Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Results

Overview

Ministry Goals

During the fall 2005 planning cycle, the ministry undertook a collaborative strategic planning process, developed a new corporate structure and revised its vision, mission and goals. The goals reflect the integration of new business and responsibility areas, bring an effective and balanced approach to environmental management, encourage collaboration across ministry divisions, and indicate the long-term results the ministry intends to achieve.

The ministry’s new goals are:

• Clean and safe water, land and air.
• Healthy and diverse native species and ecosystems.
• British Columbians understand that they share responsibility for the environment.
• Sustainable use of British Columbia’s environmental resources.
• A high performance organization.

Linkage to the Five Great Goals

With its Five Great Goals, the government is poised to continue its work of the last four years and build on its accomplishments. The ministry has a leadership role in achieving the government’s objectives under Great Goal 4 and accountability in achieving the government’s objectives under Great Goals 2 and 5.

Great Goal 4

To lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality, and the best fisheries management, bar none.

Ministry Linkage to Great Goal 4:

• Providing sustainable environmental management using science-based decision-making.
• Leading British Columbia’s response to climate change, monitoring air quality, and taking action to limit air pollution.
• Ensuring safe, high quality drinking water, reducing and removing toxins and wastes from the environment, and responding to and reducing risks from and to the environment.
• Managing British Columbia’s freshwater fisheries and fostering a joint decision-making process to ensure sustainable marine fisheries, ocean resources and marine protected areas.
• Building greater understanding among British Columbians of the benefits of healthy living and the effect their actions have on the environment.

Great Goal 2

To lead the way in North America in healthy living and physical fitness.

Ministry Linkage to Great Goal 2:

• Maintaining the high quality of air and water in the province.
• Providing outdoor opportunities related to British Columbia’s parks, fish and wildlife.
• Promoting domestic consumption of British Columbia’s seafood.

Great Goal 5

To create more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada.

Ministry Linkage to Great Goal 5:

• Contributing to the economy and job creation through camping, hunting, angling and wildlife viewing opportunities.
• Providing investment opportunities and job creation through sustainable environmental management.

Cross Ministry Initiatives

To support government priorities and achieve ministry objectives, we are involved in a variety of cross ministry initiatives. We also collaborate with others to support programs and initiatives related to government-identified themes.

As the ministry with primary responsibility for Great Goal 4, we lead several cross ministry initiatives such as the Climate Change Action Plan (implementing Weather, Climate and the Future: B.C.’s Plan), B.C. Water Strategy, Clean Air Strategy, Provincial Fisheries Strategy, Oceans Policy Framework, and Sustainable Communities Initiative. We also support cross ministry initiatives lead by others. Examples of these include the Action Plan for Safe Drinking Water (Ministry of Health), the All Seasons Resorts Strategy (Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts) and the Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan (Ministry of Forests and Range).

To help achieve its Five Great Goals, the government has identified several major strategic themes that require collaboration and action across all government organizations.

• First Nations. The ministry is working closely with First Nations in the development of Parks Collaborative Management Agreements and Regional Fish and Wildlife Advisory Processes. These agreements actively engage many of the province’s First Nations.
• ActNow BC. The ministry is a committed participant in ActNow BC, which promotes positive lifestyle choices and good health throughout the province. Ministry programs such as Get Outdoors with BC Parks (School Program), Getting Active in Parks (Pick Your Trail), Healthy Ecosystems (Healthy People Outreach), Go Fish BC (Young Anglers Program), and Enhanced Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) support this strategic theme.
• The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The ministry is engaged in projects that will support the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, providing an opportunity to showcase to the world what British Columbia has to offer. Activities include upgrading parks and provincial campgrounds, improving recreational fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities, and providing enhanced outdoor opportunities along the Vancouver to Whistler corridor. The ministry is involved in the planning for a zero greenhouse gas emissions Winter Games and intends to showcase its accomplishments in contaminated site clean up. The ministry is also working with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) to encourage innovative approaches to waste management such as vegetative debris plans that minimize or eliminate the need to burn when clearing land for venue development.
• Mountain Pine Beetle. The ministry is ensuring parks and protected areas management incorporates an assessment of the epidemic on conservation values; coordinating spread control activities in parks and protected areas; and identifying and monitoring critical water supplies that may be impacted by the infestation or by forestry mitigation activities.

