This page was updated Apr 22, 2022
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak both the BC and Federal governments have passed emergency legislation. This page will collect links to those statutes and capture some basic information about their passage into law.
The BC Government has emergency powers under the Public Health Act (SBC 2008 c. 28) and the Emergency Program Act (RSBC 1996 c.111). Orders made under the Public Health Act can be made orally during the emergency.
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Orders made under the Public Health Act |
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News updates from the Public safety and Solicitor General |
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A listing of COVID-19 related regulations, orders in council and ministerial orders (though not exhaustive) |
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Province-wide restrictions made by under the Public Health Act |
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A list of general emergency support and information from the province |
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Legislative Assembly COVID-19 updates, including their Safety Plan |
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Progress of Bills in BC (Current) |
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Ministerial Orders released by the Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General in relation to the state of emergency (beginning with order 2020_M082) |
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BC Courts have released several notices and announcements concerning their operations during the COVID-19 outbreak. Each court has a section on their homepage listing these notices |
The following Ministerial Orders have been made in relation to COVID-19:
Ministerial orders (2022)
Currently none (reviewed up to and including M117).
Ministerial orders (2021)
M003, M005, M010, M012, M013, M016, M017, M028, M032, M033, M051, M062, M083, M108, M119, M124, M129, M148, M151, M156, M165, M166, M170, M172, M176, M177, M180, M181, M182, M186, M192, M200, M212, M213, M222, M223, M224, M242, M273, M274, M275, M290 & M307.
Ministerial orders (2020)
M082-M086, M089, M091, M093, M094, M098, M105, M114, M115, M116, M120, M121, M128, M133, M138, M139, M150, M152, M159, M161, M162, M166, M167, M168, M179, M180, M183, M192, M193, M195, M220, M248, M257, M307, M309, M314, M321, M330, M358, M376, M381, M382, M389, M405, M416, M419, M420, M425, M429, M431 M453, M456 & M480.
BC statutes related to COVID-19
The following acts have been passed since the emergency was declared:
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Title |
Chapter number |
Bill number |
Royal assent date |
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S.B.C. 2020, c. 5 |
Bill 15 |
Mar. 23, 2020 |
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S.B.C. 2020, c. 6 |
Bill 16 |
Mar. 23, 2020 |
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S.B.C. 2020, c. 8 |
Bill 19 |
Jul. 8, 2020 |
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S.B.C. 2020, c. 19 |
Bill 18 |
Aug. 14, 2020 |
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S.B.C. 2020, c. 23 |
Bill 2 |
Dec. 17, 2020 |
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S.B.C. 2021, c. 4 |
Bill 6 |
Mar. 25, 2021 |
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| Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2021 | S.B.C. 2021, c. 10 | Bill 3 | Apr. 27, 2021 |
| Finance Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2021 | S.B.C. 2021, c. 14 | Bill 9 | May 20, 2021 |
| Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2021 | S.B.C. 2021, c. 16 | Bill 10 | Jun. 17, 2021 |
| Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2021 | S.B.C. 2021, c. 17 | Bill 11 | Jun. 17, 2021 |
| Employment Standards Amendment Act (No. 2), 2021 | S.B.C. 2021, c. 12 | Bill 13 | May 20, 2021 |
| Access to Services (COVID-19) Act | S.B.C. 2021, c. 33 | Bill 20 | Nov. 25, 2021 |
| Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 2021 | S.B.C. 2021, c. 34 | Bill 30 | Nov. 25, 2021 |
BC regulations related to COVID-19
The following regulations have been made related to COVID-19:
| Title | Regulation Number | Order Number | Deposit Date |
| COVID-19 (South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act) Regulation | 107/2021 | 247/2021 | April 19, 2021 |
The Federal Government draws its emergency powers from the Emergencies Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. 22 (4th Supp.) and the Quarantine Act (S.C. 2005, c. 20)
Found from the Progress of Bills from the Parliament of Canada, the following acts have been passed since the emergency was declared:
- Transport Canada has released interim orders and guidance outlining temporary rules affecting transit by aviation, rail, road and marine vehicles during the state of emergency, as well as listing links to other government resources. They can be found here:
- BC Ferries - the interim order from Transport Canada affecting BC Ferries can be found here:
Municipalities have legislation which allows them to declare emergencies and take action in a crisis. On May 26, 2020 the Provincial Government suspended all municipal states of emergency, except for the city of Vancouver, citing a need to centralize a response province-wide in Ministerial Order M083
Vancouver’s emergency powers are granted in s.173 of the Vancouver Charter.