MINISTRY OF WATER, LAND AND AIR PROTECTION

The ministry provides leadership and support to British Columbians to help them limit the adverse effects of their individual and collective activities on the environment, while fostering economic development and providing recreational opportunities.

MINISTRY SUMMARY

($000)

Estimates
2002/03¹

Estimates
2003/04

VOTED APPROPRIATIONS

Vote 40 — Ministry Operations

117,213 

98,712 

STATUTORY APPROPRIATIONS

Sustainable Environment Fund Special Account

31,345 

31,345 

OPERATING EXPENSE

148,558 

  130,057 

PREPAID CAPITAL ADVANCES²

— 

— 

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES³

29,554 

86,920 

LOANS, INVESTMENTS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS⁴

— 

— 

REVENUE COLLECTED FOR, AND TRANSFERRED TO, OTHER ENTITIES⁵

— 

— 

FULLTIME EQUIVALENT (FTE) EMPLOYMENT⁶

1,140 

998 

NOTES

¹    For comparative purposes only, figures shown for 2002/03 operating expense, capital expenditures, and FTEs have been restated to be consistent with the presentation of the 2003/04 Estimates.  Schedule A presents a detailed reconciliation.

²    Details of prepaid capital advances are presented in Schedule C.

³    Details of capital expenditures are presented in Schedule D.

⁴    Details of loans, investments and other requirements are presented in Schedule E.

⁵    Details of revenue collected for, and transferred to, other entities is presented in Schedule F.

⁶    Details of FTEs are presented in Schedule G.

CORE BUSINESS SUMMARY

$000

2002/03

OPERATING EXPENSE

Net

Gross

External
Recoveries

Net

Core Business

Environmental Protection (includes special account)

48,879 

55,554 

(3,473)

52,081 

Environmental Stewardship

44,323 

43,466 

(4,232)

39,234 

Park, Fish and Wildlife Recreation

18,068 

37,771 

(26,466)

11,305 

Executive and Support Services

37,288 

27,447 

(10)

27,437 

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSE

148,558 

164,238 

(34,181)

  130,057 

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

Net

Disbursements

Receipts

Net

Core Business

Environmental Protection (includes special account)

2,862 

584 

— 

584 

Environmental Stewardship

18,035 

80,583 

— 

80,583 

Park, Fish and Wildlife Recreation

8,145 

4,503 

— 

4,503 

Executive and Support Services

512 

1,250 

— 

1,250 

TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

29,554 

86,920 

— 

86,920 

OPERATING EXPENSE BY CORE BUSINESS

$000

Estimates
2002/03

Estimates
2003/04

VOTE 40 - MINISTRY OPERATIONS

This vote provides for ministry programs and operations described in the voted appropriations under the following four core businesses: Environmental Protection, Environmental Stewardship, Park, Fish and Wildlife Recreation, and Executive and Support Services.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Voted Appropriation

Environmental Protection

17,534 

20,736 

17,534 

20,736 

Statutory Appropriation

Sustainable Environment Fund Special Account

31,345 

31,345 

48,879 

52,081 

Voted Appropriation Description: This sub-vote provides for clean, healthy and safe water, land and air for all living things through programs including: administering and delivering the Sustainable Environment Fund Act, 1990; setting standards for, monitoring and reporting publicly on ambient air and water quality; leading the provincial response to climate change; reducing and removing contaminating toxins and waste; managing pesticide use and flood hazards; responding to high-risk environmental emergencies; and managing environmental laboratory services. Transfers are provided for activities concerned with access, protection and management of the environment.  Costs related to the Sustainable Environment Fund are recovered from the Sustainable Environment Fund Special Account.  Recoveries are received from other ministries, other levels of government, organizations and individuals for ministry services.

Statutory Appropriation Description: This statutory appropriation provides for the Sustainable Environment Fund Special Account which is governed under the Sustainable Environment Fund Act.

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Voted Appropriation

Environmental Stewardship

44,323 

39,234 

Voted Appropriation Description: This sub-vote provides for the management and conservation of the province’s biodiversity, protection of species at risk, protection and restoration of watersheds, and the protection of fish and wildlife species and their habitats through programs including the protection, maintenance, and restoration of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; protection, rehabilitation and enhancement of fish, wildlife and their habitat; management of special areas including provincial parks; monitor and report on the state of provincial biodiversity; and enforcement, inspection and special investigations to deter violations that harm the environment.  Transfers are provided for activities concerned with access, protection and management of the environment.  Recoveries are received from other ministries, other levels of government, organizations and individuals for ministry services.