In support of other government-identified themes, the ministry is committed to citizen-centred service and regulatory reform. (See the Related Initiatives and Planning Processes section.)

Performance Plan

Along with the development of new goals, the ministry’s fall 2005 strategic planning process included prioritizing and confirming objectives that will support these goals. Also developed were strategies to achieve the ministry’s objectives and targets against which the ministry can measure its performance. Some performance measures have been retained from previous years, and some new measures have been added. Of these, two new performance measures will require the ministry to develop baseline data in the 2006/07 Service Plan year in order to establish and report on performance targets over the coming years. Each goal has one or more performance measures linked to specific objectives or directly to the goal itself. However, not all objectives under a goal have a corresponding performance measure.

The following information presents the ministry’s goals, objectives, strategies and performance measures.

Healthy communities and a healthy environment depend on clean and safe water, land and air. These resources are a top priority of the ministry. This goal reflects the ministry’s commitment to enhanced protection of our water resources, reduced contamination of land and air, and effective responses to climate change and environmental emergencies. Achievement of this goal is key to a healthy and sustainable environment for British Columbia.

A safe and sustainable supply of high quality water is vital to our communities, economy and environment. Both protection and stewardship of our water resources are of utmost importance to the ministry. Achievement of this objective through effective legislation, innovative approaches to water governance and coordinated watershed-based planning contributes directly to the goal and is critical to the health of British Columbians and the environment.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include approving and implementing the B.C. Water Strategy, and includes:

• appointing a Chief Water Officer and defining accountabilities for ensuring exemplary water stewardship
• integrating cross ministry initiatives to promote and enhance water stewardship
• developing and implementing proactive planning and adaptation strategies to address emerging issues and cumulative effects (e.g., climate change, population growth)
• integrating water stewardship and long-term sustainability into local government planning and development programs
• continuing to ensure safe and secure drinking water sources through the ministry’s source water protection program
• ensuring well-managed and accessible water resources information to support science based decision-making

Performance Measure

Water quality trends in water bodies monitored under a federal/provincial agreement: This measure monitors trends in surface water quality based on the presence of environmentally significant variables, such as metals and nutrients, within 30 water bodies monitored under the Canada — B.C. Water Quality Agreement. The water bodies chosen under this agreement represent the province geographically. This monitoring accounts for the effects on water quality created by the multiple uses in and around these bodies. The results of this measure, therefore, provide a good indication of the outcomes of protection efforts and stewardship of the province’s water resources.

	Benchmark/Explanatory Information: In 2003/04 and 2002/03, 90% of the monitoring stations in the 30 water bodies had stable or improving water quality trends. (Source: Ministry of Environment.)

Disposing of the toxins and wastes generated each year comes at significant costs. These costs include financial costs associated with shutting down landfills and establishing new ones, dealing with the contamination of land, water and air, and addressing the impact on ecosystems and the health of citizens. By reducing contamination from toxins and wastes efficiently and effectively, the ministry will minimize impacts to water, land, air, human health and safety, and the economy.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• completing the 2005 Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) tracking report for baseline data
• creating a strategy to further reduce MSW such as diversion of demolition, land clearing and construction waste
• adding new products to the Recycling Regulation
• continuing to follow and implement the Brownfield ⁴ strategy
• updating the Hazardous Waste Regulations

4	Brownfields are idle or underused properties where past activities have caused environmental contamination but which, nevertheless, exhibit good potential for other uses and which provide economically viable business opportunities.

Objective 3:

Protecting the quality of the air remains a key focus of the ministry. Healthy air quality means healthy people and a healthy environment. Taking action to reduce air pollution will help improve the health of British Columbians, preserve our environment and enhance our economic competitiveness.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include approving and implementing the Clean Air Strategy, and includes initiatives such as:

• improving and increasing efforts to replace uncertified woodstoves with more efficient and approved clean-burning appliances
• identifying and improving multi-agency collaborative initiatives that bring relevant regulatory authorities, program initiatives and human resources from all levels and parts of government together to address air quality issues
• developing an Air Quality Health Index in collaboration with federal partners

Performance Measure

Air quality: The outdoor air contaminants of most concern in British Columbia, from a human health and ecosystem perspective, are airborne particulate matter (PM) and low level or ground level ozone.

