Core Business Areas

The ministry relies on the integration of four core business areas to achieve its four Service Plan goals. The Conservation Officer Service has a dual reporting relationship to the Environmental Protection Division and the Environmental Stewardship Division.

1. Environmental Protection

The core business area of Environmental Protection is led primarily by the Environmental Protection Division. Key programs and services in this business area focus on protecting human health and the environmental quality of water, land and air in British Columbia.

This area's key functions reflect the government's priority of ensuring a strong, private-sector economy that maintains high environmental standards by:

• regulating and monitoring industrial and community activities to ensure compliance with established provincial environmental standards;
• promoting sustainable environmental practices in communities; and
• maintaining a system for ambient air and water quality monitoring and reporting.

Approximately $51,375,000 and 334 FTEs have been dedicated to this core business area.

As outlined in past Service Plans, one of the major focuses of this business area has been developing new legislation, including the Environmental Management Act, the Integrated Pest Management Act and the Flood Hazard Statutes Amendment Act. Such legislative changes, which were made using stakeholder input (e.g., Advisory Panel on Contaminated Sites), facilitate outcome-based regulations that provide clear roles for governments and stakeholders, consistent performance standards, updated fee structures, decreased remedial and legal costs, and a greater focus on those not complying with the regulatory requirements. Providing opportunities for industry-led stewardship programs for the disposal of post-consumer products and shifting the responsibility for lower risk spills to industry and partners will enable the ministry to better focus its resources on high-risk issues.

2. Environmental Stewardship

The core business area of Environmental Stewardship is led primarily by the Environmental Stewardship Division. Key programs and services in this business area focus on working with other ministries, industries, communities and governments to establish standards for governing the use and protection of ecosystems, species and habitats.

This area's key functions reflect the government's priorities of shared stewardship and sustainable economic development. These stewardship activities are aimed at maintaining and restoring fish and wildlife species and their habitats.

Approximately $45,080,000 and 323 FTEs have been dedicated to this core business area.

The ministry has been working with partners to update provincial regulations and strengthen the role of science professionals in developing standards and best practices for ecosystem, species and habitat conservation. The ministry has worked on the Forest and Range Practices Act and other regulations that enable results-based stewardship. Over the next three years, the ministry will review the Wildlife Act and Park Act to better support conservation and the allocation of fish and wildlife resources and to reduce the regulatory burden on business. The ministry will also develop an overarching strategy to protect biological diversity, as well as an action plan for managing and conserving species and habitat that integrates ecological, social and economic objectives. In the future, the ministry will continue to integrate its resources and efforts to protect species and improve the management and development of partnerships for habitat conservation.

3. Park, Fish and Wildlife Recreation

The core business area of Park, Fish and Wildlife Recreation is also led primarily by the Environmental Stewardship Division. Key programs and services in this business area focus on allocating natural resources for hunting, angling and wildlife viewing, protecting recreational values and encouraging recreation-linked economic activity.

This area's key functions reflect the government's priorities of protecting and enhancing recreational services and opportunities and of establishing workable relationships with First Nations, regional communities, other ministries and governments by:

• applying an approach informed by science to promote the effective management of fish, wildlife and park resources;
• providing and enhancing park, fish and wildlife recreational services and opportunities for British Columbians and others; and
• establishing legislation, policies and procedures for park, fish and wildlife recreation.

Approximately $25,523,000 and 151 FTEs have been dedicated to this core business area.

Progress has been made on several key issues, with stakeholder input playing an important role (e.g., the Recreation Stewardship Panel). The ministry has worked with partners to establish the Freshwater Fisheries Society and to improve park management by contractors. Over the coming years, the ministry will continue to respond to the Recreation Stewardship Panel's recommendations and will review the Park Act to further support responsible tourism growth. The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will provide an opportunity to encourage sound environmental planning and infrastructure development associated with the Games. In the future, fish, wildlife and park-based recreation and appropriate development within the province's parks will continue to provide economic opportunities for Heartlands communities.

4. Executive and Support Services

The core business area of Executive and Support Services is led through the Deputy Minister's Office, Corporate Policy Division and Corporate Services Division. Key programs and services in this business area focus on providing effective and efficient planning and legislative support to assist core business areas in achieving their goals and objectives.

This area's key functions support the government's priorities of efficient program management and fiscal responsibility.

Approximately $26,163,000 and 116 FTEs have been dedicated to this core business area.

This business area supports key ministry initiatives, such as streamlining legislation and encouraging cooperation for stronger environmental protection (e.g., bilateral agreements with Idaho, Montana and Washington states). The ministry will continue to support legislative reform and improve critical information systems to enhance client service and monitoring. Efforts will also focus on further integrating the ministry's planning processes, identifying risks and reporting environmental trends to the public.

Related Organizations — Environmental Appeal Board and Forest Appeals Commission

The Environmental Appeal Board and Forest Appeals Commission operate independently from the ministry, but their budget vote is the responsibility of the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection (see the "Resource Summary" section and page 37).