VICTORIA, British Columbia -- The British Columbia government is
considering throwing out its Travel Agents Act, along with other
laws that regulate various industries, and replacing them all with
a single consumer protection law.
In a document describing the project's goals, the province said
a new, all-encompassing law would allow for continuation of
existing consumer-protection features, such as the Travel Assurance
Fund that the trade maintains for clients.
However, it is unclear if the replacement of the agency
licensing law would mean that supplementary regulations, written to
facilitate implementation of the law, would be rewritten, amended
or untouched.
The province said one of its goals is to provide more
consistency in protection provided to consumers and a simplified
legal framework for business.
Legislation is expected to be introduced sometime this year.