The British Columbia (B.C.) Reporter provides 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, although this information is provided by BLG separately. In addition, purely technical and administrative changes (such as changes to reporting forms) are not covered.
May 2023
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Published |
Title and Brief Summary |
Status |
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B.C. Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) |
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May 8, 2023 |
Changes to Strata Property Regulation Expand Exemptions BCFSA notes that amendments to the Strata Property Regulation, effective May 1, 2023, expand the list of exemptions to 55+ age-restriction bylaws in strata buildings to include future children, dependants, and spouses or partners of current residents. As well, adult children and former dependants of current residents will also be allowed to move back home. This change follows amendments in 2022 to the Strata Property Act to end all rental-restriction bylaws and limit strata age-restriction bylaws to 55-and-over bylaws to promote seniors’ housing. In response, some strata corporations adopted 55+ age-restriction bylaws. The act was subsequently amended to include live-in caregivers and people already living in the 55+ buildings. |
Changes effective May 1, 2023 |
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Legislation |
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May 1, 2023 |
Societies Amendment Act, 2021, SBC 2021, c. 24 Section 100 of the Societies Amendment Act, 2021, which amends the Credit Union Incorporation Act, has been proclaimed in force May 4, 2023. The amendment adds a new subsection to the provision that deals with persons disqualified as directors of credit unions so that it now includes a person in respect of whom a certificate of incapability is issued under the Adult Guardianship Act, unless the certificate is subsequently cancelled under section 37 (4) of that Act. |
Section takes effect May 4, 2023 |
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May 11, 2023 |
Civil Forfeiture Amendment Act, 2023, SBC 2023, c. 13(Bill 21) Civil Forfeiture Amendment Act, 2023, SBC 2023, c. 13, received Royal Assent on May 11, 2023. The Act amends section 108 of the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, which deals with the circumstances under which reports of credit information may be given by credit agencies. It adds that such reports can be given in response to a request made under s. 22(6.1) of the Civil Forfeiture Act. Subsection 22(6.1) of the Civil Forfeiture Act is also added by the Act, stating that a specified organization that has custody or control of information to which the director is entitled under subsection (5) must, within 30 days after receiving a request for the information, disclose that information to the director. |
Provision affecting Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act in force on Royal Assent. |
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May 11, 2023 |
Money Services Businesses Act, SBC 2023, c. 19 (Bill 19) Money Services Businesses Act, SBC 2023, c. 19, received Royal Assent on May 11, 2023. The Act establishes a registration regime for money services businesses, defined as (with the exception of services excluded by regulation):
Under the Act, money services businesses will be required to register with BCFSA, which will require background checks and annual reporting, and will have investigative and enforcement powers to help protect people from unknowingly working with unregistered or criminally linked businesses. Acts amended by the Act include: |
Act in force on a date to be named by proclamation |
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.
