Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Results

Overview

The following section outlines the Ministry's goals, objectives, strategies, key performance measures, and targets. This section also shows how the Ministry's goals align with the Government's Five Great Goals, and the work that the Ministry will carry out in relation to the cross ministry initiatives of government. One new Ministry goal has been added since last year, to reflect the Ministry's lead on the ActNow BC initiative, and many of the objectives, strategies, and measures have been modified for improved clarity and goal alignment. In addition, some of the Ministry's previous measures have been eliminated because they referred to specific, one-time deliverables.

Ministry Goals

The four goals of this Ministry align with its leadership role in the tourism, sport, arts and culture sectors, and support the Ministry's mission to build strong partnerships that will foster sustainable tourism, sport and arts sectors, healthy lifestyles, and creative, active communities where people want to live, visit and invest. The goals are:

1. A tourism sector that delivers lasting provincial economic and social benefits.
2. Active and creative communities in which people have diverse opportunities to participate in sport, recreation, arts and culture.
3. A physically healthy population where individuals make choices that enhance their health.
4. Effective joint stewardship of British Columbia's outdoor recreational resources, heritage and archaeology.

Linkage to the Five Great Goals

Create the most jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada

The Ministry is working with the tourism industry to double tourism revenues by 2015. Specific activities include ongoing implementation of the BC Resort Strategy that will promote new resort investments, the development and implementation of a Tourism Action Plan, and the Aboriginal Tourism Strategy. These strategies will strengthen government partnerships in support of tourism and foster an environment that facilitates the development of resorts, adventure tourism, outdoor recreation, and other sectors of the tourism industry. The Ministry is also working to enhance the creative economy by investing in culture, sport and heritage infrastructure and improving integration with a broader tourism strategy.

Lead the way in North America in healthy living and physical fitness

The Ministry supports the government in leading the way in healthy living and physical fitness by facilitating British Columbians' access to and participation in sport, recreation, arts and cultural activities. The Ministry is proud to be leading ActNow BC, a cross ministry initiative in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, to encourage healthy living and physical fitness for all ages. The Ministry also works with the private sector and other orders of government to increase investments in sport and recreation initiatives. In addition, the Ministry manages a system of recreation sites and trails across the province, supporting outdoor activity for British Columbians as well as visitors.

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

The Ministry supports sustainable environmental management of nature-based recreation and tourism, including heli-skiing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, resorts and lodges. Tourism strategies are developed in cooperation with partners and other ministries to ensure the province's natural resources are managed in a way that recognizes the importance of integrating environmental, tourism and recreation values to ensure sustainability.

The Ministry fosters a shared commitment to the stewardship of British Columbia's heritage and archaeological sites through education, local capacity development, work with First Nations, regulation, and provision of accessible information via the Provincial Heritage Register. Encouraging preservation and revitalization of heritage buildings also supports efforts to ensure sustainability.

Cross Ministry Initiatives

ActNow BC

ActNow BC combines cross-government and community-based approaches to promote healthy living choices for British Columbians. The programs and initiatives champion healthy eating, physical activity, ending tobacco use, and healthy choices during pregnancy.

ActNow BC will make healthy living a visible, tangible and increasingly meaningful priority of government for all ministries and all British Columbians.

2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

All provincial ministries, agencies and Crown Corporations have been working together to ensure every available opportunity to develop sustainable economic legacies is explored and pursued so that businesses and communities in British Columbia receive benefit from the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The Ministry is working with partners to support the Games in a variety of ways, including enhancing B.C.'s sport system, working with Tourism BC to develop and implement tourism strategies, and helping to develop B.C.'s artistic capacity and excellence in order to showcase B.C.'s arts, culture, and heritage to the world. These goals are aligned with those of the Spirit of BC Arts Fund, which assists arts and cultural organizations to realize creative projects that contribute to the development of arts and culture in British Columbia. The programs will not only contribute to the success of the Games but will also have broader, long-term benefits.

Asia Pacific Initiative

The British Columbia Asia Pacific Initiative ensures the Province has a coordinated and targeted strategic plan in place that takes full advantage of B.C.'s Pacific Gateway benefits and Asian cultural and language base. The Asia Pacific Initiative defines B.C.'s future role in the Asia Pacific economy and identifies the immediate priority actions that must be taken to further integrate the province into Asian markets.

