We previously reported that on October 5, 2015, the Government of British Columbia (BC Government) introduced Bill 38 – 2015, Franchises Act (Franchises Act) that would make it the sixth province in Canada to regulate franchising along with the provinces of Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The Franchises Act passed its second reading on October 7, 2015. It passed Committee and, without amendment, it passed its third reading on October 20, 2015. As such, the Franchises Act is in its final form and will come into force when regulations are approved. Such approval is expected to be in late 2016 or early 2017.
The BC Government is now seeking input from the public on proposed regulations under the Franchises Act. Such regulations will be based on the Uniform Law Conference of Canada’s Disclosure Documents Regulation (ULCC Regulations) and the British Columbia Law Institute’s draft Franchises Act (Disclosure) Regulation (BCLI Recommendations). The BC Government has requested that any comments on the ULCC Regulations or the BCLI Recommendations be submitted by January 15, 2016.
This article is published to inform clients and contacts of important developments in the field of franchise and distribution law. The content is informational only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. We encourage you to consult a Dickinson Wright attorney if you have specific questions or concerns relating to any of the topics covered here.