Part A: Ministry of Agriculture and Lands — Continued

Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Results

This section outlines how specific objectives, strategies, performance measures and targets help achieve the ministry's and the government's goals.

Ministry Goals and their Linkage to Government's Five Great Goals for a Golden Decade

As illustrated in the following table, the ministry supports directly three of the government's Five Great Goals for a Golden Decade. As a ministry we are:

• committed to leading-edge, sustainable environmental practices in the agriculture and aquaculture sectors and Crown land use that ensure a sustainable flow of benefits to British Columbians (Goal 3);
• balancing environmental objectives with job creation by strengthening the competitiveness and profitability of the food, agriculture and aquaculture sectors locally and globally, and the development of Crown land-use policy that promotes highest and best use will continue to enhance an already strong economy in B.C. (Goal 5); and
• keenly focused on ensuring that food production systems deliver healthy food and support healthy living and contribute to public safety (Goal 4).

The ministry supports the remaining two great goals indirectly. The goal of making B.C. "the best educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent" is supported indirectly through delivery of programs and services that emphasize innovation and learning and support leading-edge research to British Columbians. In a broader context, ministry activities enhance economic development which strengthens the financial stability of individuals, businesses, communities and the province. This helps B.C. and its citizens to provide programs and services that directly support government education goals and its additional great goal to "build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, special needs, children at risk and seniors."

Ministry Performance Plan Summary

The table below presents the ministry's mission, goals objectives and performance measures and illustrates the relationship between them and the government's Five Great Goals for a Golden Decade.

Industry competitiveness and profitability are affected by many factors, including technology that can reduce costs or enhance quality, the regulatory environment — involving local, provincial and federal government — such as labour and processing plant regulations, trade-related barriers or market preferences that can impact access to markets. In addition, trade and economic policy, industry/company infrastructure and associated growth strategies can also influence competitiveness. The ministry acts strategically to positively influence these factors and create the conditions for prosperity in the food and agriculture sectors.

Performance Measure:

Dollar value of international exports for agriculture and food: This measure monitors trends in the overall performance of B.C.'s agriculture and food sectors in the global economy.

The ministry is committed to investments that will enhance economic development and environmental sustainability in food and agriculture industries. The ministry will define and foster growth opportunities, improve competitiveness and facilitate the increased contribution of B.C.'s food and agriculture sectors.

Key strategies include:

• reduce barriers to international and inter-provincial trade, and ensure that B.C. industry interests are considered in trade negotiations and disputes:
• support the agriculture, food and fishery component of the province's Asia-Pacific and International Trade and Investment to 2010 strategies, with the primary objective of ensuring a fair share of federal funding and services for British Columbia industries; and
• urge the federal government to obtain real improvements in market access for all commodities in the World Trade Organization agriculture negotiations.

• obtain the B.C. food and agriculture sector's fair share of federal and cross-government programs, initiatives and activities to promote research, exports and inward investment;
• optimize the regulated marketing system to meet consumer needs for a broad range of product choices, including specialty and organic products;
• facilitate industry development and adoption of quality programs in food and agriculture industries that enable B.C. to access domestic and global markets that recognize high quality standards;
• develop a strategy for partners in the eating healthy component of ActNow and provide direction for food policy; and
• develop an Agriculture Plan by December 2006 that identifies opportunities for innovation, investment, niche markets and value chains (e.g., agri-tourism and the bio-based economy).

Performance Measures:

Dollar value of industry investment: The value of new investment in food and agriculture sectors is used to assess the investment climate. A three-year rolling average provides a clearer trend line since fluctuations in year-to-year investment levels can be significant.

Annual growth in agriculture, food and beverage sectors: Performance is measured by monitoring growth in farm cash receipts for the agriculture sector and factory shipments for the food and beverage sector.

Weather hazards, natural disasters, diseases, pests and market declines pose significant risks to producers of agricultural products. All of these risks can cause losses and lead to income instability in specific commodities. The ministry aims to create a stable platform for sector development by adopting a long-term comprehensive approach to managing risk for farmers.

Key strategies include:

• promote effective management of income risks through utilization of national programs — CAIS and Production Insurance — and other appropriate private sector tools to facilitate industry planning and sustainability; and
• create partnerships with the private sector in the development and delivery of risk management.

Performance Measures:

Per cent of eligible crops insured under Production Insurance: The performance measure tracks the percentage of crops that are insured under Production Insurance. Production Insurance protects producers from production losses related to specific commodities or crops, which helps to protect producers against production related risks.

Per cent of B.C. farm cash receipts represented by B.C. participants in the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) Program (excluding supply managed commodities): The performance measure tracks the percentage of farm cash receipts represented by B.C. participants in CAIS Program. The CAIS Program provides protection for overall income losses not covered by Production Insurance. These include overall income losses related to factors such as increases in input costs and sudden price declines.

British Columbians continue to demand that government ensure food production systems support public health and environmental goals. The province also has a global responsibility in this regard. Increasingly, profitability and growth within the food, agriculture and aquaculture sectors depend on continued consumer confidence and environmental sustainability. British Columbia is committed to growing its reputation as a world leader and community partner by maintaining world-class food, agriculture and aquaculture practices.

