

Environmental Management Act

• 93 Land Company v. Director, Environmental Management Act [Final Decision – Appeal Dismissed]

Wildlife Act

• Daniel Norton v. Acting Director of Wildlife, Ministry of Forests [Preliminary Decision on the Method of Hearing – Appeal to Proceed by Written Submissions]
• James (Jim) Monroe v. Deputy Regional Manager, Recreational Fisheries & Wildlife Program [Preliminary Decision Re: Application to Participate – Granted, Subject to Limitations]

Health News:

Case Summary: Court of Appeal Upheld Mental Health Review Board's
Decision that the Petitioner Continued to Meet the Criteria for
Involuntary Detention under the Mental Health Act
A.T. v. British Columbia (Mental Health Review Board), [2022] B.C.J. No. 2090, 2022 BCSC 1905, British Columbia Supreme Court, November 1, 2022, M.B. Blok J.

The petitioner sought judicial review of a decision by a panel of the Mental Health Review Board (the "Board") that he be involuntarily detained under the Mental Health Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 288 (the "Act"). The petitioner had previously successfully sought judicial review of the panel's first decision, and in the present case sought judicial review of the panel's redetermination. Read the full article by JoAnne Barnum with Harper Grey LLP.

Naturopathic Doctor Stopped from Exporting Fecal 
Microbiota Transplant Materials in BC Case
The Supreme Court of British Columbia upheld an interim order prohibiting a naturopathic doctor from producing, manufacturing, advertising, promoting, selling, or shipping certain materials to the public. The court found judicial review of the regulatory investigations premature.

The petitioner in a recent case was a naturopathic doctor focusing on digestive health issues. He owned businesses manufacturing and exporting digestive health products, including fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) materials. Read the full article by Bernise Carolino on Canadian Lawyer.

Regulations Amending the Regulations for the Monitoring of
Medical Assistance in Dying, SOR/2022-222
The Minister of Health recently made the Regulations Amending the Regulations for the Monitoring of Medical Assistance in Dying, SOR/2022-222 (the "Amending Regulations") which will come into force on January 1, 2023. The Amending Regulations will impose a new array of procedural rules and reporting requirements relating to the provision of Medical Assistance in Dying ("MAiD") in Canada. Read the full article by Jennifer Eshlemann and Jessica Park with Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP.

Resident Doctors Ratify Agreement under
Shared Recovery Mandate
Members of Resident Doctors of BC and the Health Employers Association of BC have ratified a new agreement under government's Shared Recovery Mandate. Resident Doctors of BC represents more than 1,400 medical graduates who participate in a graduate educational program leading to qualification for independent practise as a family or specialist doctor. Key priorities of the 2022 mandate include:

• protecting the services that people in British Columbia depend on;
• improving health care and preparing for future needs and challenges; and
• supporting a strong economic recovery that includes everyone in BC.

Read the full government news release.

Legal Issues in Healthcare: A Canadian 
Perspective for 2023
Our Life Sciences and Healthcare Group recently authored the "Canada" chapter in Lexology's 2023 Life Sciences guide, published as part of the "Getting the Deal Through" series. This chapter provides an excellent overview of this rapidly developing area of law, including the following topics:

• Organization and financing of healthcare
• Healthcare services
• Advertising
• Healthcare data protection, privacy and digitization
• Competition and antitrust law in the health sector
• Pricing and reimbursement
• Trends to watch for

Read the full article by Sara Zborovski and Ian Trimble with Stikeman Elliott.

Health Canada's New Amendments on Cannabis
Research, Testing and Cannabis Beverages
On Dec. 9, 2022, Health Canada announced the approval of the proposed amendments introduced by the Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning Cannabis Research as well as the Order Amending Schedule 3 to the Cannabis Act.

These amendments increase the public possession limit for cannabis beverages, and facilitate non-therapeutic cannabis research and testing. Health Canada anticipates publishing the amendments in Canada Gazette Part II on Dec. 22, 2022. Read the full article by William Bjornsson, Lewis Retik and Jon-Paul Powers, PhD with Gowling WLG.

"Big Year" for BC Pharmacists with New
Prescribing Powers, Drug Shortages
This spring, BC pharmacists will begin prescribing drugs for minor ailments like urinary tract infections and allergies, as well as contraception. In a year when pharmacists have stickhandled children's drug shortages and an extra-busy flu shot season, you'd think they might balk at the news in Ontario and BC that their powers to prescribe drugs are being expanded. Yet those in the field say the added responsibilities may make their jobs more fulfilling – so long as the changes are accompanied with appropriate funding. Read the Vancouver Sun article.

