It is with great pleasure that I present the 2004/05 – 2006/07 service plan for the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management. Although this is a new portfolio for me, I am looking forward to the exciting challenges that await me and I am thrilled to continue with the team building that was already in place.

This service plan presents the ministry's goals, objectives, strategies and targets for the next three years. It also describes the ministry's leadership role to the private and public sectors and across government on the sustainable economic development of the province's land and resources.

This is the third service plan for my ministry, and as we meet our objectives and move forward our focus still remains the same; to find a balance between economic development and environmental integrity while providing strategic direction to ensure that decisions about Crown land are sustainable, accountable and responsible to future generations.

The ministry has outlined four key goals.

They include:

• Goal 1: The Sustainable economic development of land and resources. This will help reduce conflicts and stimulate new investment, economic growth and job creation for all British Columbians. It also focuses on increased economic opportunities for First Nations while reducing the economic impact of uncertainty related to Aboriginal rights.
• Goal 2: Effective delivery of integrated, science-based land, resource and geographic information. Streamlined, high-quality, science-based information to both public and private clients will help to improve the identification of investment opportunities and lower costs to the private sector and government.
• Goal 3: Sound Governance of land and resource management. Clear, stable policies and legislation that focus on finding the balance between development and conservation will help deliver investment and jobs while maintaining key environmental values.
• Goal 4: Organizational excellence. Effective and efficient use of staff and other resources by the ministry will have a major impact on the quality of all outcomes in government's strategic plan.

I look forward to delivering on this service plan and meeting my ministry's vision of a vibrant economy supporting the social and environmental values of British Columbians.

Sincerely,

Honourable George Abbott
Minister of Sustainable Resource Management

February 4, 2004