Bill 31 - Why Oversight Matters for B.C.'s Energy Future

As your MLA, I believe every major decision that impacts taxpayers, communities, and the future of our province deserves transparency and proper oversight. That’s why I want to take a moment to talk about Bill 31 — the Energy Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 — and why it’s worth taking a careful look before it’s passed into law.

What Bill 31 Is Trying to Do

At its core, Bill 31 changes how energy decisions are made in British Columbia. It gives Cabinet — not the independent BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) — more control over who gets access to electricity and which major energy projects move forward.

The bill is tied to a massive new infrastructure proposal — the North Coast Transmission Line, a roughly $6 billion project intended to deliver power to the North Coast for large industrial users such as mines, LNG facilities, and ports.

It also allows BC Hydro and First Nations to enter joint ownership agreements for parts of that transmission line — an important opportunity for partnership and shared benefit. In addition, the bill would let government decide which industries get priority access to electricity — such as limiting new cryptocurrency mining while reserving power for resource and data projects.

In short, Bill 31 would centralize decision-making power within government and fast-track industrial electrification projects tied to B.C.’s resource economy. This can sound good at a glance but it places all the power in the hands of the government and can allow them to skip past being accountable to the public and to organizations like the BC Utilities Commission before proceeding. This is a problem.

Why This Approach Raises Concerns

While there are elements of Bill 31 that aim to strengthen economic opportunity and Indigenous collaboration, there are also serious risks that deserve more discussion.

1. Reduced Transparency and OversightNormally, the BC Utilities Commission reviews major energy projects to ensure they’re in the public interest — examining costs, risks, and environmental impacts through open hearings. Bill 31 would allow Cabinet to sidestep that process, concentrating decision-making in the hands of government with less independent review. That means fewer public checks and balances on how billions of taxpayer dollars are spent.

   
   

2. Financial RiskThe North Coast Transmission Line is estimated to cost about $6 billion — and large projects like this often go over budget. Without a full BCUC review, there’s a real risk that taxpayers and ratepayers could be left footing the bill if projected industrial demand doesn’t materialize or costs spiral higher.

   
   

3. Prioritizing Industry Over CommunitiesThe bill is designed to direct electricity toward large-scale industrial users. That may leave residents, small businesses, and community projects at the back of the line when it comes to reliable, affordable access to power — especially as B.C.’s electricity demand continues to grow.

   
   

4. Too Much Discretion in Government HandsBill 31 gives Cabinet broad power to decide which projects get energy access, potentially leading to uneven or politically motivated decisions. The concern isn’t just about this government — it’s about setting a precedent for future ones as well.

   
   

Why a Short Delay Could Make a Big Difference

No one wants to slow progress for the sake of politics. But taking a short pause to review Bill 31 could strengthen it — ensuring it truly serves the public interest. Here’s why:

• Proper due diligence: A full, independent review would confirm the project’s costs, risks, and benefits before billions are committed.

• Public trust: Open consultation and transparency would show British Columbians that major spending decisions aren’t being made behind closed doors.

• Fairness in access to power: It would give time to assess how electricity is distributed, ensuring homes, farms, and small businesses aren’t left behind.

• Fiscal responsibility: Verifying whether the projected industrial demand will actually justify the investment could prevent costly missteps.

• Collaborative planning: It gives space for meaningful partnership with First Nations and local communities, rather than rushing agreements under political pressure.

  
  

A Call for Balance and Accountability

Bill 31 carries some worthwhile goals — economic growth, reconciliation, and regional development among them. But we must balance those goals with accountability. Handing government unchecked control over billions of dollars in public energy assets without thorough review is not in the best interest of British Columbians.

Before reshaping how our province manages energy, we owe it to taxpayers to ensure every decision is transparent, justified, and beneficial to the people who ultimately pay for it.

Our province’s energy future should be built not just on infrastructure — but on trust, accountability, and fairness.

Delaying this bill for 6-12 months to ensure it's impact in our Province for the next 10-20 years seems like a small price to pay.

— David WilliamsMLA for Salmon Arm–Shuswap