Budget 2003 -- Government of British Columbia.
         
Contents.
• Printer-friendly version Adobe Acrobat Reader link page. (PDF)  
• Minister's Letter  
• Accountability Statement  
• Introduction  
• Ministry Overview  
• Strategic Context  
• Planning Context  
• Core Business Areas  
• Goals, Objectives and Strategies  
• Performance Measures and Targets  
• Environmental Appeal Board and Forest Appeals Commission  
• Consistency with Government Strategic Plan  
• Resource Summary  
• Summary of Related Planning Processes  
• Appendix — Service Plan Overview of the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection  

Other Links.
• Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection Home  
• Budget 2003 Home  
 

2003/04 – 2005/06 SERVICE PLAN
Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection

Consistency with Government
Strategic Plan

The government places a high priority on encouraging a strong, private-sector economy that maintains high environmental standards and displays exemplary environmental stewardship. This responsibility for environmental stewardship is shared across all government ministries. The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection directly supports this government priority by providing leadership in adopting and advocating a science-based, principled approach to environment management that ensures sustainability, accountability and responsibility.

New Era Commitments and Key Projects

Prohibit logging or mining in provincial parks
  • The government has publicly re-confirmed this legislation and policy.
Lift grizzly bear moratorium
  • The Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection lifted the blanket moratorium on July 16, 2001 and replaced it with regional moratoriums where specific conservation concerns were identified.
  • An independent Grizzly Bear Scientific Panel is charged with reviewing methods currently used to estimate grizzly bear populations, provincial management strategies and harvest procedures, as well as related issues considered significant to grizzly bear conservation in British Columbia.
Ensure decisions on new parks are made in public
  • Approval for parks (such as a new Gulf Islands national park) is granted by Open Cabinet.
Acquire and protect Burns Bog
  • The ministry continues to work with the Ministry of Finance to acquire this property for the citizens of British Columbia at fair-market value.
Implement an improvement plan for threatened airsheds
  • The ministry is developing a framework for an area- and risk-based approach to airshed protection that reflects the national context.
Oppose Sumas II power project
  • The ministry continues to represent British Columbia’s interests by participating in National Energy Board hearings, supporting an expanded role for the NEB and filing an appeal with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Maintain ban on bulk water exports
  • The government continues its commitment to maintain the legislation establishing the ban.
Introduce comprehensive groundwater legislation to improve the quality of drinking water
  • The government passed amendments to the Drinking Water Protection Act to strengthen accountability for management and delivery of drinking water, and established an advisory board to assist with groundwater regulations.
Review the contaminated sites legislation
  • The Ministry will receive and respond to the report of the Advisory Panel on Contaminated Sites by spring 2003.
Use science-based standards to protect the environment
  • A new AOX Regulation has been enacted to appropriately limit discharges of adsorbable organic halides. A new comprehensive pulp mill standard is part of Phase II of the Waste Management Act revision (2004/05).
  • The ministry has established an internal committee to provide advice on the acquisition and use of science.
Enact new or revise legislation to deliver on New Era directions
  • The ministry’s review of the Waste Management Act is expected to result in significant amendments: Phase I (2003/04), Phase II (2004/05), Phase III (2005/06).
  • The ministry is working with partners to reassess the Streamside Protection Regulation. The assessment should be complete in 2003/04.
  • The government has repealed or amended regulations to harmonize with vehicle and fuel standards established by the U.S. and Canadian governments.
  • The ministry will work with partners to assess the existing Wildlife Act and Park Act and create new legislation by 2005.
Promote shared stewardship for the delivery of recreational services
  • The Recreation Stewardship Panel has delivered its recommendations for a new model to support fish, wildlife and park recreation. Implementation of the panel’s recommendations will begin in spring 2003 and be completed by 2005/06.
Develop a Biodiversity Strategy
  • The ministry is developing an overarching Biodiversity Strategy to provide a long-term vision and action plan for managing and conserving biodiversity that integrates ecological, social and economic objectives. The strategy is targeted for 2004.
Develop a Living Rivers Strategy
  • The ministry is working with the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management and others to develop a strategy by 2004 to improve the province’s waterways.
  • The government has set up a $2- million trust fund to assist in protecting and restoring British Columbia’s rivers.
Deliver a results-based Forest Practices Code
  • The ministry has worked with the Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management on the Forest and Range Practices Act. The ministry will continue to work with its private and public sector partners to develop standards and best practices. Environmental standards for the Act will be developed through 2005/06.
Create a trust for private land donations
  • The ministry is working with the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management on developing an approach for establishing this trust.
Promote strategic use of information technology for client service
  • The ministry will improve the availability of hunting and angling authorizations through development of web-based licensing services.
Encourage a strong private-sector economy that maintains high environmental standards
  • The government has passed the Aquaculture Waste Control Regulation to allow sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry and create new jobs in coastal communities.
  • The ministry is actively working on business outreach with industry to resolve key concerns affecting resource protection and regional industry revitalization. A pilot will be undertaken during 2002/03 to 2003/04.
  • The ministry is reviewing product stewardship (e.g., tire recycling) to extend industry-led product stewardship.
  • The ministry is exploring opportunities to encourage appropriate economic development in recreational areas (e.g., Destination Parks).
  • The ministry is exploring options to encourage First Nations partnerships to realize the economic benefits of tourism related to park, fish and wildlife recreation.
  • The ministry is exploring ways to expand investment in species at risk protection and recovery by 2005/06.
  • The ministry will support the 2010 Olympics if the bid is successful (e.g., enhance park opportunities).

Deregulation

The ministry has completed a three-year Deregulation Plan, which established the following numerical targets for reducing regulations by 38% overall:

  • 2002/03: 23%
  • 2003/04: 11%
  • By June 2004: 4%

The ministry is actively working toward meeting these targets. The efforts of the Contaminated Sites Review Panel and the Recreation Stewardship Panel, reviews of the Pesticides Act and the Waste Management Act, and the anticipated legislative agenda provide opportunities for revitalizing legislation and reducing the economic burden of prescriptive regulations. The more meaningful measure for the government will be new legislation that effectively protects health, natural diversity and habitat, while ensuring accountable and innovative economic development.

 

  
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