Canada's controlled-substances schedules restructured and new substances added to temporary-control lists

Schedule V has been split into two parts: Part 1 now lists controlled substances subject to temporary scheduling, while Part 2 houses precursors (Class A, Class B, and preparations/mixtures). As a result, the definition of 'controlled substance' now refers to Schedules I–IV and Part 1 of Schedule V, and 'precursor' now covers Part 2 of Schedule V as well as Schedule VI. Several chemicals previously in Schedule V (Phenethyl bromide, Propionic anhydride, Benzyl chloride) have been moved permanently into Schedule VI. New temporary entries have been added to Schedule V: two substances (Spirobrorphine and Spirochlorphine) appear in Part 1 as controlled substances, and one substance (R 29676) plus preparations containing it appear in Part 2 as precursors, each for a one-year period. Police and military police undercover exemption powers have been expanded to also cover related Criminal Code conspiracy and attempt offences. Businesses and individuals handling any of these substances—including importers, manufacturers, pharmacists, and researchers—should review whether substances they work with have shifted schedule classification or been newly added, as this affects their licensing and compliance obligations.

Precursor Control Regulations expanded to cover new Schedule V substances and four new chemicals added to controlled schedule

The definitions of Class A and Class B precursors have been broadened to include substances listed in the newly created Schedule V to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, in addition to the existing Schedule VI substances. All regulatory requirements—licensing, permits, record-keeping, import/export declarations, authorization certificates, and suspicious transaction reporting—now apply to these additional Schedule V precursors in the same way they already applied to Schedule VI precursors. Four new substances have been added to the Regulations' schedule with a maximum quantity of zero: phenethyl bromide, propionic anhydride, phenethyl iodide, and phenethyl chloride; a fifth substance (R 29676) has since been added by a subsequent amendment. A new ministerial order-making power allows the Minister to temporarily add or remove precursors from the schedule to mirror temporary scheduling actions under Schedule V to the Act. Licensed and registered dealers handling any of these substances—including those dealing in preparations or mixtures containing them—must review their licences, permits, record-keeping practices, end-use declarations, and authorization certificates to confirm they cover the newly in-scope Schedule V precursors.

B.C. expands clinical scopes for occupational therapists, opticians, optometrists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists and pharmacists

This ministerial order broadens what several regulated health professions may do in British Columbia. Occupational therapists can now administer oxygen by inhalation and, if certified, perform sub-dermal wound-care procedures and airway suctioning. Opticians gain authority to fit contact lenses as a full restricted activity, while optometrists lose the previous requirement to be 'certified' before performing certain restricted activities and can now prescribe, dispense or administer listed drugs topically for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes (with a duty to notify the patient's primary care provider when prescribing or dispensing therapeutically). Physical therapists may now also perform sub-dermal wound-care procedures, and speech-language pathologists have an updated and expanded list of permitted restricted activities plus the ability to administer oxygen by inhalation. Pharmacists may now administer Schedule I, IA or II drugs topically and may use any method to treat anaphylaxis that arises from performing such an activity. Health facilities, employers and professional regulators should review credentialing and practice policies to reflect these expanded scopes.

B.C. brings section 18.1 of the Medicare Protection Act into force

The B.C. government has proclaimed into force section 5 of the Medicare Protection Amendment Act, 2003, which enacts section 18.1(1) and (2) of the Medicare Protection Act. This provision had been passed years ago but was not previously in operation. Parties involved in billing, providing, or administering publicly funded health services in British Columbia should review what section 18.1 of the Medicare Protection Act now requires of them, as it is now legally operative. Anyone with compliance obligations under the Medicare Protection Act should assess whether this newly active provision affects their current practices.

B.C. brings into force 2025 amendments to Health Care Costs Recovery Act and updates its supporting regulation

British Columbia has proclaimed the Health Care Costs Recovery Amendment Act, 2025 into force and simultaneously updated the accompanying Health Care Costs Recovery Regulation. The regulatory changes revise internal cross-references so that sections 4 and 4.1 are cited correctly in place of the older subsection references, affecting the rules around notice of third-party claims and disclosure obligations for uninsured defendants. Two new prescribed forms have been added to the Schedule: a Notice of Third Party Claim form and an Information from Uninsured Defendant form. Insurers, self-insured defendants, legal counsel handling personal-injury litigation, and uninsured defendants involved in claims where the province seeks to recover health care costs should review the updated forms and cross-references to ensure their processes and notices comply.

BC Shared Health Services added as a designated government body for whistleblower protections

The Government Body Designation (Public Interest Disclosure) Regulation has been amended to add BC Shared Health Services to the schedule of designated government bodies, with its Chief Executive Officer named as the head of that body. This means employees of BC Shared Health Services who disclose wrongdoing in the public interest now have access to the formal protections and processes under the Public Interest Disclosure Act. Staff at BC Shared Health Services should be aware that whistleblower protections apply to them and that disclosures should be directed to the CEO as the designated head. The same order also adds BC Shared Health Services to the Financial Information Act schedule, the Lobbyists Transparency Regulation, and the list of entities under the Medical and Health Care Services Regulation.