The Ministry supports the government's work to build closer ties with the Asia Pacific Nations, tapping into Asian investments, conventions, and Asian tourists. Additionally, the Ministry is working to establish the Asia Pacific Museum/Centre of Trade and Culture in Vancouver.

Mountain Pine Beetle

Projections indicate the mountain pine beetle infestation could kill 80 per cent of the pine forest in British Columbia by 2013. Pine forests dominate the interior of B.C., and their loss has significant implications to the forest environment, economy and the communities that depend on those forests for sustainability. The B.C. Government, through coordination by the Ministry of Forests and Range and the Provincial Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan, is working across a number of ministries to minimize and mitigate negative environmental and socio-economic impacts of the infestation, while recovering the greatest value and protecting public health, safety and infrastructure.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development and other partners, the Ministry will assist communities affected by the mountain pine beetle infestation to make the transition to a more diverse, creative economic base. This will be achieved through enhanced arts, cultural, heritage, sport and tourism opportunities. With regard to the Ministry's responsibilities for forest recreation sites and trails, the Ministry works in collaboration with the Ministry of Forests and Range to remove hazardous trees in forest recreation sites, and to reforest those sites impacted by the mountain pine beetle epidemic.

Regulatory Reform

British Columbia continues to make regulatory reform a priority across government, making it easier for businesses to operate and succeed in British Columbia, while still preserving regulations that protect public health, safety and the environment. A citizen-centred approach to regulatory reform will reduce the number of steps it takes to comply with government requirements or access government programs and services.

The Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts supports government's Regulatory Reform Initiative through its commitment to control regulatory burden and improve regulatory quality. The Ministry does this by ensuring that any proposed regulatory requirements are assessed against the government-wide goal to maintain a zero net increase in regulatory requirements through 2008/09.

The Ministry recognizes that regulatory reform extends beyond deregulation. It works on an ongoing basis to identify policies and processes that are seen as hindering business sustainability or growth. Current opportunities for reform include streamlining, modernizing, consolidating and revising existing land use program policies and procedures for Adventure Tourism/Commercial Recreation, All Seasons Resorts, and public recreation.

Citizen-Centred Service Delivery

Citizen-centred service delivery is a government-wide initiative to coordinate information, programs and services so that they can be presented to citizens in a way that takes their needs into account from beginning to end. The vision is to make it possible for citizens to access the government information and services they need in a simple and timely manner with a phone call, a mouse click or a visit to a service centre, no matter how many programs or ministries are involved in their request.

The Ministry continues to work with Front Counter BC to improve the application process and turnaround time for adventure tourism and resort development applications. This one-window approach to service delivery provides services that are more accessible, easier to deal with, and more responsive to clients' needs. Front Counter BC supports the Ministry in the initial processing of land tenures and timber harvesting applications as they relate to resort development on Crown land.

Overview of the Information Resource Management Plan

An overview of the Ministry's Information Resource Management Plan can be found at: http://www.tsa.gov.bc.ca/serviceplan/irmp.pdf.

Performance Plan

The following plan includes the Ministry's goals, objectives, strategies, key performance measures, and targets. It is designed to show what the Ministry is planning to accomplish, its strategies for achieving those outcomes, and how it will measure its progress.

Performance Plan Summary

At the highest level, the Ministry works to build the tourism sector to maximize its social and economic benefits to B.C. citizens across the province. Success will depend on federal, provincial and local governments aligning their efforts with industry and other stakeholder groups to ensure that British Columbia is competitive as a preferred destination for tourists, cruise ships, world sporting events, arts and culture, conferences, and other activities. Much of the Ministry's work is targeted toward strengthening the capacity of the tourism sector and encouraging investments in new products, services, and infrastructure that support tourism.

The following objectives and strategies show how the Ministry intends to work with partners to achieve lasting regional and provincial economic and social benefits from tourism.

In 2003, Premier Campbell challenged the tourism industry to double its tourism revenues from $9 billion to $18 billion by 2015. This is an ambitious target, as historically the provincial tourism economy has never grown this quickly over any previous ten-year period. It will take investments in every region of the province by the private and public sectors, contributions from regulators, as well as astute domestic, national and international marketing to realize this objective. Tourism marketing is the responsibility of Tourism BC, which implements initiatives to promote the province in order to increase tourism activities and investment.

