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

Ministry Overview

British Columbia enjoys a wealth and diversity of ecosystems and natural resources. The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection is committed to protecting and enhancing the quality of British Columbia’s water, land and air in a way that contributes to healthy communities, recreational opportunities, a sustainable environment, and a strong and vibrant provincial economy. To act on this commitment, the ministry develops policy and legislation, regulations, codes of practice, environmental contracts and covenants (legal agreements). Regulatory frameworks allow headquarters and regional staff to set and report on standards for environmental quality, and for discharges and emissions to air, land and water.

The ministry also develops frameworks for acceptable remediation of contaminated sites and appropriate responses to high-risk environmental and human health and safety emergencies. The ministry addresses regulatory compliance through policy development, enforcement and publicly reporting the results of compliance monitoring.

Stewardship of natural resources is key to maintaining and restoring the province’s natural diversity. The ministry sets science- and results-based objectives and standards for activities that affect biodiversity. It monitors and reports on selected species and habitats, and acquires information on habitat and species health.

The ministry supports the social, economic and cultural values associated with recreational and other uses of Crown land. It does this by managing key fish, wildlife and habitat activities, as well as provincial parks and protected areas. This includes providing fish culture services (such as stocking lakes) and managing facilities for camping and recreation in designated parks.

Over the next several years, the ministry will be making the strategic shifts (changes in business practices) identified in Service Plan 2002/2003 – 2004/2005. As the ministry makes these shifts, it must recognize and address the effect of such change. The ministry’s success in achieving its mandate will depend on its investment in a skilled workforce, information technology, monitoring and reporting, and new delivery models. This requires dealing with resource constraints, reorienting staff skills to meet changing requirements and working with others to achieve results.