Bill 15: Environmental Assessement Amendment Act, 2026

This primarily affects project proponents in British Columbia who are undertaking major reviewable projects such as mines, pipelines, energy facilities, large industrial developments, or significant infrastructure projects that require provincial environmental assessments. If you're a developer or resource company proposing a project that triggers a BC environmental assessment, you'll now be operating within a framework that includes formalized technical tables and leadership tables for resolving issues with participating Indigenous nations, as well as a structured dispute resolution process that could pause certain assessment decisions until disputes are resolved. While this may add procedural steps and potentially lengthen timelines for some assessments, it could also provide more predictability by establishing clear pathways for resolving disagreements. The size of the business matters less than the nature and scale of the project — this framework applies to any proponent whose project is reviewable under the Act, though larger resource and infrastructure companies are most commonly affected.