The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia has enacted official order 164/2025 which takes effect on May 1, 2025. This order makes several significant legislative changes, particularly concerning the Police Amendment Act, 2024. The order contains substantial updates to the operational structure, oversight mechanisms, and responsibilities of police services in British Columbia, signaling a phased implementation approach for the broader act passed in 2024. In addition to this, the order includes amendments to a collection of regulations as a part of a harmonization effort with the changes being introduced under the Police Amendment Act.

Notably, the order also repeals the Prescribed Police Forces Regulation, B.C. Reg. 70/99, which may indicate a consolidation or restructuring of the regulation governing which police forces are recognized under provincial legislation. This repeal could pave the way for a new or redefined regulatory framework that better aligns with modern policing needs or emerging models of public safety. The administrative portion of the order outlines the legal authority under which these actions have been taken, drawing from a wide range of legislation beyond the Police Amendment Act itself. These include key acts such as the Assistance to Shelter Act, the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, the Environmental Management Act, the Motor Vehicle Act, the Missing Persons Act, and the Passenger Transportation Act, among others. This breadth of statutory reference illustrates the interconnected nature of the reforms and suggests that changes to police regulation will have implications across multiple areas of government service and public administration.

The references to sections of the Community Charter, Vancouver Charter, and Representative for Children and Youth Act point to an intention to coordinate police policy with municipal authority and child protection oversight. Furthermore, legal authority is also derived from various historical Orders in Council (OICs), which provide a legislative backdrop to this latest move, demonstrating a cumulative legal foundation that has evolved over several years. The range of past OICs listed—from as early as 1958 to more recent ones—highlights the layered and longstanding legal scaffolding supporting these changes. By invoking this broad and diverse authority, the order reflects a deliberate and comprehensive approach to implementing police reform, touching on everything from residential tenancy to security services, and even the symbolic realm governed by the Provincial Symbols and Honours Act.

Overall, the order marks a major step forward in the phased enactment of the Police Amendment Act, 2024, reaffirming the province’s commitment to modernizing its police oversight and service delivery in alignment with contemporary standards and community expectations. This move may also suggest further reforms ahead, as remaining portions of the Act await implementation. The order signifies not just legislative change but a broader administrative shift in how public safety and related matters are governed in British Columbia. By acting through the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the province reinforces the constitutional process by which such significant updates to governance and public policy are made.

British Columbia (164-2025) April 10, 2025
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and do not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.