Vol. 69, No. 4 – B.C. Reg. 21/2026

Volume 69, No. 4
21/2026

The British Columbia Gazette, Part II
March 10, 2026

B.C. Reg. 21/2026, deposited March 6, 2026, under the EMPLOYMENT AND ASSISTANCE ACT [section 35] and EMPLOYMENT AND ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACT [section 26]. Order in Council 65/2026, approved and ordered March 6, 2026.

On the recommendation of the undersigned, the Lieutenant Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, orders that, effective April 1, 2026,

(a) the Employment and Assistance Regulation, B.C. Reg. 263/2002, is amended as set out in the attached Appendix 1, and

(b) the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation, B.C. Reg. 265/2002, is amended as set out in the attached Appendix 2.

— S. MALCOLMSON, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction; M. FARNWORTH, Presiding Member of the Executive Council.

Appendix 1

1 Section 1 (1) of the Employment and Assistance Regulation, B.C. Reg. 263/2002, is amended by adding the following definitions:

"subsidized rental unit" has the same meaning as in section 49.1 of the Residential Tenancy Act;

"supportive housing rental unit" has the same meaning as in the Residential Tenancy Regulation;

"tenancy agreement" has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Residential Tenancy Act; .

2 Section 57 is amended

(a) in subsection (2) by striking out "Subject to subsections (3) and (4)" and substituting "Subject to subsections (3), (4) and (5)", and

(b) by adding the following subsection:

(5) The minister must not provide more than 2 supplements under subsection (2) (a) to (e) to or for a family unit within a period of 12 consecutive calendar months beginning on or after April 1, 2026.

3 Section 58 (1) is repealed and the following substituted:

(1) In this section, "security deposit" means

(a) a security deposit as defined in the Residential Tenancy Act, or

(b) an amount required by the cooperative association to be paid by a recipient to the cooperative association for the same or a similar purpose as a security deposit under the Residential Tenancy Act.

4 Section 58.2 (1) is repealed and the following substituted:

(1) In this section, "pet damage deposit" means

(a) a pet damage deposit as defined in the Residential Tenancy Act, or

(b) an amount required by the cooperative association to be paid by a recipient to the cooperative association for the same or a similar purpose as a pet damage deposit under the Residential Tenancy Act.

5 Section 59 is amended by adding the following subsections:

(8) Subject to subsection (9), the minister must not provide more than one crisis supplement for shelter to or for a family unit within a period of 12 consecutive calendar months beginning on or after April 1, 2026.

(9) The minister may provide more than one crisis supplement for shelter to or for a family unit if the minister is satisfied that the additional crisis supplement for shelter is needed for any of the following reasons:

(a) the family unit’s residential accommodation is uninhabitable, or the family unit’s tenancy agreement is otherwise frustrated;

(b) the family unit has been offered and intends to accept a subsidized rental unit or a supportive housing rental unit;

(c) to reunite a parent who is a member of the family unit and a child of the parent who has been in the care or custody, under the Child, Family and Community Service Act, of a person other than that parent;

(d) to prevent a child who is a member of the family unit from being placed in the care or custody, under the Child, Family and Community Service Act, of a person other than a parent who is a member of the family unit;

(e) the recipient is fleeing an abusive spouse or relative;

(f) the family unit is experiencing homelessness;

(g) the family unit will become homeless.

Appendix 2

1 Section 1 (1) of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation, B.C. Reg. 265/2002, is amended by adding the following definitions: