1998/99 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 36th Parliament
FIRST READING
The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.
The printed version remains the official version.
HONOURABLE UJJAL DOSANJH
ATTORNEY GENERAL AND MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR
MULTICULTURALISM, HUMAN RIGHTS AND IMMIGRATION
HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:
1 Section 1 of the Residential Tenancy Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 406, is amended
(a) by repealing the definition of "registrar" and adding the following definition:
"director" means the director of the Residential Tenancy Office of the ministry or any other official designated by the minister for purposes of the administration of the Act; , and
(b) by repealing the definition of "review panel".
2 The following section is added before Part 1:
3.1 (1) The director is responsible for the administration and management of all matters and persons appointed under this Act.
(2) The director may delegate any power or duty of the director under the Act.
3 Sections 22 (6) and (7) (a), 25 (1) (a), 49 (1) to (3) and (6), 50 (1), 51 (1), 52 (4) and (5), 53, 55 (1) (a), 57 (5) (b) and 91.1 are amended by striking out "registrar" wherever it appears and substituting "director".
4 Section 22 (8) is repealed and the following substituted:
(8) On an application by a tenant under subsection (6), the director may, without hearing the landlord, order the landlord to pay the security deposit plus interest to the tenant.
(8.1) The director may vary or cancel an order issued under subsection (8).
5 Section 26 is repealed and the following substituted:
26 A landlord in preparing a statement referred to in section 25 (2) must use the prescribed formulas
(a) to calculate the rent adjustment based on the change in local government levies attributable to the residential premises for the relevant 12 month period,
(b) to calculate the rent adjustment based on the portion of capital expenditure attributable to the residential premises for the relevant 12 month period, and
(c) to combine the rent adjustments determined under paragraphs (a) and (b) with the prescribed inflation adjustment factor to ascertain the justifiable rent increase for the residential premises.
6 Section 27 is amended
(a) by repealing subsection (1) (b) and substituting the following:
(b) properly attributable to the residential premises for the relevant 12 month period, and , and
(b) by repealing subsection (2) and substituting the following:
(2) After having determined under subsection (1) what the amount for each item should be, the arbitrator must use the prescribed formula to ascertain and award the justifiable rent increase, if any, for the residential premises.
7 Sections 49 (5) and 50 (2) are amended by striking out "registrar or a person authorized by the registrar" and substituting "director".
8 Section 50 (1) is amended by adding "and arbitration reviews" after "arbitrations".
9 Section 53 is amended by striking out "registrar's" and substituting "director's".
10 Section 54 (3) is repealed.
11 Section 55 is amended
(a) at the end of subsection (1) (e) by adding "and",
(b) by repealing subsection (1) (g) and (h), and
(c) by repealing subsections (9) and (10).
12 Section 57 is amended
(a) by repealing subsections (1) to (3) and (7) and substituting the following:
(1) The decision or order of an arbitrator must be given without delay and, in any event, within 30 days after the hearing.
(2) The failure of an arbitrator to issue a decision within 30 days does not result in any loss of jurisdiction or otherwise affect the validity of the decision or order.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, a decision or order of an arbitrator is final and binding on the parties.
(7) A decision or order of an arbitrator under section 46 or 47 may not be filed in a court until the expiry of the time limit for application for review under section 60. , and
(b) in subsection (8) by striking out "while it is suspended under section 62 (6)" and substituting "while the decision or order is suspended under section 61 (3)".
13 The following section is added:
57.1 (1) In a matter before an arbitrator, the arbitrator
(a) may, with or without a hearing, on the arbitrator's own initiative or on the request of a party to the arbitration, correct a typographical, arithmetical or other similar error in the arbitrator's decision or order, and
(b) may, with or without a hearing, on the arbitrator's own initiative or on the request of a party made within 15 days after the decision, order or written reasons are given,
(i) clarify the decision, order or reasons, or
(ii) deal with an obvious error or inadvertent omission in the decision, order or reasons.
(2) A request to an arbitrator under subsection (1) (a) or (b) by a party to an arbitration may be made without notice to any other party, but the arbitrator may require that another party be given notice.
(3) An arbitrator must not exercise a power under subsection (1) (a) or (b) unless the arbitrator considers it just and reasonable to do so in all the circumstances.
14 Sections 59 to 64 are repealed and the following substituted:
59 (1) A party to an arbitration may apply to the director for review of an arbitrator's order or decision.
(2) The director must designate an arbitrator to review the application.
(3) The director must designate the original arbitrator to review the application unless the original arbitrator is not available or the director considers it appropriate to designate a different arbitrator.
(4) An order or decision of an arbitrator may be reviewed on one or more of the following grounds:
(a) a party was unable to attend the original hearing due to circumstances that could not be anticipated and that were beyond his or her control;
(b) a party has new and relevant evidence that was not available at the time of the original hearing;
(c) a party has evidence that the arbitrator's decision was obtained by fraud.
(5) An application under subsection (1)
(a) must be made in the form and manner approved by the director,
(b) may be made without notice to any other party, and
(c) must be accompanied by full particulars of the evidence on which the applicant intends to rely.
