Message from the Deputy Minister

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries is poised to capitalize on the changes of the last two years and open the door to exciting new policy and program directions.

Completing the consolidation of our human, financial and information resources — and ensuring their complete alignment with our six business areas — marks a turning point. We now have the opportunity to drive forward with:

• our human resource management plan, enhancing further our commitment to excellence in service, our people and our ministry's work environment;
• four teams of ministry staff to build communications, learning and integrated strategic thinking around the core themes of competitiveness, resource sustainability, food safety and quality, and human resource management; and
• new external partnerships and internal initiatives to improve delivery and cost effectiveness of administrative services, regulatory activities and support programs.

With this foundation of corporate excellence, the ministry is positioned to meet the challenges of a dynamic policy and program agenda in the 2004 – 07 planning period. The Agricultural Policy Framework is now a reality in B.C., giving our agriculture and food sectors significant new, cost-shared resources to achieve a vision of long-term market success and profitability. The tools in the framework will help us achieve B.C.'s objectives for risk management programming, industry growth and competitiveness, food safety and quality, and environmental sustainability. Effectively implementing the framework's policies and programs in 2004/05 will bring an important new emphasis on partnerships — with key provincial groups like the Investment Agriculture Foundation and the B.C. Agriculture Council; with other provincial resource, environment and health ministries; and with federal agencies like Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

In fisheries and aquaculture, there is an opportunity to begin capturing the economic benefits of an updated and strong regulatory regime for aquaculture, improved cooperation with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans through such initiatives as the Pacific Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers, stronger co-ordination mechanisms with other provincial ministries and sound mechanisms for working with local governments and First Nations. Development of a consolidated fisheries policy framework will continue in 2004/05, helping to ensure that our ministry's programs, policies and regulations contribute to the long-term growth and viability of B.C. fisheries and the coastal communities that depend on them.

Although the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries is a relatively small ministry, our highly dedicated and professional staff in Victoria and 14 regional offices allows us to make significant contributions to such government-wide priorities as heartlands economic development, deregulation, effective Crown land management, drought and climate change action plans and
e-government. On the strength of this service plan, we will support these priorities and seek to ensure that they, in turn, support the long-term success of the agriculture and fisheries sectors. We will track our progress throughout the year, regularly seeking input and communicating our initiatives to staff, partners and all British Columbians.

Rory McAlpine
Deputy Minister

February 4, 2004