Bill M 216: Professional Reliance Act

This bill primarily affects property developers, builders, and land development companies operating in British Columbia who regularly apply for development permits from municipalities, regional districts, or Islands Trust committees. It also significantly impacts professionals such as engineers, geoscientists, foresters, biologists, and agrologists who certify technical submissions — they now carry direct personal liability for damages arising from their certifications. For a typical small-to-mid-size developer or builder, this should speed up the permitting process and reduce costs, since local governments can no longer require independent peer reviews without superintendent authorization or reject professionally certified technical submissions. The bill is most beneficial for businesses of all sizes that experience delays and added expense from municipal review processes, but it places heightened risk on the regulated professionals they hire to prepare and certify submissions.