Bill 25, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2012, was introduced in the legislature today by Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond. If passed, the amendments will affect the following provincial statutes:

Assessment Act - Amendments to the Assessment Act will provide clear authority for BC Assessment to accept, for assessment and taxation purposes, aggregate (averaged actual unit use) data in relation to strata or leasehold accommodation properties. These minor amendments continue current administrative practices.

Environmental Management Act - Amendments to the Environmental Management Act authorize the cancellation of permits by regulation. The Ministry of Environment has been moving toward a regulations-based system since 2004 to standardize requirements and provide greater certainty to industry. Stakeholders will be consulted on a sector-by-sector basis.

Local Government Act - Amendments support regional districts in providing open and transparent government and clarify accountability tools. The amendments will enable regional districts to directly engage with communities by allowing them to seek opinions on matters affecting their regions. They address requests from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and provide for greater harmonization between regional district and municipal rules.

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Act, Insurance for Crops Act and Farm Income Insurance Act - Amendments retroactively remove the requirement for orders-in-council to be created for agreements between the Province of British Columbia and Government of Canada and other provinces.

New Relationship Trust Act - Minor amendments to the New Relationship Trust Act will lengthen and stagger the terms of office for New Relationship Trust (NRT) directors from a two- to a three-year term. The NRT board requested this change to allow more continuity in management of the New Relationship Fund. The fund was created in 2006 with an initial $100 million contribution to help First Nations enhance their governance, leadership, institutional and human resources capacity to address social, cultural and economic needs and priorities.

Park Act - Housekeeping amendments to the Park Act focus on eliminating unnecessary steps in favour of more flexible methods, such as web-posting park use permits instead of placing a newspaper advertisement. The amendments rectify information on modifying the boundary of a conservancy and ensure the ability to waive park use permit fees is supported in the act. Finally, the proposed amendments will allow for a more efficient way to get reports from park facility operators.

Media contacts:

Assessment Act, Local Government Act
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
Gillian Rhodes
250 356-6334

Environmental Management Act, Park Act Ministry of Environment
Dan Gilmore
250 356-0202

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Act, Insurance for Crops Act and Farm Income Insurance Act
Ministry of Agriculture
Kathryn Hardy
250 387-1693

New Relationship Trust Act
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
Maria Wilkie
250 953-3211
250 361-7720 (cell)