(6) A party to an arbitration may make an application under this section only once in respect of that arbitration.
60 (1) A party must make an application under section 59 (1) for review of a decision or order of an arbitrator that relates to
(a) section 17 (4), 37, 46 or 47, within 2 days after a copy of the decision or order is received by the party,
(b) section 11 or 44, within 5 days after a copy of the decision or order is received by the party, and
(c) any other section, within 15 days after a copy of the decision or order is received by the party.
(2) An arbitrator may extend the time for making an application under section 59 (1) or for taking any steps in the review of an order or decision.
61 (1) At any time after an application is made under section 59 (1), the arbitrator designated to conduct the review may dismiss or refuse to consider the application for review for one or more of the following reasons:
(a) the issues raised by the application can be dealt with sufficiently under section 57.1 (1) (a) or (b);
(b) the application does not provide full particulars of the matter submitted for review;
(c) the application fails to disclose sufficient grounds for review;
(d) the application discloses no basis on which, even if the submissions in the application were accepted, the decision or order of the arbitrator would be set aside;
(e) the application is frivolous, vexatious, trivial or has not been initiated in good faith;
(f) the applicant fails to pursue the application diligently or to comply with an order made in the course of the review.
(2) A decision on whether an application discloses sufficient grounds for review may be based on the written submissions of the applicant alone.
(3) The arbitrator may order that the decision or order to be reviewed be suspended with or without conditions until the review has been completed and a decision given to the parties.
(4) The arbitrator must give a decision in writing and with reasons.
(5) Within 3 days of receiving a decision to proceed with the review or as otherwise ordered by the arbitrator, the applicant must serve a copy of the decision, and any order giving effect to the decision, on the other party.
62 (1) If the arbitrator decides that there are sufficient grounds to review the order or decision, the arbitrator may deal with the matter on its merits.
(2) An arbitrator may review the order or decision based solely on the record of the original arbitration and any written submissions of the parties.
(3) The arbitrator may confirm or vary the original order or decision.
(4) The arbitrator who conducts the review under this section must give a decision in writing and with reasons.
63 In the review of an arbitrator's order or decision the arbitrator who conducts the review has all the powers and duties of an arbitrator in an original arbitration.
64 The director may designate a different arbitrator to conduct an arbitration or arbitration review if the arbitrator originally designated is not available or the director considers it necessary to designate a different arbitrator.
15 Section 71 is amended
(a) in subsection (3) by striking out "30 days" and substituting "60 days", and
(b) in subsection (4) by striking out "30 day" and substituting "60 day".
16 Section 77 is amended by striking out "section 86" and substituting "section 87".
17 Section 85 (6) is repealed.
18 Sections 86 to 88 are repealed and the following substituted:
86 An order for the return of a security deposit referred to in section 22 (9), an application for arbitration under section 49 (4) or a review decision under section 61 (5) must be given to or served on a person by serving it in one of the following ways:
(a) by leaving a copy of the document with the person;
(b) if the person is a landlord, by leaving a copy of the document with an agent of the landlord;
(c) by sending a copy of the document by registered mail to the address at which the person resides, or if the person is a landlord, to the address at which the person carries on business as a landlord.
87 Except as provided in section 86, a document required or permitted to be given to or served on a person under this Act must be served in one of the following ways:
(a) by leaving a copy of the document with the person;
(b) if the person is a landlord, by leaving a copy of the document with an agent of the landlord;
(c) by sending a copy of the document by registered mail to the address at which the person resides, or if the person is a landlord, to the address at which the person carries on business as a landlord;
(d) by sending a copy of the document by ordinary mail to the address at which the person resides or, if the person is a landlord, to the address at which the person carries on business as a landlord;
(e) by leaving a copy of the document at the person's residence with an adult person who apparently resides with the person to be served;
(f) by leaving a copy of the document in a mailbox or mail slot at the address at which the person resides or, if the person is a landlord, at the address at which the person carries on business as a landlord;
(g) by attaching a copy of the document to a door or other conspicuous place at the address at which the person resides or, if the person is a landlord, at the address at which the person carries on business as a landlord;
(h) by transmitting a copy of the document to the fax number provided as an address for service by the person to be served.
88 (1) A document served under section 86 or 87 is deemed to have been received
(a) if served by mail, on the fifth day after mailing it,
(b) if served by fax, on the third day after faxing it,
(c) if served by attaching a copy of the document to a door or other place, on the third day after attaching it, or
(d) if served by leaving a copy of the document in a mail box or mail slot, on the third day after leaving it.
(2) Despite sections 86 and 87, an arbitrator or court may make the following orders:
(a) that a document must be served in a manner the arbitrator or the court considers necessary;
(b) that a document has been sufficiently served for the purposes of this Act on a day the arbitrator or the court determines;
(c) that a document not served in accordance with section 86 or 87 has been sufficiently served for purposes of this Act if the person on whom it is to be served receives it and is aware of its nature.
