Regulatory Modernization

All ministries review and update their regulations, policies, programs and services on an ongoing basis to keep British Columbians safe, promote innovation, protect the environment, encourage competitiveness and growth, and to make sure everyone is included and represented.

On this page

• Better Regulations for British Columbians
• Better Legislation for British Columbians
• Modernizing Language Guide

Better Regulations for British Columbians

The Better Regulations for British Columbians (BR4BC) amendment process is one of the ways we modernize regulations. Through BR4BC, small regulatory changes are grouped together and updated at once using an efficient and streamlined process. 2024 BR4BC updates include:

• 224 instances of outdated gendered and binary language were amended, in line with B.C.’s commitment to equity and inclusion. To date, over 1,600 instances have now been removed from B.C.’s regulations.
• 47 digital option amendments were made. These updates allow for the inclusion of things like electronic payment and virtual attendance at meetings, helping to create efficiencies and reduce regulatory burden on citizens and businesses.
• Removing measures that have become unnecessary or irrelevant by repealing:
  • Section 4.1 of the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act
  • Section 15 and Form 9 of the Fare Infraction Review and Referral Regulation
• Updating provisions and wording in the Business Number Regulation, Cleaner Gasoline Regulation, Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation, Municipal Wastewater Regulation, Waste Discharge Regulation, Carbon Neutral Government Regulation, Drinking Water Protection Regulation, Pool Regulation, Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation and the Motor Vehicle Act Regulation.

Better Legislation for British Columbians

Better Legislation for British Columbians (BL4BC) is an omnibus package that makes minor amendments to clarify, modernize, correct, or repeal outdated information in B.C.’s provincial statutes. BL4BC’s first round was implemented in 2023 under the Miscellaneous Statutes (Modernization) Amendment Act. Updates include:

• More than 2,300 instances of outdated gendered and binary language were eliminated across 210 statutes from 21 ministries.
• 17 digital option amendments were made, including updates to the British Columbia Railway Act and the British Columbia Transit Act. These changes streamlined legal processes and introduced electronic mail as a digital option for approving resolutions, enhancing efficiency and clarity in business operations.
• Removing outdated measures by repealing:
  • Sections 24.1 to 24.9 of the Forest Act.
  • Section 52(11) of the British Columbia Railway Act.
  • Section 4.1(6) of the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act.
• Updating provisions and wording in the Architects (Landscape) Act, Assessment Act, Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act, Drainage, Ditch and Dike Act, Employment Standards Act, Environmental Management Act, Family Law Act, Forest and Range Practices Act, Geothermal Resources Act, Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act, Home Owner Grant Act, Integrated Pest Management Act, Interpretation Act, Land Act, Land Survey Act, Land Surveyors Act, Land Tax Deferment Act, Land Title Act, Workers Compensation Act, and Youth Justice Act.

Modernizing Language Guide

The Government of British Columbia is committed to modern, equitable and inclusive legislation, policies and service delivery. As part of that commitment, it is important to ensure that language used in Government products is accessible, up-to-date and reflective of all people in the province. The Modernizing Language Guide has been developed as a resource to help identify and address outdated language and requirements within legislation, policies, forms and all other public-facing materials.