PM_2.5 refers to “fine” particles less than 2.5 micrometres in size (or about 1/20th the width of a human hair). These fine particulates, which are most often generated by combustion processes and by chemical reactions taking place in the air, are easily inhaled and penetrate into the lungs, posing a threat to human health.

Although ozone in the stratosphere (the ozone layer) is beneficial and filters out harmful ultraviolet rays, ground level ozone is a pollutant and can be damaging to human health and the environment. Ground level ozone is also a major component of photochemical smog. Ground level ozone is a secondary pollutant, formed through chemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in the presence of sunlight. Nitrogen oxides are primarily emitted during combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. VOCs are emitted during the incomplete combustion of fuel, as well as from the evaporation of fuels, solvents, paints and dry-cleaning fluids, or from natural sources, such as biogenic emissions from vegetation. Ground level ozone also occurs naturally and can come from down-mixing from the stratosphere.

To measure the ministry’s efforts and commitment in ensuring all parts of the province have clean and safe air, the ministry is tracking the percentage of monitored communities achieving the Canada-wide standards (CWS) for PM_2.5 and ground level ozone. Canada wide standards are standards developed through participation by the federal, provincial and territorial governments on the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. These standards are to be met by 2010, and their achievement represents an important step toward minimizing the negative effects of poor air quality on human health and the environment.

Benchmark/Explanatory Information: CWS for PM2.5 and ozone: Comparable data for previous years are: PM2.5: 13 out of 15 communities (86.7%) in 2003; 10 out of 11 communities (91%) in 2002. Low level ozone: 23 out of 24 (96%) in 2003; 23 out of 23 communities (100%) in 2002. (Source: Ministry of Environment.) Note: The number of communities reported for PM2.5 and low level ozone has increased over time. This is due to an increase in the number of monitored communities having sufficient data to generate the statistics needed to determine the CWS.

Climate change is an issue that has both local and global significance. Although greenhouse gas emissions in British Columbia represent only a fraction of the world’s emissions, all jurisdictions, including British Columbia, have a role to play in reducing these emissions. B.C. is also seeing some amount of warming and climate-related impacts. The ministry is the lead agency for the provincial government’s response to climate change, which includes the reduction of provincial greenhouse emissions (“mitigation”), as well as preparation for climate change and related extreme weather (“adaptation”).

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• leading B.C.’s response to climate change — coordinating and reporting on government implementation of Weather, Climate and the Future: B.C.’s Plan
• implementing climate change mitigation actions that are outlined in Weather, Climate and the Future: B.C.’s Plan
• implementing climate change adaptation actions that are outlined in Weather, Climate and the Future: B.C.’s Plan

Performance Measure

Greenhouse gas emissions: Greenhouse gases (GHG) include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride. Human activities have a direct impact on the amounts of these gases present in the atmosphere. Examples of activities that increase GHG are fossil-fuel combustion, deforestation, methane emissions from landfills, livestock cultivation and cement production.

To assess performance in its lead role on addressing global climate change within British Columbia, the ministry is using an outcome measure of per capita greenhouse gas emissions relative to that of other provinces. The relative benchmark measures British Columbia’s contribution to national efforts, while accounting for the largely unknown effects of future national GHG commitments and clean technology development that are likely to apply to all provinces.

	Benchmark/Explanatory Information: Data for 2004 will be available later in 2006. For 2003, 2002 and 2001, B.C. had the 3rd lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions behind Prince Edward Island and Quebec. (Source: Environment Canada and Statistics Canada.)

Activities and events in the environment can present risks to public health and safety, property and the environment itself. Although not all risks are avoidable, effective management means that impacts from risks can be minimized. The ministry anticipates, responds to and manages the consequences of risks.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• responding effectively to high risk environmental emergencies such as oil spills, hazardous material spills and gas leaks
• developing a strategy to enhance partnerships for environmental stewardship in spill responses
• reducing the risk to public safety through effective flood hazard management (working with local governments), drought management and dam safety programs

Healthy and diverse native species and ecosystems provide significant environmental, social and economic benefits to British Columbia and its people. To achieve this goal, the ministry develops, manages, regulates and enforces environmental programs and legislation that contribute significantly to ensuring the health and diversity of native species and ecosystems.

