BC Bill Proposes to Eliminate PST

Bill 9, the Consumption Tax Rebate and Transition Act, was introduced in the BC Legislature on March 30.

“Fulfilling the Province’s commitment under the Comprehensive Integrated Tax Coordination Agreement with the federal government to wind down PST by July 1, 2010, the new Consumption Tax Rebate and Transition Act eliminates the seven-per cent PST and introduces HST-related measures designed to mitigate the impacts of the HST on British Columbians.”

For more information, see the Government of BC press release & backgrounder.

BC Court of Appeal Celebrates 100 Years

April marks the 100th anniversary of the BC Court of Appeal, and  the milestone is being marked with a website at bcca100.ca.

The site includes a schedule of celebrations and events, descriptions of the special centenary projects, six photo galleries, and a link to the trailer for Through the Heavens Fall: 100 Years of the BC Court of Appeal, which will air on the Knowledge Network on April 30, 2010.

Some notable events include:

• Appellate Judges’ Symposium (April 22)
• Judges’ and Lawyers’ BCCA Centenary Conference featuring well-known author and professor Richard Susskind (April 23 & 24)
• A sold-out gala dinner with keynote speaker Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin P.C. (April 23)

BC Government releases Finance Statutes Amendments Act

The B.C. government has just released Finance Statutes Amendment Act. Bill 6 will effect the following statutes:

• Financial Administration Act
• Financial Institutions Act
• Home Owner Grant Act
• Personal Property Security Act
• Securities Act
• Tobacco Tax Act

For more information see government link above.

Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2010

Don’t let its casual name fool you…this year’s Miscellaneous Statutes Amendments Act (Bill 4) includes some fairly major changes to various BC statutes, including:

• Child, Family and Community Service Act
• Coroners Act
• Employment Standards Act
• Engineers and Geoscientists Act
• Health Authorities Act
• Hospital District Act
• Music Teachers (Registered) Act
• Miscellaneous post-secondary Acts (Columbian Methodist College Act, Whetham College Act, Vancouver Bible Institute Enabling Act, Life Bible College Act, Congregational College of British Columbia Act,  Ryerson College Act, and Westminster Hall Act)
• Teaching Profession Act
• Water Act

The bill was introduced on March 22, 2010. For the full text of the bill (first reading version) see: Bill 4, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2010, and for a summary of the amendments, see this information bulletin from the Ministry of the Attorney General.

UVic Law Student Technology Survey

With summer students season just around the corner, the results of the 7th University of Victoria Law Student Technology Survey will be of interest to law firms, government departments and other organizations who’ll employ them over the coming months and years.

The survey asked questions about laptop, smart phone and Mp3 player ownership; software and email provider preferences; and social media use.  Especially interesting are the student comments, which voice concern about privacy and professionalism on Facebook.

(via Slaw.ca)

Robert Brun, Q.C. Elected National 2nd Vice-President

Announced today: “Robert Brun, Q.C. of Vancouver is the CBA’s new Second Vice-President-elect. … Robert Brun will become Second Vice-President at the CBA’s Canadian Legal Conference in Niagara in August, the first step on the way to the presidency of the CBA in 2012.”

For more details, visit the CBA Website.

New Lobbyist Registration Rules Coming April 1st

Changes are coming for lobbyists in British Columbia come April 1st, including those operating out of BC law firms:

If you are engaged in lobbying — or employ individuals to lobby on behalf of your organization — there are new rules coming into force April 1, 2010. Familiarize yourself with the newly amended Lobbyists Registration Act to ensure you are prepared and in compliance with the legislation.

A new searchable and free database of registered BC lobbyists will be launched April 1, 2010, when the amendments are brought into force.

For those interested in what this service may reveal, there are already a series of BC lobbying reports available on the government website.