This core business also provides for the estimated capital cost of acquiring parks and protected lands, including the potential acquisition of Burns Bog.

PARK, FISH AND WILDLIFE RECREATION

Voted Appropriation

Park, Fish and Wildlife Recreation

18,068 

11,305 

Voted Appropriation Description: This sub-vote provides for diverse park, fish and wildlife outdoor recreational opportunities across the province through programs including the maintenance of the provincial park system which provides for day and overnight front country, backcountry and boating facilities and services; the management of hunting and angling activities and the provincial fish culture and stocking programs; and allocation of fish and wildlife resources for recreational and commercial use.  Transfers are provided for activities concerned with access, protection and management of the environment. Recoveries are received from other ministries, other levels of government, organizations and from fees, licences and other charges collected from individuals for ministry services.

EXECUTIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Voted Appropriations

Minister's Office

457 

457 

Program Management

36,831 

26,980 

37,288 

27,437 

Voted Appropriations Description: This sub-vote provides for the office of the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection, corporate business innovation including strategic planning, business review and planning, corporate policy development, co-ordination of legislation and intergovernmental relations, program evaluation, economic and regulatory impact analysis; the management and delivery of programs that report on public information on the state of environment and environmental trends.  It provides for executive direction of the ministry and administrative support services including financial planning, human resources, communications, information systems and program audit.  Transfers are provided for activities concerned with access, protection and management of the environment.  Recoveries are received from other ministries, other levels of government, organizations and individuals for ministry services.

VOTE 40 — MINISTRY OPERATIONS

117,213 

98,712 

STATUTORY — SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT FUND SPECIAL ACCOUNT

31,345 

31,345 

MINISTRY GROUP ACCOUNT CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY

GROUP ACCOUNT CLASSIFICATION

Salaries and Benefits

75,053 

72,256 

Operating Costs

74,883 

78,333 

Government Transfers

9,746 

8,697 

Other Expenses

51,083 

41,252 

Internal Recoveries

(35,947)

(36,300)

External Recoveries

(26,260)

(34,181)

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSE

148,558 

130,057 

SPECIAL ACCOUNT¹

$000

SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT FUND

This account was created by the Sustainable Environment Fund Act, 1990, and subsequent amendments.  It provides for the protection of the air, land and water and for environmental renewal by preventing pollution, controlling pollutants and undertaking remediation activities through administration of the Waste Management Act, Pesticide Control Act, the Environment Management Act, and related regulations.

Revenue is derived from environmental levies, fees, licenses, and contributions from the federal government and other organizations and individuals.

Expenses represent a transfer from the Ministry Operations Vote of the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection for administration, the development of policies, legislation and regulations, standards and criteria for discharges and emissions; monitoring and understanding the receiving environment; education, and encouragement of activities to prevent pollution; waste reduction; laboratory services; air and water quality; the clean-up of contaminated sites; special waste management; soil and water remediation projects; and transfers to local governments, other organizations and individuals to assist in waste management, clean-up of contaminated sites and to support various environmental protection initiatives. 

No financing transactions are provided for under this account.

Estimates
2002/03

Estimates
2003/04

SPENDING AUTHORITY AVAILABLE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR

26,986 

26,986 

OPERATING TRANSACTIONS

Revenue

31,345 

31,345 

Expense

(31,345)

(31,345)

Net Revenue (Expense)

— 

— 

FINANCING TRANSACTIONS

Loans, Investments and Capital Acquisitions

Receipts

Disbursements - Capital

— 

— 

Disbursements - Other

— 

— 

Net Cash Source (Requirement)

— 

— 

PROJECTED SPENDING AUTHORITY AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR²

26,986 

26,986 

NOTES

¹     A Special Account is an account in the General Fund where the authorization to spend money from the account is located in an Act other than the Supply Act.

²    The Projected Spending Authority Available represents the cash and temporary investments projected to be available at the end of the fiscal year.