Labour and Employment News:

These are the questions that must be examined in the event of a serious safety breach in a high-risk workplace – and termination may not always be the solution, says Michael Penner, a labour lawyer at Kent Employment Law in Victoria. Read the full article by Jeffrey R. Smith in the Canadian Lawyer.

Tis the Season…for Triennial Assessments!
The Pension Benefits Standards Act requires B.C. registered pension plans to conduct triennial plan assessments which assess the administration of a pension plan with respect to compliance with the Act, governance, funding, investment, and the performance of trustees and administrators.

For most pension plans (those with a fiscal year of January to December), the next triennial assessment will need to be prepared as of December 31, 2022 (in respect of the three year period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022), and be completed by December 31, 2023. As a reminder, the assessment needs to be complete and available to the BC Financial Services Authority upon request, but does not need to be filed with the regulator. Read the full article by Lisa Chamzuk, Meghan Popp and Jessica Kim with Lawson Lundell.

Don't Give Up on Restrictive Covenants
If revising your employment and independent contractor agreements is on the "to do" list for 2023, the recent case of Quick Pass Master Tutorial School Ltd. v Zhao, 2022 BCSC 1846 is a good reminder to review any restrictive covenants in those agreements. The law in this area is always evolving and restrictive covenants can be difficult to enforce without careful drafting. However, as this case shows, B.C. courts are still willing to enforce properly drafted and reasonable covenants. Read the full article by Cory Sully and Emily Raymond with Lawson Lundell.

Breaking Down Bad-Faith Damages
In the context of workplaces, bad faith can be proven when an employer engages in unfair conduct in an employee's dismissal, to the extent that the conduct causes the employee to suffer serious and prolonged mental distress.

Local Government News:

BC Supreme Court Finds that Re-zoning Approval with 
Variances Did Not "Create a New Zone"
Recently, the B.C. Supreme Court denied a judicial review petition challenging the approval of a re-zoning application for an apartment complex. In Penticton Society for Transparent Governance and Responsible Development v Penticton (City), 2022 BCSC 2111, the Petitioner alleged that the City had effectively created a new, non-existent land use zone when it approved an amending bylaw that up-zoned a property to an existing zone but where the City was required to subsequently grant variances for aspects of the property that did not meet the requirements of that pre-existing zone. Read the full article by Josh Krusell with Stewart McDannold Stuart.

Vacancy Tax/Empty Homes Tax – Five Suggested
Areas for Improvement
In 2017, the City of Vancouver introduced its annual residential vacancy tax (or "empty homes tax"). At that time, the tax rate was 1% of the assessed value of a subject property. The governing statute and administration program were relatively simpler than more substantial taxes like income tax and GST/HST. However, the City has steadily increased the tax rate over the years. On January 1, 2023, it will hit 5%. This equals the rate of the federal GST and the highest rate of the province's property transfer tax. Crucially, however, those are largely one-time taxes imposed on homeowners (e.g., when buying or selling a home). By being levied annually, and not having regard to cost, the consequences to the annual vacancy tax can thus be significantly greater. The sophistication of the vacancy tax has not evolved at the same pace as its rate. This raises questions over what should be improved upon in the legislation, administration, and enforcement of the vacancy tax. Though not an exhaustive list, the following are five suggestions. Read the full article by Noah Sarna and Zheting Su with Thorsteinssons LLP.

From UBCM: Resources for Developing and 
Improving Codes of Conduct
Local governments in British Columbia are required by legislation to consider implementing or upgrading a Code of Conduct within the first six months of the first regular council/board meeting following a general local election. The Working Group on Responsible Conduct (WGRC) has developed a set of resources to assist local governments with the development and updating of Codes of Conduct, including necessary considerations for dealing with complaints, resolving conduct issues informally and establishing enforcement procedures. The conduct of local elected officials is central to governance and when conduct issues emerge, good governance can be impaired and public trust eroded. The guide Forging the Path to Responsible Conduct presents practical ways to help local governments prevent conduct issues and deal with them if they do arise. Read the full UBCM article.

Significant Changes Coming in 2023 for BC's Freedom of
Information and Protection of Privacy Act
The Provincial government has recently confirmed the latest in a series of long-anticipated and significant changes to BC's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act ("FIPPA"). As of February 1, 2023, two new sections of FIPPA and associated regulations will come into force. This will create two significant new requirements for all public bodies in this province:

1. Mandatory reporting requirements in the event of privacy breaches.
2. Requirement to develop and maintain a "privacy management program".

Privacy Breach Notifications
Public bodies will be required to report any privacy breach that "could reasonably be expected to result in significant harm to the individual". A "privacy breach" is broadly defined. It includes theft, loss, or any other unauthorized collection, use or disclosure of personal information.