Upcoming CPD Seminars from CBABC

The following seminars are coming in March or April from the CBA in British Columbia:

• Conflicts of Interest Toolkit
  March 24, 2010. Location: Victoria B.C.
• Ethics in Action: Practice and Community
  March 27, 2010. Location: Prince Rupert B.C.
• New Civil Rules
  March 31, 2010. Location: Surrey, B.C.
• New Family Rules
  Apr. 9, 2010. Location: Kelowna B.C.
• Negotiation Skills: A Refresher on Theory behind Practice
  Apr. 12, 2010. Location: Online
• Kick it up a Notch: Plain Language Writing for Professionals
  Apr. 19, 2010. Location: Online
• Everything Old is New Again: Troubleshooting in a Wills and Estates Practice
  Apr. 21, 2010. Location: Online
• New Family Rules
  Apr. 21, 2010. Location: Nanaimo, B.C.
• What storms are brewing for lawyers – and what happens if lawyers don’t anticipate and respond?
  Apr. 22, 2010. Location: Victoria, B.C.
• Winning Presentation Skills: In the Courtroom and Beyond
  Apr. 26, 2010. Location: Online

Coming June 1st: Having a BC Arrest Warrant Means No Social Assistance

The  BC Government issued a reminder yesterday that starting June 1, 2010, the province will,

“prevent access to income assistance and disability assistance for people with outstanding indictable arrest warrants in B.C. and other provinces, as well as arrest warrants under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada).“

Passed in the legislature last fall, exceptions will be made for:

“dependent children and highly vulnerable people, such as those who are pregnant or who are in the last stages of life. If an adult in a family has a warrant, the remaining family members are still eligible for assistance. No assistance will be paid for the warrant holder.“

[via BC Information Bulletin 2010HSD0030-000258].

BC Snowmobile Regs by 2011?

Quoted in an article in the Globe & Mail yesterday afternoon, B.C. Solicitor General Kash Heed notes:

“B.C. is one of the few Canadian provinces that does not require insurance and registration of snowmobiles.“Where we can regulate, we will,” Mr. Heed said. “The backcountry is so vast it’s difficult to enforce, but where we know these events are going to take place, we have to have the enforcement rules in place.”

The article also says the Solicitor General expects new regulations to be in place by October, 2011.

UBC Construction Webcam

Want to keep track of construction on the new UBC Law building?  The Universities’ Law Building Project website has added a new webcam page.

The captured image of the construction site area is updated on the website every 60 seconds.

More Locations for BC Legal Aid

The Legal Services Society has announced new local agents in seven new communities  The addition brings the total number of legal aid local agents in BC to 33 communities and more than 50 locations, plus an expanded, province-wide call centre.

From the March 3rd press release: “The seven communities with new local agents are Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George, Victoria, and Surrey, where local agents replace Legal Services Society offices, and New Westminster and Langley, which were not previously served by a Legal Services Society location.”

Law Week 2010 is April 11th to 17th

The theme for Law Day 2010 is Access to Justice: Justice for All. Originated by the CBA and first held in Canada in 1983, Law Day provides the public with an opportunity to learn about the law.

Here in BC, events will held from April 11 to 17, 2010, including: “the popular Dial-A-Lawyer program, mock trials, a public speaking contest for students, free law classes, citizenship ceremonies, courthouse tours and a fun run and free public forum in Vancouver.”

For more information, visit the CBA BC website, along with the group’s page on Facebook.

UVic Law: Faculty Council Recommends Change to JD

UVic Law’s Faculty Council has recommended to the University Senate that UVic’s L.L.B. degree be changed to the J.D.

As the release linked above also notes, the faculty’s consultation process has included both Students and Alumni.  Based on the completed surveys: 86% of Alumni favoured the JD designation, along with 93% support from the student body.

Monthly Litigation Calendars 2010

D&D Monthly Litigation Calendar for March. 2010:  Dye & Durham is pleased to provide the 3rd of our Monthly Litigation Calendars for 2010, a quick and easy way to see what’s happening in Court.