Heritage conservation engagement leads to updated proposals to make the act work better for everyone

Press Release

March 26, 2026

VICTORIA

Summary

• A new technical policy paper outlines key amendments to earlier Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) proposals to guide continued engagement as the ministry works to modernize heritage conservation in B.C.
• The Province’s work aims to improve the HCA by speeding up permitting, making it easier for people to rebuild after natural disasters and strengthening First Nations’ decision-making on their own heritage

The Province has published a technical policy paper outlining updated proposals for changes to the Heritage Conservation Act so that First Nations, local governments, industry and other interested parties can provide further input.

The updated proposals reflect what the Province has heard to date through engagement and aim to improve clarity and efficiency, while supporting the protection of heritage in British Columbia.

Modernizing the HCA

The Province has been working to develop legislation to modernize the Heritage Conservation Act since 2021, aiming to:

• make permitting quicker and easier
• help people and communities rebuild quicker after disasters, such as wildfires and floods
• protect heritage more effectively, reducing the risk of accidental damage to sacred or other significant sites
• strengthen the role of First Nations in decision-making about their own heritage and ancestors, in alignment with the Declaration Act

For all communities, it means protecting valued heritage and history, and for property-owners, local governments and businesses, this means more process certainty, fewer delays and quicker decisions when building a home, rebuilding after a disaster or starting a new project, including major projects.

In January 2026, the Province announced that further engagement on proposed changes would occur before legislation is tabled.

The technical policy paper outlines key policy changes and clarifications from the previous proposals. It includes removing:

• the proposal regarding heritage management zones
• language related to consent-seeking on permitting decisions, clarifying how First Nations’ perspectives will be incorporated into these decisions
• proposed changes under the HCA to enable delegation of compliance and enforcement authority to First Nations
• the proposal to require records of engagement with HCA permit applications
• proposals regarding defining intangible heritage, relying on existing language in the current HCA framework

Additional policy details and refinements are described in the paper.

The paper maintains key proposals to strengthen the role of First Nations in the management of their heritage, including through heritage management plans, agreements, continued use of heritage sites, protection of Indigenous knowledge and heritage data, and decision-making on where ancestral remains are cared for and held.

Engagement to date

Phase 3 engagement to date has been broad, through virtual, in-person and written formats, with participation from:

• 90 local governments and four local government organizations/boards
• 101 First Nations and five First Nations organizations
• 144 organizations, such as industry, realtor organizations
• more than 2,000 public surveys submitted

This is in addition to engagement completed in Phase 1 and 2 of the engagement process, which began in 2022. The ministry will continue gathering further feedback on the proposed amendments from First Nations, local governments, industry and other interested parties in B.C. Input received will help further inform policy development and the drafting of legislative amendments for consideration, anticipated in fall 2026.

Progress updates and new information will be shared as it becomes available and posted to the project website. Detailed information about engagement feedback will be shared after the conclusion of Phase 3.

Learn More:

• To read the technical policy paper, visit: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/heritageconservationact/technical-policy-paper/
• To learn more about the Heritage Conservation Act Transformation Project, visit: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/heritageconservationact/
• To learn more about the Heritage Conservation Act, visit: https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96187_01
• To learn more about engagement in Phase 1 and 2, access engagement reports here: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/heritageconservationact/what-weve-heard/

Contact:

Ministry of Forests
Media Relations
Forest.Media@gov.bc.ca
250-380-8491

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