BC makes online laws official and accessible

Summary#

Bill 22 (Statutes Act) sets the rules for how British Columbia’s laws are published and relied on, especially online. Its main goal is to make an online version of BC laws an official, trustworthy source, and to keep those laws easy to find, accurate, and accessible.

• Makes an Act or a consolidated Act on the government’s official website an “official version” if it has the required format and notice.
• Requires timely publishing of new Acts each year and updated consolidations when changes take effect.
• Keeps older “point‑in‑time” versions online so people can see what the law said on a past date.
• Allows small fixes (like typos, numbering, and cross‑references) to Acts by regulation, which must be confirmed by the Legislature next session to keep working.
• Requires corrections and public notices when publishing mistakes happen online or in print.
• Adds accessibility features (like hyperlinks and alternative text) and helpful notes, while clarifying these extras are not part of the law.

What it means for you#

• General public

  • You can rely on the online version of a law as official if it shows the required notice on the official site.
  • You can check the law as it stands today and see past versions from specific dates.
  • Typos and small errors should be fixed faster, with notices posted about the changes.
  • Extras like links, summaries, and tables of changes may make laws easier to read, but those extras are not themselves the law.

• Workers, businesses, and nonprofits

  • Easier to verify current legal requirements and past rules without buying printed books.
  • Less risk of using an outdated version, since updates are posted when changes take effect.

• People with disabilities

  • Online laws can include accessibility features (for example, alternative text for images), making them easier to use with assistive tech.

• Lawyers, courts, and advocates

  • You can prove the contents of a law by producing the online official version.
  • The site will keep point‑in‑time versions, helping with cases about past events.
  • Clearer rules on what counts as “official,” reducing disputes over source and wording.

• Libraries, educators, and researchers

  • Printed copies will still be produced, but the official online collection becomes a primary source.
  • Better historical access through maintained past versions.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Improves access to justice by making the official law free and online for everyone.
• Provides faster updates and clearer “what’s in force” information, reducing confusion.
• Saves time and money in courts and offices by allowing online proof of the law.
• Adds accessibility features to include more users.
• Keeps a reliable record of past law through point‑in‑time versions.
• Limits risk from mistakes by requiring prompt corrections and public notices.

Opponents' View#

• People without reliable internet may be at a disadvantage if practice shifts online.
• Letting the government correct “minor errors” by regulation could be seen as changing text without full debate, even if limited and temporary without confirmation.
• Users may be confused about which online copies are “official” if they lack the required notice or format.
• Reliance on a website raises concerns about long‑term archiving, uptime, and version control if systems fail.
• Extra notes and links could be mistaken for legal text unless clearly marked (the bill says they are not law).