The collection, storage and dissemination of scientific information provides for effective research, contributes to the understanding of the status of native species and ecosystems, and is critical to making informed decisions. Without well-managed and accessible information on species and ecosystems, it is not possible to fully understand the health and diversity of our native species and ecosystems, nor make effective management decisions.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• compiling, consolidating, analyzing and distributing information on species and ecosystems
• providing the conservation status of species and ecosystems
• providing guidelines and standards for the protection and conservation of species and ecosystems, including monitoring and reporting on achievements

Parks and protected lands have great conservation value and provide a place for native species to exist in their natural environment. The designation of parks and protected lands means these areas will be preserved for future generations and demonstrates British Columbia’s commitment to the conservation of native species and ecosystems.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• continuing to identify, design, designate and secure parks and protected lands
• undertaking parks and protected lands planning and management to ensure long-term conservation
• maintaining and promoting partnerships for securing and managing parks and protected lands

British Columbia is home to a rich diversity and abundance of native species and habitats. Programs within the ministry conserve biodiversity, maintain and enhance native ecosystems and achieve a balance between the needs of wildlife and the needs of the people. The ministry encourages others to accept a greater role in environmental stewardship and facilitates community initiatives to protect and restore local environments.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• improving cumulative impact assessment processes
• continuing to work with and expand partnerships, including those with First Nations, to identify, protect and restore species and ecosystems
• developing a responsive resource assessment and management strategy that builds capacity to manage fish and wildlife populations and ecosystems
• developing guidelines and standards for protection and conservation of species and ecosystems
• developing and implementing an enhanced legal and policy framework and regional-based planning programs
• providing scientific advice to decision makers and implementers of resource use policies and land use planning
• providing leadership in species at risk ranking and designation, and preparation and implementation of recovery plans
• developing and implementing a provincial policy that balances water flow requirements for species, ecosystems, communities and industrial needs
• leading, in collaboration with the federal government, the development of a marine protected area system for the Pacific coast

Performance Measure

Number of completed designations by the ministry under the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA): including Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHA), Ungulate Winter Ranges (UWR) and Fisheries Sensitive Watersheds (FSW). Designations under FRPA provide special management for species impacted by forest and range activities on Crown land. These designations provide legislated protection for habitats and contribute significantly to the conservation of native species. The inclusion of FSWs in this measure is new. FSW designations will provide valuable protection to fish in some of B.C.’s watersheds that are most sensitive to forest and range activities. The targets for approval of UWR designations will decrease over the next three years, reflecting an expected decrease in UWR plans remaining for approval.

	* Specifies the number of UWR packages; each package may have as few as 1 to more than 1,000 winter ranges. Thus, when monitoring progress in this area, it is important also to consider the amount of area designated.
	Benchmark/Explanatory Information: As of March 31, 2004, there were 160 wildlife habitat area (WHA) designations approved (covering 49,120 hectares) and 15 ungulate winter range (UWR) designations approved (covering 913,462 hectares). As of March 31, 2003, there were 129 WHA designations approved (covering 44,233 hectares) and no UWR designations approved. (Source: Ministry of Environment.)

Environmental sustainability can neither be created by governments nor imposed by public policy. It depends on the collective knowledge, commitment and actions of individuals, organizations, communities and all levels of government as a whole. Achievement of this goal requires strong and expanded partnerships with industry and stakeholders, and an environmentally conscious and knowledgeable public. Having a society in which individuals act as stewards by considering the environmental impacts of their individual and collective actions will be a great step toward sustainability.

Performance Measure

Municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal is a goal level performance measure that demonstrates the commitment by businesses and the public to reduce their impacts on the environment. In 2006/07, activities will include collecting data for the 2005/06 baseline, and scoping and analysis to determine achievable targets for inclusion in future service plans.

In order for British Columbians to become environmentally conscious in their lives, they must understand the relationship between their actions and how those actions directly impact their health, the quality of their lives, and the lives of other people and species with which they share ecosystems. As British Columbians continue to make the connection between actions and impacts, they are much more likely to take on the role of stewards and demand a much higher environmental standard for their own actions and those of others.

