On the eve of Crime Prevention Week, Attorney General Shirley Bond introduced Bill 15, the Attorney General and Public Safety and Solicitor General Statutes Amendment Act, 2011, in the legislature today.

The legislation amends these provincial statutes:

Armoured Vehicle and After-Market Compartment Control Act - Minor changes are being made, including the removal of Offence Act references as the act contains its own penalty section.

Body Armour Control Act - Amendments will enable police to specifically ticket those found in possession of body armour or their permit while the permit is suspended.

Expropriation Act - An amendment allows the minister 21 days to locate and appoint an inquiry officer, as designated under Section 12 of the act. This is a more reasonable time frame than the current legislated period of seven days.

Fraudulent Conveyance Act - Changes bring the act in accordance with a B.C. Court of Appeal decision. Amendments clarify the act's purpose by removing obsolete and irrelevant language.

Judicial Compensation Act - As committed to in the throne speech, we are amending the act to accommodate and provide flexibility for the use of senior part-time judges in limited circumstances, to meet urgent and unforeseen circumstances, such as additional sittings due to illness or injury to full-time judges. This flexibility, in our co-operative relationship with the judiciary, will help ensure the court system is as effective as possible. Changes also include clarifying the time period for government to respond to reports of independent judicial compensation commissions. If passed, the time period will be measured in sitting days of the legislative assembly, rather than in calendar days.

Jury Act - Amended provisions will modernize the act to reflect work performed by sheriffs in the administration of the jury system in B.C. Sheriffs would have the option to summon jurors by electronic address, such as email, in addition to current mail and personal service methods. Other amendments clarify disqualification criteria for jurors, consistent with jury legislation in Alberta, Quebec and New Brunswick.

As with the current practice for physicians and surgeons, existing special exemption privileges for certain health-care professionals - such as dentists, chiropractors and naturopathic physicians - will be removed. Instead, exemptions will be granted to these practising health care professionals to ensure patient care is not adversely affected.

Security Services Act - Amendments authorize the registrar of security services to regulate the Security Services Act, the Armoured Vehicle and After-Market Compartment Control Act and the Body Armour Control Act.

Contacts:

Armoured Vehicle and After-Market Compartment Control Act, Body Armour Control Act, Security Services Act
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
250 356-6961

Expropriation Act, Fraudulent Conveyance Act, Judicial Compensation Act, Jury Act
Dave Townsend
Ministry of Attorney General
250 387-4962
250 889-5945 (cell)