B.C. postpones Heritage Conservation Act changes to allow more consultation

Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said B.C. will delay planned changes to the Heritage Conservation Act to allow more consultation with First Nations, industry and other groups, and that revisions could be tabled in the fall though no firm date was given.

B.C. is delaying planned changes to the Heritage Conservation Act, Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said. The province had intended to bring the legislation forward this spring but will postpone to allow more engagement with First Nations, industry and other groups. Reform work on the act began in the summer of 2022 and the government extended the public submission deadline until Nov. 14, 2025. Parmar framed the delay as necessary because of the law's importance and the need for broader consultation. Key details: - The government had planned to introduce changes this spring but is postponing to permit additional consultation, according to Parmar. - Parmar said the province could table revisions in the fall but did not give a firm timetable, and emphasized a goal of speeding development while protecting heritage sites. - He cited communities such as Lytton, which was largely destroyed by wildfires in 2021, as examples of places that should be able to rebuild faster while protecting archaeological sites important to First Nations. - Reform of the legislation began in summer 2022 and the province extended the deadline for submissions to Nov. 14, 2025 after municipalities raised concerns about potential slowdowns and added costs. - Parmar said stakeholders agree the current legislation is "broken" and indicated it is possible to streamline projects while protecting heritage. Summary: The delay gives more time for consultations intended to balance heritage protection and development timelines. Parmar said changes could be tabled in the fall but offered no firm date. Undetermined at this time.