Whenever the B.C. government introduces a miscellaneous statutes bill, it's worth a look. Chances are that something interesting (or nefarious) is buried in the omnibus legislation.

Today's (March 10) news release announcing Bill 17 (Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2014) mentions something curious. Apparently, in 2009, the B.C. Liberal government forgot to re-appoint the chair of the Employment Standards Tribunal for a two-and-a-half-year period. Five years later, the government is fixing the error.

The release states:

The proposed legislation for the Employment Standards Act corrects an oversight and confirms the appointment of Brent Mullin as chair of the Employment Standards Tribunal for the period between Feb. 13, 2009, and Oct. 5, 2011.

This legal housekeeping legislation will correct an oversight that resulted in Mr. Mullin's appointment to the tribunal technically lapsing during the period Feb. 13, 2009, to Oct. 5, 2011, although Mr. Mullin continued to act as the chair.

The proposed legislation would apply retroactively and would confirm the validity of all decisions rendered by the Employment Standards Tribunal between Feb. 13, 2009, and Oct. 5, 2011. There are no financial or other direct impacts for government.

In other words, oops.