Declaration of Public Health Emergency

The Provincial Health Officer declared a public health emergency on March 17, 2020.  The Declaration is authorized under Part 5 – Emergency Powers of the Public Health Act. Local governments should be aware that during an emergency Part 5 of the Public Health Act applies despite any provision of the Public Health Act or any […]

Local Governments should be aware that under section 83 of the Public Health Act a local government is required to take certain steps when it becomes aware of a health hazard in its jurisdiction including reporting a health hazard to a health officer or taking an action that the local government has authority to take […]

The Reporting Information Affecting Public Health Regulation, B.C. Reg. 167/2018 requires at section 4 that any person in charge of an institution or workplace who has been advised by a Medical Health Officer that a person who is or has been present at the institution or workplace is an infected person must, if requested by […]

As we learn more about the potential impacts of COVID 19, you may be thinking ahead and considering what would happen if a number of elected officials were unable to attend a local government council or board meeting because of illness or self-isolation. Many local governments will have included in their Procedure Bylaws provisions in […]

Due to the risk of an outbreak of COVID 19, the Provincial Health Officer has issued an order under the Public Health Act.  The order expressly applies to municipalities and regional districts, as well as other persons and organizations. Persons and organizations subject to the order are prohibited from permitting the gathering of more than […]

COVID-19 is creating multiple and unprecedented issues for British Columbians, including local governments.  The number, type, and severity of issues will likely increase in the coming days and weeks.  One potential issue that may arise is the effect of a contractor or a local government being unable to perform their obligations under a contract, either […]

In Romegioli v. Langley (Township) 2018 BCSC 1867, the B.C. Supreme Court recently had opportunity to judicially review the decision of a bylaw adjudicator upholding over 500 bylaw infraction notices (with associated fees and costs of approximately $270,000) that had been issued to the petitioner, Mr. Romegioli, relating to the operation of a cannabis dispensary. […]