Early identification and response, and overall reduction in the level of risk associated with our food production systems, support the broader public health and safety goals of government by protecting against key diseases and pests, and minimizing associated risks to human health.

Key strategies include:

• facilitate and support development of tracking/traceability systems that complement national systems for food, agriculture and aquaculture, from production to retail;
• work with federal and provincial government agencies and industry to apply lessons learned in the implementation of bio-security strategies;
• review and improve upon the emergency management program for foreign animal disease eradication;
• review and improve the provincial plant management strategy;
• develop strong working relationships with medical health authorities, and among provincial and federal agencies, to develop strong agency collaboration and to facilitate industry-led food safety and quality initiatives; and
• work with other government agencies to sponsor initiatives to mitigate the impact of plant and animal diseases, and invasive pests and plant species.

Performance Measures:

Database of pathogens, antimicrobial resistance and residues in the food chain and environment: Develop database, baseline information and surveillance for risk mitigation of public health.

Number of commodity groups implementing a national on-farm food safety and quality program: Performance in relation to this objective is measured by examining progress in the implementation of national on-farm food safety and quality programs. The Canada-British Columbia Agriculture Policy Framework provides funding to support continued improvement through risk analysis and mitigation in food production system practices, through the implementation of national food safety and quality programs. These programs will provide additional assurance that B.C.'s food production systems remain safe, and higher quality standards will increase access to markets.

Responsible production and environmental protection practices are key to B.C.'s food, agriculture and aquaculture sectors maintaining long-term sustainability and improving the level of consumer, market and community support.

Key strategies include:

• enhance capacity for research and development of industry;
• continue to update B.C.'s standards, policies and regulations, maximizing environmental performance of the aquaculture industry;
• develop an aquaculture strategy to focus on environmentally sound practices and consider values to society from both wild and farmed finfish stocks;
• promote the development and use of environmental farm plans on farms;
• provide leadership in coordinating resource agencies' response on Crown lands in managing and controlling West Nile virus;
• work with local government to enhance the contribution that both agriculture and agriculture sectors make to the community;
• develop and implement the provincial livestock waste tissue initiative strategy in concert with local government; and
• contribute to provincial strategies on resource-use such as water.

Performance Measures:

Per cent compliance with best management practices (BMP) from aquaculture regulation: Finfish operators must develop and implement a BMP plan for each of their marine finfish aquaculture facilities. The intent of the BMP is to prevent finfish escapes to the environment and to provide better assurance that operators will meet environmental sustainability objectives.

Number of farms with environmental farm plans (EFP): Progress towards this objective is measured by the rate of adoption of EFPs by farm businesses. Adoption of EFPs can include both completion and implementation of a plan. An EFP is considered implemented when the farm has addressed all regulatory non-compliance issues identified in the plan. The plan is considered completed when both the risk assessment and the action plan have been completed, and it has been signed off by a recognized planning advisor.

Level of local government support for agriculture and aquaculture: The ministry has developed an evaluation index which considers many different aspects of local government policies and programs, bylaws and zoning and will develop an overall rating of the effect the Strengthening Farming Program is having on the local government.

Crown land, and the associated resources and values it holds, has played a key role in the development of British Columbia and remains vital to the economic and social fabric of this province. The overarching aim of the ministry is to ensure a balanced approach to Crown land use so that British Columbians, now and in the future, can enjoy a sustainable flow of economic, environmental and social benefits.

Responsibility for the management and allocation of provincial resources is shared among several provincial ministries. The province will strengthen the level of integration between the policies that guide each of these agencies, and further develop approaches and tools that enable the province to achieve economic interests within a social and environmental balance. The ministry has been given a leadership role in this regard.²

Key strategies include:

• lead the development of a responsive provincial strategic Crown land tenuring framework;
• work collaboratively with industry, local government, First Nations and provincial government agencies;
• develop and implement a mutually collaborative and effective partnership with ILMB that supports seamless delivery of services; and
• review and develop, as necessary, a current pricing policy to ensure the province receives optimal value from specified Crown land transactions.

Performance Measure:

Publicly transparent and defensible land tenuring decision-making process: This performance measure is under development. Options that will be assessed for this measure include (1) using an applicant survey, or (2) monitoring the number of disputes/appeals in response to tenuring decisions.

The ministry has responsibility for coordinating the identification and remediation of contaminated sites on Crown land. Remediation of these sites ensures that environmental and public health goals are met, and also safeguards continued economic development.

Key strategies include:

• inventory, classify and prioritize known provincial contaminated sites using a risk-based approach;
• coordinate funding requests and site investigations to address the province's highest priority sites;
• implement accountability and reporting requirements related to these sites;
• oversee remediation of significant, historic contaminated sites such as the Britannia Mine and Pacific Place; and
• oversee remediation of new contaminated sites for which the ministry has been assigned responsibility.

Performance Measure:

Number of priority sites for which remediation is underway/completed: The Provincial Contaminated Sites Committee assesses contaminated sites and determines priorities based on anticipated risks to human health and the environment. The indicator provides a measure of progress in remediating these priority sites. Site remediation can be a multi-year exercise, depending on the site size, complexity and regulatory requirements for clean-up.