British Columbia Makes Online Regulations Official

Summary#

Bill 23 updates how British Columbia writes, files, and publishes government regulations (the detailed rules made under laws). It moves the system online and says certain web versions are “official” and can be used as proof in court. It also sets clear rules for when a regulation takes effect and when it can be enforced.

• Makes the online Gazette and a designated “official website” the main places to find regulations.
• Requires regulations to be reviewed by government drafting lawyers before they are made.
• Says a regulation has no effect until it is filed (“deposited”) with the Registrar of Regulations.
• Lets people rely on official online versions of regulations and their updates.
• Creates an “adopted materials website” for maps, codes, and other materials that regulations refer to.
• Requires old and updated versions (“point‑in‑time” versions) to be kept online for reference.
• Extends similar rules to cabinet orders (“orders in council”) and to letters patent (documents that create or change local bodies like municipalities or hospital districts).
• Repeals and replaces the 1996 Regulations Act.

What it means for you#

• General public

  • You can read current regulations for free on the province’s official website and the online Gazette (the government’s official publication).
  • Online versions marked “official” can be used as proof of the law in proceedings.
  • You can see earlier versions of a regulation to track how rules changed over time.
  • If a regulation isn’t published or reasonably brought to people’s attention, the government cannot enforce it against you.

• Workers and businesses

  • Easier to confirm the exact rule that applies today, plus past versions, all in one place.
  • If a regulation adopts outside material (like a map or technical code) by reference, that material should be posted online and marked as official.
  • Fewer surprises: enforcement is only allowed if the rule has been published or reasonably publicized.

• Local governments and public bodies

  • Letters patent (which set up or change local authorities) can be revised and posted online for clarity.
  • If you rely on materials by reference (like boundaries on a map), those materials can be examined and posted on the adopted materials website.

• Lawyers, advocates, and researchers

  • Official online versions of regulations, consolidations (up‑to‑date compilations), and adopted materials can be used as evidence.
  • Clear rules for “point‑in‑time” access to prior versions.
  • Standardized numbering (B.C. Reg. numbers) and better indexing.

• People who use assistive tech

  • The law allows accessibility features (like hyperlinks and alternative text) to be added to online regulations and materials.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Modernizes a 1990s law so people can trust and use official online versions, reducing confusion and paper delays.
• Improves transparency: current and past versions are posted, with notices and corrections when needed.
• Fairness in enforcement: people must have reasonable access to a rule before it can be enforced.
• Streamlines drafting and review to catch problems early, including Charter issues and unusual uses of power.
• Makes technical references (maps, standards, codes) easier to access by hosting them on a dedicated website.
• Allows quick fixes for publication errors and structured revisions to clean up and clarify complex regulations.

Opponents' View#

• Retroactive features (like allowing a regulation to be deemed deposited on an earlier date in limited cases) could worry people who want certainty about when rules start.
• Exemptions from publishing in the printed or online Gazette, even with notices, might make some rules harder to find for people without internet or who rely on print.
• Broad powers for the Attorney General and Registrar (website designations, exemptions, formatting, notices) may raise concerns about central control.
• Adopting materials “by reference” means some key details live outside the regulation text, which could be confusing or harder to track if links change.
• Moving heavily to online access could disadvantage those with limited internet access or digital skills.