WHEREAS metal theft is a serious problem affecting communities throughout British Columbia; AND WHEREAS the regulation of the scrap metal industry may help to discourage metal theft; AND WHEREAS the recent BC Court of Appeal judgment in Royal City Jewellers Loans Ltd. v. New Westminster City identifies significant limitations to the power of local governments to require businesses to collect information from customers and to transmit such information to police: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities request that the Province of British Columbia amend the Community Charter to provide local governments with the power to require scrap metal businesses to collect information from the sellers of scrap metal and to transmit such information to police as required to discourage metal theft.
MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SOLICITOR GENERAL The Province of British Columbia recognizes that this is an important issue for a number of municipalities and is currently working with the police and stakeholders to examine opportunities for both legislative and non-legislative solutions.