A general revision consolidates all of the public acts and any other acts considered advisable and revises them by simplifying the numbering and updating the style and language.
To date, there have been 10 general revisions in BC, done in 1871, 1888, 1897, 1911, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1979 and 1996.
1996 may be the last full revision because as per the Statute Revison Act, RSBC 1996, c.440, section1(b), Legislative Counsel may also prepare a limited revision, consisting of only one act or a portion of an act.
What is a limited revision?
A limited revision only affects a single act. It consolidates the previously existing act and its amendments and revises it by simplifying the numbering and updating the style and language.
The authority for this can be found in section 7(2) of the Statute Revision Act which states that when a limited revision comes into force, the Acts or provisions it replaces are repealed to the extent that they are incorporated in the limited revision. A limited revision may also make minor amendments to other Acts.
Section 8(1) states that a revision does not operate as new law but has effect and must be interpreted as a consolidation of the law contained in the Acts and provisions replaced by the revision.
Can you find the legislative intent behind a revised statute?
No. When preparing any revision, certain changes to acts may be made without going through the usual legislative process. Therefore, no bill is introduced into the legislature and there is no debate. Allowable changes are set out in section 2 of the Statute Revision Act.
How do revisions come into force?
Both general and limited revisions are brought into force by regulation.
How do you cite a limited revision?
As per section 6(2) of the Statute Revision Act, a limited revision may be published as a Revised Statute of British Columbia for that year in the annual statute volume.
What statutes have received limited revisions?
Since the date of the last general revision (1996), the following have undergone limited revision:
Public Acts:
- Local Government Act, RSBC 2015, c. 1 (in force January 1, 2016; BC Regulation 257/2015).
- Insurance Act, RSBC 2012, c. 1 (in force July 1, 2012; BC Regulation 191/2012). *Please note that between July 1, 2012 and March 13, 2013, this act was cited as the Insurance Act, SBC 2012, c. 37.
Private Acts:
- Union of British Columbia Municipalities Act, RSBC 2006, c.1 (in force June 23, 2006; BC Regulation 191/2006) *Please note that between June 23, 2006 and March 13, 2013, this act was cited as SBC 2006, c. 18.
- Vancouver Foundation Act, RSBC 2000, c.1 (in force October 1, 2000; BC Regulation 332/2000) *Please note that between October 1, 2000 and March 13, 2013, this act was cited as SBC 2000, c. 32.
- Victoria Foundation Act, RSBC 2000, c.2 (in force October 1, 2000; BC Regulation 331/2000) *Please note that between October 1, 2000 and March 13, 2013, this act was cited as SBC 2000, c. 33.
Why did the citations change?
The BC Government introduced the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2013, SBC 2013, c. 12 as Bill 8 on February 20, 2013. Among other things, it amended the Interpretation Act, RSBC 1996, c. 238, s. 43 and the Statute Revision Act, RSBC 1996, c. 440, ss. 4 to 6, to clarify how BC acts should be properly cited after a limited revision.
According to section 43 of the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2013, SBC 2013, c. 12, these amending sections came into force upon Royal Assent, March 14, 2013.
Related:
- Which English Acts are applicable in BC?
- What are the earliest statute revisions for BC?
- When did the revised statutes of BC come into force?
- What is unique about the Revised Statutes of British Columbia, 1911, vol. IV?
- Were any Acts renamed in the Revised Statutes of British Columbia, 1979?