BC makes online laws official and accessible

Summary#

• Bill 22 sets the rules for how British Columbia’s laws are organized, updated, and published—especially online.

• Its main goal is to make the online version of BC laws reliable, official, and easier to use.

• Key changes:

  • Creates an “official website” where Acts and up‑to‑date versions (called “consolidations”) are posted.
  • Makes certain online versions “official” so they can be used as proof of the law.
  • Requires regular updates when parts of a law take effect, and keeps older “point‑in‑time” versions online.
  • Lets the government fix minor mistakes (like typos or wrong cross‑references) and publicly note corrections.
  • Allows accessibility features (like hyperlinks and alternative text) to help people read and navigate the law.
  • Clarifies how Acts are numbered, cited, printed, and published, and how online law can be proven in court.

What it means for you#

• General public

  • You can rely on the province’s official website for the current law. Certain online versions will count as the official text.
  • You can see older versions of a law as they looked on a past date, which helps when checking what rules applied before.
  • Pages may include helpful features like links, headings, and image descriptions. These tools make the law easier to read but are not part of the law itself.

• People who need to check the law (workers, businesses, nonprofits)

  • It should be easier to find the latest, in‑force rules without guessing which amendments already apply.
  • Online “official versions” can be used as proof, reducing the need to find printed copies.
  • Notices of corrections will be posted if a publishing error is found.

• Lawyers, judges, and tribunals

  • You can prove the text of a statute by producing an official online version.
  • Regular consolidations mean fewer disputes about whether an amendment is in force.
  • “Point‑in‑time” consolidations help with cases that turn on what the law was at an earlier date.

• People with disabilities

  • Alternative text for images and other accessibility features can improve screen‑reader access and navigation.

• Publishers and libraries

  • Clear roles for the King’s Printer and the Chief Legislative Counsel on printing and online publishing.
  • Annual collections by year and official chapter numbering standardize citation and cataloguing.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Improves access to justice by making the authoritative law free and easy to find online.
• Reduces confusion about which version of a law applies by keeping current and past versions clearly labeled.
• Speeds up fixes to minor errors (like typos) while still requiring the Legislature to confirm them later.
• Enhances transparency by posting notices when online publishing errors are corrected.
• Supports accessibility with features that help people navigate and understand legal text.
• Modernizes government publishing and may reduce reliance on printed volumes over time.

Opponents' View#

• Allowing “minor error” fixes by regulation could blur the line between editing and changing the law, even if temporary.
• Heavy reliance on the official website may disadvantage people without reliable internet or who prefer print.
• Declaring only certain formats as “official” might confuse users who download or print pages that lack the official notice.
• Discretion given to officials about what to include or exclude in consolidations could lead to gaps or inconsistency.
• Posting accessibility and added notes that are “not part of the law” may cause misunderstanding if readers rely on them.