The British Columbia (B.C.) Reporter is a monthly summary of B.C.’s legislative and regulatory developments of relevance to provincially regulated financial institutions. It does not address Canadian federal financial services legislative and regulatory developments – BLG provides this information separately. In addition, purely technical and administrative changes (such as changes to reporting forms) are not covered.
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Institution |
Published |
Title and Brief Summary |
Status |
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Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, 2nd Session, 42nd Parliament (2021) |
May 20, 2021 |
Bill 9, Finance Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2021 Receives Royal Assent Bill 9, Finance Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2021 of the 2nd Session, 42nd Parliament (2021) received royal assent May 20, 2021 and has been assigned S.B.C. Chapter 14. Sections 12 and 45 come into force by regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, and all other sections upon date of royal assent. |
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FINTRAC |
May 20, 2021 |
FINTRAC signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia (the Society). This MOU allows for sharing compliance-related information in order to help strengthen the compliance of the British Columbia notaries sector with the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, and to reduce duplication of effort and compliance burden for notaries public in British Columbia. Under this MOU, FINTRAC and the Society will share compliance-related information, such as lists of persons and entities subject to their respective acts and regulations, as well as compliance examination plans resulting in more co-ordinated and risk-informed examinations. Sharing compliance-related information facilitated by this MOU will also help enhance the knowledge and expertise of each organization regarding new and evolving risks and trends in the notaries sector in British Columbia and across Canada. |
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BCFSA |
May 19, 2021 |
B.C. Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) provided a status update on its previously announced integration with the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) and the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE). The integration, expected to be complete this summer, will create a single integrated regulator of B.C.’s financial services sector. The sector, which includes credit unions, trust companies, insurance companies, mortgage brokers, pension plans and real estate services, is a key driver of B.C.’s economy that directly impacts the lives of individual British Columbians. The integration will simplify accountabilities and enhance regulatory oversight through more effective and efficient business processes, investigations and enforcements. Creating a single financial services regulator was also a key recommendation from the Expert Panel on Money Laundering Report released in May 2019. BCFSA will focus on the financial services sector as a whole and, as such, will be organized on a functional basis with departments that oversee the entire sector including Supervision, Policy, and Market Conduct. |
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British Columbia Gazette, Part II |
May 17, 2021 |
Finance Statutes Amendment Act, 2021, S.B.C. 2021, c. 2 Sections 7 and 12 of the Finance Statutes Amendment Act, 2021, S.B.C. 2021, c. 2 came into force May 17, 2021 by Order in Council No. 297/2021 (BC Reg. 132/2021). |
Effective May 17, 2021 |
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BCFSA |
May 17, 2021 |
2021/2022 Regulatory Roadmap, Advisory Number: 21-012 BCFSA released its 2021/2022 Regulatory Roadmap (Roadmap). The Roadmap lays out BCFSA’s regulatory guidance priorities for the next three fiscal years. The intent is to increase transparency to stakeholders and provide regulated entities with advanced notice in order to plan resources, as necessary. |
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Disclaimer
This Reporter is prepared as a service for our clients. It is not intended to be a complete statement of the law or an opinion on any subject. Although we endeavour to ensure its accuracy, no one should act upon it without a thorough examination of the law after the facts of a specific situation are considered.
