The Province of British Columbia has enacted regulatory changes through an Order in Council, amending four key provincial regulations. These changes primarily relate to the treatment and classification of regulatory colleges under the Health Professions and Occupations Act, which appears to be an overarching legislative framework governing professional health regulators in the province. The amendments touch on the Carbon Neutral Government Regulation, the Crown Agency Employers Exemption Regulation, the Education and Health Sector Organizations Regulation, and the Lobbyists Transparency Regulation. Together, the changes alter how regulatory colleges are viewed in terms of environmental obligations, employment governance, sector classification, and lobbying oversight.

In the Carbon Neutral Government Regulation (B.C. Reg. 392/2008), the amendment repeals and replaces Section 2, which outlines the types of organizations excluded from the definition of a “public sector organization.” The revised provision explicitly excludes both Canadian Blood Services and regulatory colleges as defined in the Health Professions and Occupations Act. This exemption means that such colleges will no longer be held to the same carbon neutrality requirements imposed on other public sector bodies under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act.

The Crown Agency Employers Exemption Regulation (B.C. Reg. 177/2007) is also amended. Section 1, which lists employers exempt from certain obligations under the Public Sector Employers Act, is expanded to include regulatory colleges. Previously, organizations such as the Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia Society were already listed. By adding regulatory colleges, the amendment likely affects matters such as compensation disclosure, collective bargaining oversight, or fiscal reporting requirements.

Further, the Education and Health Sector Organizations Regulation (B.C. Reg. 53/2010) is amended in Section 1 to include regulatory colleges in the list of organizations considered part of the education and health sector. This reclassification could carry implications for how these organizations are funded, audited, or coordinated within the provincial health and education policy frameworks. By explicitly listing regulatory colleges, the government clarifies their organizational status and potentially opens the door for policy coordination or resource allocation that reflects their unique functions in overseeing licensed health professionals.

The fourth and final amendment affects the Lobbyists Transparency Regulation (B.C. Reg. 235/2019). Section 3(a)(ii) is updated to include “regulatory colleges within the meaning of the Health Professions and Occupations Act” following the phrase “consolidated revenue fund.” This addition likely affects how interactions between lobbyists and regulatory colleges are disclosed or regulated. In practical terms, regulatory colleges will be treated similarly to public entities when it comes to lobbying transparency rules, requiring lobbyists to report any attempts to influence their decisions or policies.

British Columbia (374/2025) July 23, 2025
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and do not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.