Ministry Overview

The recent government reorganization has also made the Minister of Forests and Range responsible for Housing. The two components remain structurally independent, but both report to the Deputy Minister and Minister.

Forests and Range

Since its establishment in 1912 as the Forests Branch, the Ministry of Forests and Range (also known as the Forest Service or MoFR) has continued to protect the public's interest and provide leadership in the protection, management and use of the province's forest and rangelands. The Forest Service is the main agency responsible for the stewardship of 47 million hectares of provincial forest land. In addition, the ministry provides fire protection services for 84 million hectares. Managing these provincial forests presents a unique and complex set of challenges. More than 90 per cent of British Columbia's forestlands are publicly owned, which means that the provincial government, on behalf of the public, plays a much more prominent role in the forest sector than its counterparts in other forestry jurisdictions.

The ministry pursues its goals for sustainable forest resources and benefits in a consultative manner with the public, industry, and other Crown agencies, while recognizing the unique interests of aboriginal people. In this way, the ministry works to earn the public's trust as our staff make the day-to-day decisions which ensure that all British Columbians can look forward to healthy forests and a strong forest economy now and in the future.

A recent reorganization of government ministry functions has seen the responsibility for forest recreation sites and trails move to the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. Other changes include the responsibility for grazing leases coming to Ministry of Forests and Range, and the Range Stewardship and Grazing function being established as a stand alone Core Business Area.

Housing

The newly established Housing Department brings together key areas of government devoted to addressing the broad housing needs of British Columbians. The new department assumes responsibility for provincial housing policy, building policy, safety policy, the Residential Tenancy Office and the Emergency Shelter Program. In addition, the department has responsibility for the BC Housing Management Commission (BC Housing), the Homeowner Protection Office (HPO), the Building Policy Advisory Committee, the Building Code Appeal Board and the Safety Standards Appeal Board. By bringing together these programs government's efforts to improve access to safe and stable housing for all British Columbians are integrated and aligned. The department is divided into three functional units plus Executive and Support Services. They are: Housing Policy, Building and Safety Policy, and the Residential Tenancy Office. The department has 96 full-time equivalents in staff and a budget of $207.7 million for 2005/06. Ninety-two per cent of the budget is transferred to BC Housing.