19 Section 89 (1) is amended by striking out "$2 000." and substituting "$5 000."
20 Section 90 (2) is amended
(a) by repealing paragraph (j) and substituting the following:
(j) respecting matters related to the review of arbitrations, including fees; ,
(b) in paragraph (p) by striking out "manufactured home park" and substituting "manufactured home pad", and
(c) in paragraph (r) by striking out "manufactured homes" and substituting "manufactured home pads".
21 Section 90 (5) is repealed and the following substituted:
(5) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations as follows:
(a) prescribing the form of notice for use under section 24 (3);
(b) prescribing the form of statement for use under section 25 (2);
(c) setting the inflation adjustment factor or providing a formula to determine the inflation adjustment factor;
(d) prescribing a formula referred to but not set out in the Act;
(e) respecting the calculation of a justifiable rent increase including different criteria and formulas for that calculation by different classes of landlords.
22 The Supplement to the Act is repealed.
Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 1998
23 Section 9 of the Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 1998, S.B.C. 1998, c. 23, is repealed.
24 If a decision is made by an arbitrator under the Residential Tenancy Act before the coming into force of the re-enactment of section 59 of the Residential Tenancy Act by this Bill, the review of the arbitrator's decision must proceed
(a) if the application for review is filed before the coming into force of the amendments, under the Residential Tenancy Act as it was before the coming into force of the amendments, or
(b) if the application for review is filed after the coming into force of the amendments, under the Residential Tenancy Act as amended.
25 This Act comes into force by regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
SECTION 1: [Residential Tenancy Act, amends section 1] adds a definition of "director" and repeals the definitions of "registrar" and "review panel".
SECTION 2: [Residential Tenancy Act, enacts section 3.1] clarifies the responsibilities of the director and provides a power to delegate the director's powers and duties.
SECTION 3: [Residential Tenancy Act, amends sections 22 (6) and (7) (a), 25 (1) (a), 49 (1) to (3) and (6), 50 (1), 51 (1), 52 (4) and (5), 53, 55 (1) (a), 57 (5) (b), 91.1] is consequential to the new definition of "director".
SECTION 4: [Residential Tenancy Act, amends section 22 (8)] re-enacts a subsection to substitute "director" for a reference to the "registrar or a person authorized by the registrar" and adds a power for the director to vary or cancel an order under section 22 (8) of the Act.
SECTION 5: [Residential Tenancy Act, re-enacts section 26] streamlines the calculation of the justifiable rent increase.
SECTION 6: [Residential Tenancy Act, amends section 27] is consequential to the re- enactment of section 26 of the Act by this Bill.
SECTION 7: [Residential Tenancy Act, amends sections 49 (5) and 50 (2)] is consequential to the repeal of the definition of "registrar" and substitution of a definition of "director".
SECTION 8: [Residential Tenancy Act, amends section 50 (1)] adds to the director's power to make rules of procedure for arbitrations a similar power to make rules for arbitration reviews.
SECTION 9: [Residential Tenancy Act, amends section 53] is consequential to the new definition of "director".
SECTION 10: [Residential Tenancy Act, repeals section 54 (3)] is consequential to the repeal of section 88 (5) and its replacement by section 88 (2).
SECTION 11: [Residential Tenancy Act, amends section 55] repeals provisions from section 55 so that they can be re-enacted and expanded as new section 57.1.
SECTION 12: [Residential Tenancy Act, amends section 57] amends section 57 to
SECTION 13: [Residential Tenancy Act, enacts section 57.1] re-enacts and expands provisions from section 55 that describe the arbitrator's powers to correct errors or omissions after a decision is made.
SECTION 14: [Residential Tenancy Act, re-enacts sections 59 to 64] enacts a new process for the review of orders or decisions of arbitrators.
SECTION 15: [Residential Tenancy Act, amends section 71 (3) and (4)] changes the time limits from 30 days to 60 days.
SECTION 16: [Residential Tenancy Act, amends section 77] updates the cross reference.
SECTION 17: [Residential Tenancy Act, repeals section 85 (6)] leaves service of documents in a court proceeding to be governed by the Rules of Court.
SECTION 18: [Residential Tenancy Act, re-enacts sections 86 to 88] streamlines and simplifies the service of document provisions in the Residential Tenancy Act and provides for additional methods of service.
SECTION 19: [Residential Tenancy Act, amends section 89 (1)] parallels amendments made to section 89 (2) to (5) by the Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, 1994, that raised all fines to $5 000.
SECTION 20: [Residential Tenancy Act, amends section 90 (2)] re-enacts the power to make regulations respecting the review of arbitrations and clarifies that the regulation making power applies only to rental pads, not to the rental of a home and pad under the same tenancy agreement.
SECTION 21: [Residential Tenancy Act, repeals and replaces section 90 (5)] is consequential to the re-enactment of section 26 of the Act by this Bill.
SECTION 22: [Residential Tenancy Act, repeals the Supplement] repeals not in force obsolete amendments.
Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 1998
SECTION 23: [Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act, 1998, repeals section 9] is consequential to the enactment of new section 60 of the Act by this Bill.
SECTION 24: [Residential Tenancy Act, transitional] provides for transition.
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