Core Business Areas

The ministry manages and delivers a wide range of programs and services that support the environmental goals and objectives of the province. Five of its core business areas are aligned with and delivered by five ministry divisions: Environmental Stewardship Division, Water Stewardship Division, Oceans and Marine Fisheries Division, Environmental Protection Division and Compliance Division. The sixth core business area, Executive and Support Services, is the responsibility of the Deputy Minister's Office, Strategic Policy Division and Corporate Services Division. The Corporate Services Division also provides support services to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and the Integrated Land Management Bureau.

This core business area is led by the Environmental Stewardship Division. Key programs and services focus on the effective management and stewardship of fish and wildlife species, ecosystems, parks and protected areas. Environmental Stewardship is responsible for the collaborative development of standards for the use and protection of species and habitats and allocation of natural resources for hunting, angling, trapping and wildlife viewing. Key functions include collecting, maintaining and managing the scientific information necessary to ensure these standards and the decisions that support them are informed by the best available science. Environmental Stewardship is also responsible for the provision of healthy, outdoor recreation opportunities in parks and protected areas for British Columbians. This business area works to ensure that the economic potential of B.C.'s natural resources is realized in an enduring and sustainable way. The division is responsible for establishing legislation (e.g., the Park Act, Protected Areas of British Columbia Act, and Wildlife Act), policies and procedures that provide direction for the protection and conservation of our natural environment.

$78,857,000 and 478 FTEs are dedicated to this core business area.

This core business area is led by the Water Stewardship Division. Key programs and services focus on providing provincial leadership, ensuring that British Columbia's water resources and aquatic ecosystems are safe, sustainable and valued by all. Key functions include developing innovative approaches to water governance, advancing science-based decision-making and providing information critical to understanding and managing B.C.'s water resources. Other key functions include creating legislation and non-regulatory tools and carrying out statutory and public safety functions that support fair and sustainable water allocation, protect groundwater resources and minimize the risk of floods and droughts. Other important program areas include water planning, source drinking water protection and water utility regulation. The division, through the Comptroller of Water Rights, is responsible for administering the Water Act, Water Protection Act and Water Utilities Act and, through the Inspector of Dikes, administers the Dike Maintenance Act. This core business area's work places a high priority on fostering water stewardship through public awareness, education, partnerships and capacity building.

$39,228,000 and 127 FTEs are dedicated to this core business area.

This core business area is led by the Oceans and Marine Fisheries Division. Key programs and services focus on the development and implementation of the province's ocean resources, marine fisheries and seafood development initiatives. These initiatives are based on the integrated management and sustainable use of B.C.'s ocean resources. Stable and diverse marine fisheries within strong domestic and global markets will ensure long-lasting social and economic benefits for British Columbians. Key functions include the collaborative development of provincial oceans and marine fisheries interests, joint provincial-federal marine resource management strategies and management of B.C. marine fisheries and ocean resources. Other key functions include supporting seafood traceability and certification programs and marketing the sustainability and quality of B.C.'s seafood industry in the global marketplace.

$2,258,000 and 14 FTEs are dedicated to this core business area.

This core business area is led by the Environmental Protection Division. Key programs and services focus on protecting human health and safety and environmental quality. These objectives are achieved by setting high environmental standards for the protection of water, land and air; promoting sustainable environmental practices through education and outreach; and regulating, monitoring and reporting on compliance. Key functions include the development and implementation of the industry-led stewardship program for the reuse and recycling of post-consumer products; effective management of high risk environmental emergencies; and leading the provincial climate change initiative. This area is responsible for the development and implementation of results-based legislation (e.g., the Environmental Management Act and the Integrated Pest Management Act). Results-based legislation provides clear roles for governments and stakeholders and sets clear performance standards for the protection of human health and safety and environmental quality.

$43,230,000 and 270 FTEs are dedicated to this core business area.

This core business area is led by the Compliance Division. Key programs and services focus on providing ministry-wide leadership, innovation and services in support of the ministry's compliance activities. Services include providing expertise in environmental investigation and enforcement, wildlife/human conflict response and preventative programs, and compliance policy and planning tools. Key functions include delivering a full range of compliance-related activities, including educating citizens to be better stewards, promoting the understanding of, and compliance with, regulatory requirements, conducting investigations, reporting on compliance and enforcement actions through quarterly public reporting, and working with ministry programs on a range of enforcement options. The division supports the management and delivery of compliance activities in a manner that is timely, appropriate and consistent with the mandate of the ministry, and with the risk to the environmental values at issue.

$18,482,000 and 152 FTEs are dedicated to this core business area.

The Deputy Minister's Office, Strategic Policy Division and Corporate Services Division lead this core business area and support other core business areas to achieve ministry objectives. Key programs and services focus on the planning and development of effective policies and legislation. Other key programs include intergovernmental relations; tools to support effective decision-making; State of the Environment reporting; economic analysis; and service planning, reporting, evaluation and performance management. Key functions cover a full range of financial, human resource, administration and information management and technology systems and services. (See the ministry's Information Resource Management Plan, which is available at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/sp/irmp.html.)

$33,807,000 and 403 FTEs are dedicated to this core business area.