Strategy:

A key strategy for this objective is:

• exploring and developing a comprehensive and integrated ministry stewardship outreach strategy

Public and stakeholder expectations of meaningful involvement in decision-making and in sharing responsibility for environmental outcomes continue to be a force for change in the way the ministry does its business. The ministry recognizes that a successful shared stewardship model needs to integrate cooperative and collaborative partnerships across all sectors and geographic jurisdictions. Necessary tools include information, knowledge, consultation and partnering opportunities.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• effectively communicating and sharing knowledge through consultative processes that engage stakeholders
• enhancing and promoting shared stewardship through partnership and volunteer programs, environmental awards and the creation of a stewardship network
• designing and developing legislation, regulations, policies and guidelines that are publicly accessible, consultation driven and client focused
• promoting collaborative management and decision-making processes for resource use
• pursuing opportunities for the Conservation Officer Service to provide compliance and enforcement activities through partnerships with other agencies

Performance Measure

Number of partnerships with First Nations: The ministry is monitoring its progress in forging partnerships with First Nations. In the past, the ministry has used a performance measure based on the number of Collaborative Management Agreements with First Nations. This measure has been changed to include the number of official Regional Fish and Wildlife Advisory Processes and the number of Parks Collaborative Management Agreements.

The ministry currently has 15 Collaborative Management Agreements in place for parks and protected areas, and is in the process of negotiating approximately 15 additional agreements. These agreements are generally linked to the creation of new protected areas in Land Use Plans, but in a number of cases are being discussed in the context of treaty negotiations or other provincial initiatives. Collaborative Management Agreements define how the province and First Nations will work together on the management of protected areas.

Regional Fish and Wildlife Advisory Processes are designed to provide a region-wide perspective and actively engage First Nations and key stakeholders, with a direct interest in fish and wildlife, in a forum to discuss management and allocation issues.

Both of these processes provide a significant role to First Nations in making recommendations around protected areas and wildlife management.

Benchmark/Explanatory Information: Currently, 115 of 198 bands (representing 58% of British Columbia’s First Nations bands), are engaged in Park Collaborative Management Agreements and/or Regional Fish and Wildlife Advisory Processes with the ministry. In 2003/04, there were 14 Collaborative Management Agreements and 2 Official Wildlife Processes with First Nations. In 2002/03, there were 12 Collaborative Management Agreements and 2 Official Wildlife Processes with First Nations. (Source: Ministry of Environment.)

British Columbia continues to enjoy expanding economic opportunities. More and more, industry, organizations and other ministry client groups understand the benefits of incorporating environmental values and best practices into their decision-making processes and activities. Good environmental management practices not only protect the environment, and greatly reduce costs (e.g., use resources and energy more efficiently, reduce waste and reduce discards in marine fisheries), they also set the foundation for good corporate citizenship.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• developing stewardship programs to mitigate environmental impact from product production to disposal
• providing resource information to facilitate shared responsibility and partnerships
• encouraging compliance by reporting those in non-compliance and those exceeding environmental standards

Performance Measure

Industry-led product stewardship: For this measure, the ministry is counting the number of post-consumer product categories with industry-led product stewardship programs. Currently, stewardship programs are in place for paint, used oil products, beverage containers and four other post-consumer residuals, all of which provide significant reduction in waste and positive benefits to the environment. Industry-led stewardship programs demonstrate producer responsibility for a product by managing that product across its entire life cycle and reducing the environmental impact upon disposal. The result of these stewardship programs is less household hazardous waste in landfills, less total waste in landfills and less burden on local governments to manage this waste. Stewardship programs are, and will continue to be, an important example of how B.C. industry works with the ministry and is implementing effective and responsible environmental management practices. The target has been changed from the previous one product per year to reflect an anticipated increase in the time needed to coordinate new programs.

	Benchmark/Explanatory Information: British Columbia has seven product categories with industry-led product stewardship programs in place: paint, used oil products, beverage containers, pharmaceuticals, solvents and flammable liquids, domestic pesticides, and gasoline.

