2003/04 – 2005/06 SERVICE PLAN Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries

Strategic Context

Vision

A competitive and profitable industry providing safe, high quality food for consumers and export markets.

Mission

Deliver programs that maintain a positive business climate for a competitive market-responsive agri-food and fisheries sector, and safeguard BC’s ability to provide safe and high quality British Columbia agri-food and seafood products for consumers.

Values

The following values outline the fundamental beliefs of the Ministry and describe how the organization and its employees interact with clients and each other. The Ministry strives to conduct its business in a manner that is:

1. Fair and Equitable — Building and maintaining among ministry personnel an effective spirit of teamwork and cooperation based on trust, integrity, flexibility, innovation, social equity, and equality of opportunity.

2. Responsible and Accountable — emphasizing responsible use of government resources and transparency in accounting for the use of those resources.

3. Service-oriented — responding to the needs of the public, agriculture and fisheries sector groups, communities and staff in a timely and courteous manner.

4. Partnership-Building — promoting teamwork, good working relationships, and effective partnerships with, and co-operation among, all orders of government, First Nations, agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries sector groups and communities.

Ministry Overview

The primary focus of the ministry is to help the agriculture, food and fisheries sectors prosper and contribute to the British Columbia economy while delivering high quality and safe products to consumers.

The ministry administers programs related to the production, marketing, processing and merchandising of agricultural and seafood products. Its audience includes British Columbia producers (agriculture, aquaculture and fish), the entire food system from farm to retail, and consumers.

The ministry administers 37 statutes that deal with a wide range of topics including food safety/quality, the environment, pest and disease management, use of normal farm practices, licencing, risk management, and marketing. Many of these statutes are administered in partnerships with other agencies, including municipal, provincial, and federal governments.

The ministry has 329 staff positions located in communities across the province. The ministry is organized into 15 branches within three divisions:

1. Resource Development and Sustainability.
2. Risk management and Competitiveness,
3. Corporate Services (including policy and legislation).

All branches deliver programs within one or more of the core business areas as described later in this service plan.