The Revised Statutes of British Columbia, 1996

Review
reviewed by Michael R. Sporer
April 1999

The Revised Statutes of British Columbia, 1996
By the Governments of British Columbia (past and present)
Published by the Queen's Printer, Victoria, BC

The Queen's Printer has done it right.

I concede that incorrigibles have accused our government publishing house of printing materials that send incurable insomniacs into Rip Van Winkle-like snoozes. Even Paul Geddes claimed, on the Rafe Mair show no less, that he did not read the Elections Act because reading government legislation "puts him to sleep."

Those are the charges, you have all heard them. And I say to you they are false.

The truth is, though few of us are brave and principled enough to admit it publicly, this stuff is funny. In fact I heartily recommend the revised Statues of British Columbia, 1996 - not to induce sleep, but rather laughter. A medical cure to be sure, not for insomnia but for depression. It is physically impossible to read this latest offering from the Queen's Printer without smiling or chuckling. Most will break into outright laughter. This is good stuff.

You doubt me? Buy all 16 volumes of revised statues from the Queen's Printer and see for yourself.

In fact, you don't not even have to delve into the depths of this colossal masterpiece of several thousands of pages to soak up the full flavour. Just reading the names of the various Acts will do the trick. I have tested this out on at least 50 people. All smiled, most chuckled, and a majority laughed.

Here is just a very partial list (just the names of 70 Acts out of 494). Don't speed through it. Enjoy it and drink in every last ounce. Read the name of each Act and then move on to the next:

Agricultural Produce Grading Act
Agrologists Act
Anatomy Act
Animal Disease Control Act
Barbers Act
Hairdressers Act
Bee Act
Boom Chain Brand Act
British Columbia Day Act
Cattle (Horned) Act
Columbia Basin Trust Act
Correction Act
Cultural Foundation of British Columbia Act
Dike Maintenance Act
Diking Authority Act
Drainable Ditch and Dike Act
Dogwood, Rhododendrum and Trillium Protection Act
Douglas Day Act
Elevating Devises Act
Farm Distress Assistance Act
Farm Income Insurance Act
Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act
Farm Produce Industry Act
Farmers and Women's Institutes Act
Fur Farm Act
Ferry Act
Ferry Corporation Act
First People's Heritage, Language and Culture Act
Fish Inspection Act
Food Choice and Disclosure Act
Grains and Oilseed Revenue Protection Plan Trust Fund Act
Grasshopper Control Act
Grazing Enhancement Special Account Act
Greenbelt Act
Guide Animal Act
Highway Scenic Improvement Act
Horse Racing Act
Horse Racing Tax Act
Human Tissue Gift Act
Indian Cut-off Lands Dispute Act
Job Protection Act
Legislative Library Act
Library Act
Library Foundation of British Columbia Act
Livestock Act
Livestock Brand Act
Livestock Lien Act
Livestock Protection Act
Livestock Public Sale Act
Milk Industry Act
Mining Right of Way Act
Motion Pictures Act
Multilevel Marketing Regulation Act
Music Teachers (Registered) Act
Name Act
Okanagan Valley Tree Fruit Authority Act
Pawnbroker's Act
Plant Protection Act
Public Toilet Act
Range Act
Recreational Facility Act
Resort Municipality of Whistler Act
Seed Grower Act
Seed Potato Act
System Act
Travel Agent Act
Tugboat Worker Lien Act
Venereal Disease Act
Vital Statistics Act
Weed Control Act
And so on...

You see, you laughed. And if you think I made this up, I did not. I could not make thus up if I tried. Check it out for yourself. Purchase your own copy of the revised Statutes of British Columbia, 1996. All volumes are on sale now from the Queen's Printers.