At its Regular Meeting on December 8, 2025, Delta Council received a staff report outlining the City’s position and subsequent advocacy work regarding Bill M216, 2025 – Professional Reliance Act.
After reviewing the proposed legislation, the City has concluded that Bill M216 presents significant concerns and cannot be supported in its current form. While the Bill is intended to streamline approval processes by requiring local governments to accept technical reports certified by provincially regulated “PGA professionals,” it would also remove essential municipal oversight, peer review, and discretion. These changes could undermine public safety, environmental protection, and the integrity of local government development review processes.
Council’s position aligns with several other municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM), all of whom have cautioned that the Bill could disrupt established planning systems, increase municipal liability, and erode local decision-making.
On behalf of Delta Council, Mayor George V. Harvie has sent a letter to Premier David Eby and MLA George Anderson outlining the City’s concerns and opposition to Bill M216. The letters highlight the Bill’s potential impacts on public safety, increased financial risk and liability, and the creation of unnecessary red tape and administrative burden. City staff have also submitted formal feedback through the Select Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ Bills, recommending that the Bill not proceed in its current form.
Implications of Bill M216
If enacted as proposed, Bill M216 would require designs and technical documents endorsed by certified professionals to be accepted by the City and prevent Delta staff from using established peer-review processes. This shift would reduce local review, limit Delta’s ability to manage risk, and potentially increase red tape, costs, and delays as disputes are pushed into a provincial complaint and dispute resolution process.
Next Steps
The Province’s Select Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ Bills is currently reviewing Bill M216 and will accept public input until 3:00 pm on January 6, 2026. To provide input, visit: https://consultation-portal.leg.bc.ca/consultations/154.
The City of Delta encourages residents, stakeholders, and local organizations to review the City’s report and consider submitting feedback to the Committee before the deadline.