B.C. health authority regulations updated to remove references to Community Health Councils

Three provincial health authority regulations have been amended to delete all references to Community Health Councils and related defined terms. The Amalgamation of Regional Health Boards and Community Health Councils Regulation is renamed to simply the Amalgamation of Regional Health Boards Regulation, and provisions specifically dealing with councils (including sections 3 and 4 and related definitions) are removed. Similarly, the Board and Council Purposes Regulation is renamed the Regional Health Board Purposes Regulation, and council-specific language is stripped out. The Hospital Transfer Regulation is also updated to remove 'or council' wherever it appeared. Organizations or administrators who reference these regulations in governance documents, contracts, or compliance procedures should update their materials to reflect that council-related provisions and terminology no longer appear in these rules.

Cosmetics labelling now requires separate disclosure of fragrance allergens above set concentration thresholds

Cosmetic product labels must now individually name any ingredient that qualifies as a 'fragrance allergen' — defined as a fragrance or flavour capable of causing an allergic reaction that appears on the EU's Restricted Substances List with a mandatory disclosure requirement. Previously, all fragrances and flavours could be grouped under the catch-all terms 'parfum' or 'aroma' at the end of the ingredient list; that shortcut now applies only to fragrances and flavours that are not fragrance allergens. For rinse-off products, an allergen must be listed if its concentration exceeds 0.01%; for leave-on products the threshold is 0.001%. A transition rule means a specific allergen does not need to be listed until it has formally been added to the EU Restricted Substances List and any phase-in period set out in that EU listing has passed. Cosmetic manufacturers and importers should audit their formulations and labelling against the current EU Restricted Substances List to identify any fragrance allergens that now require explicit disclosure.

BC liquor licence renewal fees updated, and server training program fees revised

The annual renewal fees for most liquor licences and endorsements in BC have been replaced with new amounts across all licence types — including liquor primary, food primary, catering, retail stores, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and agents. Fees are tiered by purchase or sales volume for general licence categories, and set as flat or formula-based rates for manufacturers. A transitional rule protects licensees whose licence expires before the changeover date: those renewals are billed at the old fee schedule. In a separate change taking effect later, the per-person fees for the Serving It Right (SIR) online and print programs and the Special Event Server (SES) program are updated. Operators and compliance teams should verify their upcoming renewal falls under the correct fee schedule, and training coordinators should update their budgets for the new per-person program costs.

New 'E supplier' class created for small online gaming distributors, existing class renamed to 'F supplier'

The Gaming Control Regulation now includes a new registered gaming services provider category called the 'E supplier class.' This class covers providers authorized to distribute gaming supplies to the lottery corporation for use in online gaming schemes whose projected gross annual revenue from that distribution is less than $1 million. The previously existing 'E supplier' class — for providers earning $1 million or more but less than $5 million — is renamed the 'F supplier class' throughout the regulation. A $5,000 application fee applies to the new E supplier class. Providers that distribute gaming supplies to the lottery corporation for online gaming should determine which class now applies to them based on their projected revenue, and update any registration or application materials accordingly.

Expanded definitions and updated compliance deadlines for eligible financial contracts at federal member institutions

This amendment to the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Eligible Financial Contracts By-law makes three practical changes. First, two new defined terms—'central counterparty' and 'clearing and settlement system'—are added directly to the By-law, replacing a cross-reference to definitions in the Payment Clearing and Settlement Act. Second, the list of counterparties whose contractual termination rights are exempt from the prescribed class is expanded to include departments and agencies of foreign governments (previously just the foreign government itself) and multilateral development banks (banks owned and funded by two or more governments for economic development purposes). Third, the general compliance deadline for capturing eligible financial contracts entered into, amended, or renewed has been pushed back from October 1, 2024 to October 1, 2028, giving federal member institutions and their counterparties additional time to update contract language. Federal member institutions should review their eligible financial contract portfolios and counterparty relationships in light of the expanded exemption categories and the revised timeline.

Definition of 'clinical placement' and 'preceptor' in private training rules updated to align with National Occupational Classification

The Private Training Regulation has been amended to replace the phrase 'in a career occupation in the health field' with 'in a health occupation' in the definitions of both 'clinical placement' and 'preceptor.' A new definition of 'health occupation' has been added, tying the term explicitly to Category 3 of the current National Occupational Classification (NOC). Private training institutions offering health-related programs should review whether their clinical placement and preceptor arrangements still meet the updated definitions, particularly if any roles were previously treated as health-field placements but may not fall under NOC Category 3. No other parts of the regulation were changed.

B.C. expands greenhouse gas new-entrant rules to cover parts of industrial operations and proposed operations

Two B.C. greenhouse gas regulations have been amended to extend the 'new entrant' designation framework beyond whole industrial operations to include parts of operations and proposed operations not yet in production. Operators who have significantly expanded capacity (by at least 80%) can now seek new-entrant status for the new part of their facility, subject to director approval based on factors such as financial investment, emission intensity volatility, and compliance history. A new regulated product category—'lime recovered by kiln' in chemical pulp mills—has been added to Schedule A.1 with its own product-weighted average emission intensity and tightening rate. Several section numbers were renumbered (sections 41.10–41.15 become 41.91–41.96), which affects cross-references in the administrative penalties regulation and requires operators to update any internal compliance references. Operators in affected industries—particularly pulp and paper—should review whether the new product category or expanded new-entrant pathway applies to their facilities and consider whether to file an application for designation.

Sections 5–8 of B.C.'s Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 brought into force

This regulation is a commencement order that activates sections 5 through 8 of the Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2025. The full text of those sections is not reproduced here, so the specific substantive changes they introduce are not visible in this instrument. What is clear is that these provisions are now in force following an Order in Council. Anyone affected by the Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 should review sections 5 to 8 of that Act directly to understand what obligations or changes now apply to them.

B.C. Court of Appeal Rules updated: quorum language, fee schedule, and three forms revised

Three targeted changes have been made to the Court of Appeal Rules. First, the quorum reference in Rule 66(3)(b) has been updated from 'three or more justices' to 'the court,' removing a specific numerical threshold. Second, the fee schedule (Schedule 1) has been adjusted: item 8 now covers both applications and case management conferences, and item 11 replaces the word 'settled' with 'assessed' when describing how costs are determined. Third, Forms 11, 12, and 21 in Schedule 3 have been repealed and replaced with new versions. Parties filing in the Court of Appeal, and legal counsel who prepare court documents or fee assessments, should ensure they are using the updated forms and terminology.

B.C. rural property tax rates updated for 2026 and beyond across all property classes

The provincial rural area property tax rates set out in the Taxation (Rural Area) Act Regulation have been replaced with new rates applying to 2026 and all subsequent tax years. Two separate rate tables now apply: one for most of British Columbia and a distinct table for the Peace River Regional District, where Utilities, Major Industry, and Light Industry classes carry higher rates. All nine property classes — including Residential, Farm, Managed Forest Land, Major and Light Industry, and Utilities — have updated per-$1,000-of-assessed-value rates. Property owners, businesses, and operators in rural areas subject to provincial rural tax should confirm which table applies to their location and property class. Those in the Peace River Regional District will see higher rates for Utilities, Major Industry, and Light Industry compared to the rest of the province.

B.C. residential tenancy rules updated for public housing, supportive housing, and tenancy agreement requirements

Several targeted changes have been made to the Residential Tenancy Regulation affecting how public housing bodies are defined, how certain rental units are exempted from standard tenancy rules, and what landlords must include in written tenancy agreements. A new definition of 'specified agreement' is introduced, covering municipal housing agreements that restrict unit availability to certain groups and cap rent. A formal list of 'public housing bodies' is now set out in the regulation itself, covering BC Housing, CMHC, the City of Vancouver, several regional housing corporations, qualifying non-profit housing societies, and owners of units subject to a specified agreement. Income-geared rental units operated by most of these bodies remain exempt from assignment, subletting consent, and rent increase provisions, while units subject only to a specified agreement are carved out of the section that allows landlords to evict tenants who no longer qualify. Supportive housing rental units receive new exemptions from quiet enjoyment, landlord entry, and tenant access protections. Landlords that do not collect security or pet damage deposits are no longer required to include that section of the standard Schedule in tenancy agreements, and public-housing-body landlords with exempt units are relieved from including rent increase and assignment/subletting clauses in the Schedule.

BC funeral supplement rules updated: new cost caps and clearer service definitions for funeral providers

The Employment and Assistance Regulation has been amended to update how funeral cost supplements are calculated and paid for low-income assistance recipients. The definition of "funeral costs" has been rewritten to tie eligible services specifically to licensed (or exempt) funeral providers under the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act, and to clarify which funeral service types qualify. A new cap of $1,685 has been introduced on the supplement amount payable for listed funeral items. Rules for intraprovincial transportation reimbursement have been updated: mileage reimbursement applies to trips over 32 km at a maximum rate of $1.25/km, and ferry costs (reservation fees, vehicle and driver fare, and one additional passenger if needed) can be included separately, but mileage cannot be double-counted for distances covered by ferry. A transition provision ensures that deaths occurring before the amendment takes effect continue to be governed by the prior rules for supplement purposes.