On May 1, 2025, Bill 15 (the Infrastructure Projects Act) was tabled in the Legislative Assembly. This legislation supports government’s work to accelerate delivery of major infrastructure projects in B.C. to deliver core public services, including K-12 schools.
This legislation introduces new tools to the ministry, including:
- Speeding up approvals for priority provincial infrastructure projects like schools and hospitals.
- Prioritizing and accelerating provincial permitting for other designated projects.
- Allowing designated projects to access an expedited environmental assessment process allowing for faster review without compromising B.C.’s high environmental standards.
- Establishing a framework for alternative permit authorizations through an agreement-seeking approach with local governments.
The Infrastructure Projects Act will also enable the new Ministry of Infrastructure to work collaboratively with school districts, health authorities and post-secondary institutions to deliver some projects on their behalf. This will allow government to group multiple projects into a single procurement or allow government to purchase project components for multiple projects at a single time, supporting more efficient and cost-effective project delivery.
During development of this Act, school districts, the BC School Trustee Association and the BC School Superintendents Association were engaged and provided feedback on potential opportunities and challenges. When the legislation is passed, there is significant work to be done on regulation development and we will inform you of next steps and future opportunities to engage.