An act can come into force in a number of ways:
- On the date of Royal Assent
- On a date specified in the commence section of the Act
- By regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council. (These regulations are generally referred to as proclamations.)
- Some combination of the above.
The Legislature does not have to be sitting in order for a regulation to be issued to proclaim an act or sections of an act into force.
How does your act come into force?
Check the commencement section at the end of the act. If there is no commencement section the act came into force on Royal Assent.
Is it in force?
Check the Progress of Bills Table on the Legislative Assembly’s website to determine the Royal Assent Date.
See our Recent BC Proclamations for list of acts that have been brought into force by regulation.
Or, check the BC Legislative Digest, available in print in all courthouse libraries.