6 New Laws & Regulations That Will Affect People In BC In 2022
Stay in the know! 👇
There are some new laws and regulations for B.C. that are starting in the new year, and you definitely will want to know about them.
Changes ranging from environmental policies to sick day laws are going to be coming in 2022. A lot of the new rules — like the single-use plastic ban — will probably impact your everyday life, so it's important to know all the details about them.
Here are six new laws and regulations that will affect people in B.C. this coming year.
Single-Use Plastic Ban
Vancouver is banning single-use plastic bags, and putting fines on paper bags and some beverage cups.
There will be a fee of 25 cents for single-use beverage cups, and a 15 cents fee for paper bags, which must be made out of at least 40% recycled content.
The change will start on January 1, 2022, so remember to start bringing your reusable bag to the store!
Paid Sick Leave
As of January 1, 2022, most workers in B.C. are going to have five paid sick days.
It will be the new minimum amount required for jobs under the Employment Standards Act and includes part-time workers.
We all know how it's super important to stay home if you're feeling sick, and now you can actually do that without losing out on pay.
Protection Of Customers
After May 1, 2022, people who need certain credit products are going to have more protection, under the new regulations.
A press release from the B.C. government said that there will be more oversight under this new framework, on things like "high-interest instalment loans and lines of credit above 32% interest."
These high-cost products will need annual licensing and will face more rules around their fees and practices. There will also be requirements set for credit agreements, aimed to help protect customers.
With these changes also comes a fund that will help educate customers on finances.
Emergency Management
After a year of intense weather, with historic flooding and extreme heat, new emergency management legislation is expected to be introduced in the Fall of 2022.
The details are not released yet, but we can expect to see some new laws.
Home Buyer Protection
In the spring of 2022, homebuyers in B.C. are going to have a cooling-off period. You will be able to back out of the purchase of a new home, without serious consequences.
With house prices being super high in some areas, this is great news for buyers.
Climate Preparedness Regulations
According to the B.C. environmental plan, CleanBC Roadmap to 2030, regulations will be changed in 2022.
The plan does not specify what exactly will change, but it does say that the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy will be released in 2022, and The CleanBC Program for Industry will be redesigned to "align with new federal carbon pricing rules," in the new year.