Read the full article by Keri L. Bennett and Jordan Michaux with Roper Greyell LLP.

Local Government Fact Sheets
from UBCM
UBCM has updated a set of fact sheets that provide foundational information on local government operations in an easy-to-read format. Subjects include the role and powers of elected officials, taxation, planning process, policing, and bylaws. Fact Sheets are updated after each local government election cycle.

Motor Vehicle and Traffic News:

Don't Forget: ELD Mandates Beginning
Enforcement on January 1, 2023
Electronic logging devices ("ELDs") are devices installed into commercial motor vehicles that use a computer-based software to monitor the activities of the vehicle's driver to ensure compliance with hours of service legislation. The use of ELDs has been required for federally-regulated motor carriers in Canada since June 12, 2021, but this requirement has not yet been enforced to allow for a period of education and awareness, as well as time for motor carriers to obtain and install ELDs.

Beginning on January 1, 2023, enforcement of this mandate will begin in the majority of provinces and territories, including Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Yukon and Northwest Territories. Some provinces have also created ELD mandates concerning provincially-regulated commercial motor vehicles which will simultaneously be enforced with the federal regulations. Read the full article by Louis Amato-Gauci, Jaclyne Reive and Ellen Kim with Miller Thomson LLP.

Classification of Patient Specimens [TDG]
from Transport Canada
This document does not change, amend or suggest deviations from the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations.  The purpose of this document is to provide clarity and regulatory guidance on the classification of patient specimens and to assist health care professionals who are responsible for preparing patients specimens for transport. This document is meant to be read with the TDG Bulletin – Shipping Infectious Substances.

Autonomous Vehicles – Canada's Current Legal
Framework: Liability in Motor Vehicle Accidents
As autonomous vehicle (AV) technology continues to grow in functionality and sophistication, it is only a matter of time before AVs become commercially available across Canada. The arrival of autonomous vehicles in Canada will raise a number of liability-related questions that touch on the areas of owner liability, product liability, and auto insurance. In this post, we discuss the allocation of liability in incidents involving AVs and the future of auto insurance. Read the full article by Suzie Suliman and Imran Ahmad with Norton Rose Fulbright LLP.

More People Will Train to Be Professional Truck Drivers
As many as 30 eligible participants will receive training to prepare them for jobs as professional truck drivers in the Lower Mainland.

"This training will help people gain the necessary skills and education for employment as truck drivers, which is in high demand," said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. "For newcomers and immigrants, this training is a pathway to rewarding employment and stability for their families."

Big Rig Driving School is receiving more than $660,000 to prepare participants for employment as professional truck drivers in the Lower Mainland. Read the official government news release.

Government of Canada Announces Proposed
Regulations Imposing Requirements for the
Sale of Zero-Emission Light-Duty Vehicles
On December 21, 2022, Environment and Climate Change Canada ("ECCC") announced new proposed regulations in relation to zero-emissions light-duty vehicles (the "ZEV Regulations"). The ZEV Regulations would amend the Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations, which set greenhouse gas emission standards for light-duty vehicles of specified model years. Read the full article by Steven F. Rosenhek and Daniella Murynka with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP.

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

• CVSE Decal Ordering Step-by-Step Guide – New Online Ordering Process for Facility Large Station and Interim Decals
• Circular 06-17 – Deadline for Planned Trailer Axle Weight Reductions Extended to December 31, 2024
• Circular 07-17 – Temporary Increase to Steer Axle Weights for Specified Pre-Approved Logging Truck Configurations by General Authorization. This extended authorization is valid until December 31, 2024
• NSC Bulletin 01-2022 – Publication of Carriers Cancelled for Cause
• NSC Bulletin 01-2021 – Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) in British Columbia – UPDATED
  • Quick Links to Provincial and Territorial Jurisdictional Resources re: ELDs
• CVSE1016 – 9-Axle Logging Truck Routes

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 Extended
  Considering recent feedback, the final activation deadline is extended to July 1, 2023. Licensees will have until this date to activate additional vehicles, or they will no longer be valid.
• Board to Conduct Follow-up Investigation on the Current State of COVID-19 recovery for BC Passenger Transportation Industry
  The Board will be undertaking a follow-up study to the 2021 COVID-19 investigation, to better understand the current economic landscape. For further information, please read the Industry Advisory and the Q&As.