British Columbia’s environment provides benefits to British Columbians and others in a variety of ways. Sustainable use of British Columbia’s environmental resources promotes job creation, and contributes significantly to the quality of life of residents and visitors. Sustainable use means that resources are used in ways that ensure their continued availability today and for generations to come.

British Columbia’s water and air resources sustain a full range of economic, community and ecosystem needs. Understanding the important benefits that these resources provide, the ministry ensures that wise and prudent management of our water and air resources will continue to provide benefits to British Columbians in the future.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• seeking public consensus on a new water allocation model
• exploring shared governance frameworks to promote increased community and stakeholder involvement at the local level
• modifying and streamlining the Water Act and related legislation
• valuing water appropriately by recognizing its full range of benefits
• continuing to promote water conservation and demand-side management measures
• continuing to ensure timely response to water licence applications to support economic development
• promoting and facilitating multi-stakeholder airshed and watershed management plans

Performance Measure

Number of water management plans developed and implemented: Water or watershed management plans are undertaken to coordinate development and management of water, land and related resources to optimize the benefits and sustainability of the community, economy and environment. These plans serve as a valuable tool to address conflicts between water users and in-stream flow requirements, risks to water quality and aquatic ecosystems, concerns about land use and other issues. The water management plan performance measure assesses both the number of water management plans designated under the Water Act and plans with no statutory basis. The province will seek to promote and facilitate the development and implementation of water management plans over the coming years as an important part of its goal to sustain British Columbia’s water resources.

British Columbia’s parks, fish and wildlife provide a variety of unique outdoor opportunities for residents and visitors in the form of recreation, camping, angling, hunting and wildlife viewing. The use of these resources by British Columbians and visitors to the province promotes healthy living and an appreciation of B.C.’s landscape, native species and the environment as a whole. The use of campgrounds and purchase of angling and hunting licences contributes to the maintenance and infrastructure of our natural places and to environmental protection and management activities. Several commercial organizations also use these resources, attracting visitors from around the world. This creates jobs within B.C. and contributes significantly to the province’s economy. Effective management and use of these resources will ensure their sustainability.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• providing outstanding hunting, angling and wildlife viewing opportunities
• developing and implementing outdoor activities and commercial opportunities that reflect client preferences
• maximizing opportunities for partnerships with First Nations, local communities, non profit groups and private land owners
• developing and implementing marketing strategies to promote healthy living through park visitation

Performance Measures

Number of recorded park visits and visitor satisfaction: British Columbia’s parks offer a variety of unique outdoor opportunities and experiences to residents and visitors to the province. Use of parks and their facilities encourages travel and contributes significantly to the provincial economy and the health of B.C.’s citizens and visitors. To measure the economic contribution of parks, the number of recorded visits to provincial parks is being used. Recognizing that the satisfaction of park visitors with the experiences offered to them is important, the results of park satisfaction surveys are also being tracked. The combination of park visitations and the satisfaction of visitors with the opportunities offered provides a measure of their contribution to the economy and human health, now and in the future.

Number of hunting and angling licences sold: This measure reflects the number of resident and non-resident hunters and anglers taking advantage of the freshwater fishing and hunting opportunities in British Columbia. Although the measure does not account for differences in the experiences and economic contributions of individual licence holders, it does provide a good indication of the trends in overall economic contributions from hunting and angling opportunities. In addition to the economic contributions, these activities offer opportunities to experience the B.C. wilderness and contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

	Benchmark/Explanatory Information:
	Recorded park visits: The number of recorded visits to B.C. parks was approximately 19.0 million in 2003 and approximately 22.6 million in 2002. (Source: Ministry of Environment.)
	Visitor satisfaction: The five-year rolling average for 2003/2004 was approximately 80%, which is based on the Visitor Satisfaction Index rating of the reporting years of 1999/2000 to 2003/04. The five-year rolling average for 2002/03 was approximately 80%, which is based on the Visitor Satisfaction Index rating for the reporting years of 1998/1999 to 2002/2003. (Source: Ministry of Environment.)
	Hunting and angling licences sold: 2003/04: Hunting — 81,368 resident and 5,785 non-resident; Angling — 252,867 resident and 69,398 non-resident. 2002/03: Hunting — 85,714 resident and 6,234 non-resident; Angling — 275,430 resident and 79,772 non resident. (Source: Ministry of Environment.)
	Future direction: In 06/07, the ministry will be working on the development of a target to measure wildlife viewing activities.

