Resource Summary

The Resource Summary table below provides an estimate of the 2007/08 expenditures that will be required by core business areas to undertake the work identified within this Service Plan. Also included are the planned expenditures for the 2008/09 – 2009/10 fiscal years.

Core Business Areas	2006/07 Restated Estimates¹	2007/08 Estimates	2008/09 Plan	2009/10 Plan
Operating Expenses ($000)
Environmental Stewardship	73,203	78,857	80,463	81,923
Water Stewardship	29,372	39,228	61,402	65,556
Oceans and Marine Fisheries	2,240	2,258	2,277	2,294
Environmental Protection	41,730	43,230	41,113	41,450
Compliance	18,201	18,482	18,700	18,902
Executive and Support Services	32,485	33,807	34,217	34,640
Total	197,231	215,862	238,172	244,765
Full-time Equivalents (Direct FTEs)
Environmental Stewardship	471	478	478	478
Water Stewardship	122	127	127	127
Oceans and Marine Fisheries	13	14	14	14
Environmental Protection	256	270	266	266
Compliance	152	152	152	152
Executive and Support Services	391	403	403	403
Total	1,405	1,444	1,440	1,440
Ministry Capital Expenditures (Consolidated Revenue Fund) ($000)
Environmental Stewardship	43,123	29,673	14,696	14,733
Water Stewardship	357	162	109	72
Oceans and Marine Fisheries	5	5	5	5
Environmental Protection	921	283	245	272
Compliance	2,258	1,153	974	945
Executive and Support Services	3,369	2,710	2,032	2,034
Total	50,033	33,986	18,061	18,061


¹	These amounts have been restated, for comparative purposes only, to be consistent with the presentation of the 2007/08 Estimates. Schedule A of the Estimates, presents a detailed reconciliation.

In the ministry, resources, strategies and results are linked to goals and objectives. Each core business area has responsibility for undertaking specific strategies and achieving specific results under each goal and objective. As a result, core business area responsibilities and resources are integrated across ministry goals and objectives.

These responsibilities and resources reflect the ministry's continued commitment to, and work involved in, protecting and enhancing the quality of our water, land and air; preserving the health and diversity of native species and ecosystems; promoting an awareness that all British Columbians share responsibility for the environment; ensuring sustainable use of British Columbia's environmental resources; and fostering a high performance organization that is effective in achieving the province's environmental objectives.

Key initiatives in the ministry's budget this year include activities under the B.C. Air Action Plan and the B.C. Climate Change Plan undertaken by the Environmental Protection Division, the B.C. Water Action Plan undertaken by the Water Stewardship Division, and the Parks for People Strategy undertaken by the Environmental Stewardship Division.

As British Columbia's population grows and the economy continues to be strong, the economic benefits to the province must be balanced against their impact on the environment. These pressures as well as unpredictable natural and biological events, should they occur, can have significant implications for the ministry's budget. Despite these challenges, the ministry continues to make significant headway in meeting its performance targets through effective relationship building and through a process of continuous improvement, which regularly evaluates programs and systems to determine their effectiveness and identify where efficiencies can be made.

Environmental Appeal Board and
Forest Appeals Commission

The Environmental Appeal Board (Board) and Forest Appeals Commission (Commission) are independent, quasi-judicial tribunals jointly administered by the same office. They hear appeals of government decisions under several provincial statutes concerned with natural resource management, environmental quality and public health protection.

As well, the Board and Commission administer other tribunals including the Hospital Appeal Board and the Community Care and Assisted Living Appeal Board for the Ministry of Health and the Industry Training Appeal Board for the Ministry of Economic Development.

While the Board and the Commission operate independently from the Ministry of Environment, their budget vote is the responsibility of the ministry. Therefore, they are not considered one of the core business areas accountable to the Minister of Environment, but they are included in the Resource Summary of this Service Plan.