Applications Received

• No applications were received

Application Decisions

• 16481-22 PS TOP – KJ Limousine Services Inc. [Approved]
• 16075-22 – Transfer from Gertzen Ventures Ltd. (Adventure Charter and Rentals) to Pacific Western Charters Ltd. [Approved]
• 16554-22 TOP – Excel Limousine Service Ltd. [Approved]
• 16545-22 TOP – Luxury Transport Inc. [Approved]
• 15632-22 – P.G. Airport Shuttle Service Ltd. [Approved]
• 15839-22 – Transfer from J. Nijjer Holdings Ltd. (Sun Star Shuttle) to 1123910 B.C. Ltd. (Contractor Post Office) [Approved]
• 16049-22 – Chandel Holding Limited (Victoria Taxi) [Approved]
• 16183-22 – City Star Limousine Service Ltd. [Approved in Part]
• 15091-22 – Charles Keay Inc. [Approved]
• 16191-22 – Transfer from Ovan Charles Wilson and Karen Louise Herle (Gabriola Taxi) to Gabriola Taxi Ltd. [Approved]
• 14294-22 – TCB Holdings Ltd. [Refused]
• 16290-22 – Transfer from Gurbhupinder Singh Bhela (Bluebird Cabs) to Bluebird Cabs, Ltd. [Approved]
• 16607-22 PS TOP – Whistler Eco Tours Ltd. [Approved]

Visit the Passenger Transportation Board website for more information.

Occupational Health & Safety News:

End-of-Year Refresher: BC Employers' OHS Obligations to 
Address Workplace Bullying and Harassment
Workplace bullying and harassment is a significant issue for employers in British Columbia. In 2021 alone, WorkSafeBC received 3400 inquiries related to workplace bullying. The organization also noted that most employers did not know how to handle complaints effectively.

This blog post focuses on BC employers' occupational health and safety ("OHS") obligations to address workplace bullying and harassment under British Columbia's Workers Compensation Act (the "Act"), and related complaints or claims that employees may file with WorkSafeBC. (This post does not address other potential legal issues arising from alleged workplace bullying and harassment, such as claims of constructive dismissal, human rights complaints, or grievances filed under a collective bargaining agreement.) Read the full article by Laura DeVries and Diana Wang with McCarthy Tétrault LLP.

Hazardous Work for Youth Rules Come into Effect Jan. 1
New regulations on the types of work that are not suitable for young workers take effect on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023.

Following public and stakeholder consultations and analyses of injury data, a number of jobs within several industries were identified as too hazardous for young workers. This includes some jobs within construction, forestry, food processing, oil and gas and power, and asbestos removal.

Amendments to the Employment Standards Regulation were announced in October 2022. Read the government news release.

Board of Directors Approves Amendments to the
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
On October 26, 2022, WorkSafeBC's Board of Directors approved amendments on two regulatory items related to crane safety in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR):

• Part 14, Cranes and Hoists – Inconsistent Crane Misadventure, and
• Part 14, Cranes and Hoists, and Part 19, Electrical Safety – Zone-Limiting Devices in Tower Cranes

The OHSR will now require a professional engineer to supervise the inspection of equipment and certify the equipment as safe for use when a crane is subject to a misadventure, or following contact with loads and structures. Read the full WorkSafeBC bulletin.

Consultation on Proposed BC Exposure Limits Based on the
New or Revised 2019 and 2020 ACGIH TLVs for
Selected Chemical Substances
Each year, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) publishes a list of substances for which they have set new or revised Threshold Limit Values (TLVs). A TLV is the airborne concentration of a chemical substance where it is believed that nearly all workers may be exposed over a working lifetime and experience no adverse health effects. TLVs may be expressed as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA), 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL), or ceiling limit.

Before adopting new or revised TLVs published by the ACGIH, WorkSafeBC reviews relevant data on health effects and the availability of validated sampling methods. WorkSafeBC also consults with stakeholders on potential implementation issues. WorkSafeBC's existing B.C. Exposure Limits (ELs) continue to be in effect until the Board of Directors makes a decision on which new or revised ACGIH TLVs to adopt as B.C. ELs. See additional information on WorkSafeBC's EL review process. Feedback will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 20, 2023. Read the full article on WorkSafeBC. 

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

• Residential Care Facilities Staff Information Collection – December 16, 2022 (PDF, 425KB)
  • Schedule 1 Information of Staff – December 16, 2022 (PDF, 104KB)

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

OHS Policies/Guidelines – Updates

Guidelines – Workers Compensation Act

January 1, 2023

Editorial revisions were made to the following guideline:

• Part 2 Division 12 – Enforcement
  • G-P2-94-1 OHS citations

Guidelines – Occupational Health and Safety Regulation

January 1, 2023

Editorial revisions were made to the following guideline:

• Part 7 Radiation
  • G7.33-1 Cold exposure

Policies – Workers Compensation Act

January 1, 2023

The following policies were updated to reflect CPI adjustments, effective January 1, 2023:

• P2-94-1 – OHS Citations
• P2-95-4 – Non-Exclusive Ways to Impose Financial Penalties
• P2-95-5 – OHS Penalty Amounts
• P5-251-1 – Claims Costs Levies

Visit the WorkSafeBC website to explore these and previous updates.

