This Order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council for the Province of British Columbia serves two primary legal functions: it brings into force sections 1 to 9 of the Intimate Images Protection Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (S.B.C. 2025, c. 21), and it establishes the Intimate Image Claims Regulation under the authority of the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act (S.B.C. 2012, c. 25). The authority for this Order is grounded in section 13 of the Intimate Images Protection Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 and section 93 of the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act.

The Intimate Image Claims Regulation clarifies the interpretive and procedural framework governing these claims. Within the regulation, the term “Act” refers to the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act. The regulation applies specifically to intimate image claims brought under Division 8 of Part 10 of that Act, which assigns jurisdiction over such matters to the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT). This structure ensures that disputes involving non-consensual distribution or threatened distribution of intimate images are processed within a defined administrative tribunal system rather than through traditional court proceedings.

The regulatory framework establishes consistency in how claims are initiated, assessed, and resolved. It is designed to support accessible and efficient adjudication, allowing individuals affected by intimate image harm to pursue remedies through an online tribunal process. Available remedies include orders for removal of images, prohibitions against further distribution or threats of distribution, and monetary compensation.

A key provision of the regulation is section 3, which sets the maximum monetary award for intimate image claims at $75,000. This figure is incorporated into the statutory definition of “tribunal limit amount” in section 136.1 of the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act. The increase in the monetary cap represents a substantial expansion of the tribunal’s jurisdiction for this category of claims. It reflects a legislative recognition of the significant psychological, reputational, and economic harm caused by non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and aligns compensation authority more closely with the seriousness of such harm.

More broadly, the Order integrates legislative amendments with operational tribunal processes, ensuring that the Civil Resolution Tribunal has clear authority to adjudicate and award remedies in intimate image cases. It establishes jurisdictional boundaries, clarifies procedural expectations, and supports consistent decision-making within the tribunal’s mandate.

In effect, the Order is aimed at advancing British Columbia’s policy objective of addressing digital sexual violence through civil, accessible, and specialized legal mechanisms. It improves access to justice by providing a structured, efficient pathway for claims while reinforcing enforceable protections for individuals whose intimate images are shared or threatened without consent.

Ontario (43/2026) March 25, 2026
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