British Columbia’s oceans and marine resources provide great economic benefits to the citizens of the province. The ministry works in collaboration with the federal government to ensure British Columbia’s interests are represented in the governance of ocean and marine resources and that these resources are managed in a sustainable manner.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• identifying and advancing provincial objectives as they relate to ocean resources and their use
• influencing implementation of the federal Oceans Strategy on the Pacific coast
• ensuring that federal management and international relations reflect provincial objectives for marine fisheries
• representing B.C.’s interests to ensure the seafood sector’s fair share of federal and cross-government programs, initiatives and activities to promote research, exports and investment
• undertaking programs and strategies to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of B.C.’s seafood products in domestic and export markets

Performance Measure

Number of marine-based commercial and recreational fisheries managed through a collaborative decision-making process: Economic sustainability is dependent on the level and certainty of access to resources. Measuring the increase in the number of B.C. marine fisheries that are managed collaboratively and include provincial government participation will determine if B.C.’s interests concerning fair allocation and certainty of access to resources are represented.

	Benchmark/Explanatory Information: Baseline data: The three fisheries managed through a collaborative decision-making process in the 2004/05 baseline data are hake, herring and tuna.

A high performance organization is reflected in its leadership, people, operating systems, culture and the services it provides. It is flexible, able to adapt to situations and events, and is responsive to the needs of its clients. A high performance organization provides a challenging and healthy working environment to staff, promotes learning and is committed to continuous improvement.

A client-focused organization strives to identify and develop ways to continuously improve client service. The ministry anticipates what its clients — the citizens, organizations and businesses of British Columbia — will need and how best to meet those needs through responsive staff, programs, policy, legislation, decision-making and information systems.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• fostering positive relationships with clients
• identifying and implementing continuous improvements to client business processes

Performance Measure

Changes in satisfaction of client groups: Ensuring client groups are satisfied with the services and working relationships with the ministry is important. Over the coming year, the ministry will be designing and administering a baseline survey of targeted clients. This baseline will provide a starting point from which changes in client satisfaction will be tracked over the coming years.

	Benchmark/Explanatory Information: Currently, the ministry administers several client satisfaction surveys, including the parks satisfaction survey and hunter and angler satisfaction surveys. The survey intended to provide data for this measure will be in addition to the surveys currently administered by the ministry.

The ministry strives to ensure that it is a sought-after, well-respected and innovative place to work. Recognizing that a challenging and balanced work environment is essential for good health and a productive workforce, the ministry recognizes staff for their contributions, supports their work with appropriate resources, and encourages professional developmental opportunities and health and wellness activities.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• updating and implementing the ministry human resources strategy
• optimizing performance by providing developmental opportunities, recognition and reward initiatives
• advancing the development of a knowledgeable and skilled workforce
• fostering a supportive workplace culture through leadership, health promotion and social relationships

Leadership and a coordinated approach to legislation and policy development, resource allocation and compliance and enforcement services is essential to ensuring cross ministry consistency, effective and efficient program delivery and the realization of ministry goals. The ministry works across core business areas to support goals and objectives, improve outcomes, identify risks and focus on ministry and government priorities.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• providing a legislative and policy framework that supports ministry goals
• leading and managing the deployment of effective and efficient shared services
• providing leadership and service in support of a strategic ministry compliance approach and maintaining strong and effective compliance and enforcement services

The ministry undertakes an integrated cross ministry approach to strategic, service and business planning, reporting, program evaluation and performance management, ensuring all planning activities reflect the ministry’s goals and objectives.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• facilitating a strategic and integrated approach to ministry planning and performance management
• providing tools, guidelines, expertise and support for effective business planning and program evaluation

The effective and efficient sharing of accurate, timely information is an essential component of a high performance organization. Well-managed, accurate and accessible information is critical to making informed environmental management decisions and meeting the service needs of British Columbians.

Strategies:

Key strategies for this objective include:

• developing information resources to produce optimum results
• pursuing opportunities to maximize the use of technology and best practices in the management of business applications and information resources

Ministry Performance Plan Summary