Property and Real Estate News:

EU's Judicial Consideration of Corporate Transparency Sides with  
Protecting Privacy: Implications for BC's LOTA
Many jurisdictions are enacting legislation requiring public disclosure of the identity of beneficial owners of real property and maintaining that information in publicly accessible registries. In British Columbia, as of November 30, 2022, beneficial and other indirect owners of numerous categories of interests in land in British Columbia had to complete filings pursuant to the Land Owner Transparency Act in a provincial government registry that include the disclosure of personal information. In the United Kingdom, the UK Companies House maintains the "Register of Overseas Entities" and requires overseas entities that own land or property in the UK to declare their beneficial owners and/or managing directors. The registry recently came into effect and there is a January 31, 2023, deadline for such entities who already own or lease land or property in the UK to complete their filings. Read the full article by Max Collett, Alexis Kerr and Yu Meng Zhu with Norton Rose Fulbright.

Act Prohibiting Non-Canadians from Purchasing Residential
Property Comes into Force in the New Year
On January 1, 2023, the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act, S.C. 2022, c. 10, s. 235 (the "Act") will come into force, which will prohibit non-Canadians from purchasing, directly or indirectly, residential property in Canada. As announced in the 2022 Federal Budget, the Act is intended to be in force for a period of two years. Earlier this year, the Government undertook a consultation process to solicit public feedback on these new rules. Although we expect that many of the rules will be refined by future regulations, it is prudent to review what we do know based on the wording of the current Act as well as the intentions of the Government as disclosed during the consultation process.

What types of properties are subject to the Act?
Most residential real properties situated in Canada are within the scope of the prohibition. Specifically, the term "residential property" under the Act means:

• A detached house or similar building containing not more than three dwelling units, and
• The part of a building that is a semi-detached house, rowhouse unit, residential condominium unit or other similar premises.

Read the full article by Mark Potechin, Jenny Du, Katie Taylor and David Gore with DLA Piper.

BC Government Amendments to Strata Property Act
Impact Strata Corporation Bylaws and Developer   
Disclosure Statements to Purchasers
After being sworn in as Premier of British Columbia on November 18, 2022, former Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing, David Eby, made swift work of introducing amendments to the Strata Property Act (the SPA) which are purported to open up more rental and homeownership options for people in British Columbia. On November 24, 2022, the Building and Strata Statutes Amendment Act (the BSSAA) received Royal Assent, just three days after it was first announced by the Office of the Premier. Concurrently, the BC Financial Services Authority (the BCFSA) amended Policy Statement 1 and Policy Statement 2 under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act (REDMA), which set out the required form and content for a developer's disclosure statement to purchasers in relation to marketing strata lots in a development property, in order to align with the amendments to the SPA. Developers and strata corporations should familiarize themselves with these amendments and consider the impact on their disclosure statements and bylaws going forward, including the following key changes: Read the full article published by Dentons.

BC Court of Appeal Rules Against Owners Who 
Sold Property through Misrepresentation
The BC Court of Appeal found property owners liable for tort and breach of contract when they misrepresented to the buyers the true condition of the house they were selling. In Kuhnke v. Karner, 2022 BCCA 399, Matthew and Dawn Kuhnke owned a residential property located on Ker Avenue in Saanich. The property is a two-storey structure with a second-storey back deck. In 2017, the deck was damaged when several large rocks fell from a rockface abutting the property. Matthew Kuhnke obtained a geotechnical report that advised a large and unstable wedge rock remained perched above the deck and that emphasized the need for timely remedial action. A second report estimated the cost of a potential remedial solution to be approximately $70,000. Instead of conducting any remediation work, Matthew and Dawn decided to sell the property. Read the full article by Angelica Dino on Canadian Lawyer.

Cooling Off Period Comes to Coldest
Housing Market in Years
Effective January 3, 2023, a BC homebuyer has three business day to cancel a sales agreement. Amid BC's coldest housing market in years, where it now takes weeks for the average home to sell, the province has brought in a cooling-off period for home buyers. The legislation, first in Canada's resale housing market, came into effect January 3, 2023. Read the BIV article by Frank O'Brien.