• Lead implementation of the Tourism Action Plan, a cross government and industry plan to work together to enable the tourism industry to double tourism revenues by 2015.
  For many years, the diverse businesses that make up the tourism sector have been seeking better coordination between government agencies. One of the keys to doubling tourism revenues is determining how government-controlled assets, such as highways and parks, can better be used to expand tourism. Additionally, addressing impediments to growth from a cross-government policy and program perspective is critical. The Tourism Action Plan identifies a number of actions to address these challenges including:
1. Increasing First Nations' investment and participation in tourism and outdoor recreation sectors;
2. Ensuring new resorts are approved and developed in an expedited manner;
3. Working with the federal government to pursue enhanced flight access provisions for B.C. via the recently announced "Blue Sky" policy initiative;
4. Increasing the number of tourism workers from other countries, as well as from other Canadian regions, through the Province's WorkBC initiative and by working with the federal government; and
5. Leveraging the tourism benefits of hosting the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games by clearly identifying specific roles and accountabilities of the Olympic Games Secretariat and Tourism BC to avoid inefficiencies and duplication of effort.

• Establish partnerships with local and federal governments, industry, First Nations, and others to enhance tourism opportunities.
  To realize the benefits of industry growth and development leading up to and beyond the 2010 Games, the Ministry will be leading efforts to strengthen linkages within the tourism sector, and to enhance the relationship between government and this sector, through on-going consultation with diverse stakeholders such as regional Destination Marketing Organizations, Tourism BC, and Aboriginal Tourism BC.
  The Ministry is assisting First Nations with their tourism and resort development plans through access to land tenure for their tourism projects. The Ministry is also actively consulting with First Nations and developing accommodation arrangements with them in relation to resort development. This includes working with the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation on an accommodation framework strategy to guide accommodation and benefit-sharing agreements.
  The Ministry will also continue to influence the federal government on issues it controls that directly affect tourism, such as border security, air access, heritage, and immigration.
• Develop capacity to better research and assess the impacts of emerging and expanding tourism sectors.
  To support dramatic growth in tourism revenues, investments in the tourism sector need to be made wisely, based on sound information about impacts as well as current and future trends. The Ministry and Tourism BC will work together to establish a common, reliable information source, including regional data, to help guide tourism policy and programs, and investment decisions. Government, marketing agencies, industry, First Nations and smaller businesses will all benefit from improved knowledge about the tourism sector.
• Promote or lead development of new or emerging tourism and outdoor recreation opportunities and markets.
  British Columbia is geographically diverse and there are many opportunities to attract more tourists to different areas of the province with the development of emerging tourism and recreation opportunities. Tourism BC and the Ministry will nurture emerging sectors by helping them coordinate amongst themselves so that they can take advantage of Tourism BC's sector marketing programs. Tourism BC is well-positioned to maximize government's return on its tourism marketing investments by placing a priority on emerging tourism markets (such as China and South Korea), high yield markets (such as the USA, UK, and Australia) and high volume domestic markets. The Ministry will also support the work of other ministries on emerging tourism sectors such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Land's agri-tourism initiatives.

The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (2010 Games) present an unparalleled opportunity to generate lasting social and economic benefits for British Columbians. The Ministry will provide leadership to ensure that industry, government, and communities plan strategically to take full advantage of new opportunities (for example, being prepared to showcase the province to the world in 2010, and ensuring that sporting events are complemented by an array of arts, culture, heritage and recreational opportunities).

• Develop initiatives to enhance and broaden the economic impact of hosting the 2010 Games in the tourism, arts, culture, and sport sectors.
  British Columbia's economy and society boomed after Expo '86 because of work that was done to promote B.C. to the world. The Province hopes to replicate and improve upon that success in 2010. The Ministry will work with partners to maximize exposure and ensure quality visitor experiences. The Spirit of BC Arts Fund is continuing to give artists new opportunities to create and publicly display original works.
• Initiate and direct an inter-provincial working group to define how Canada will present itself to the world through the Cultural Olympiad.
  The 2010 Games belong not only to British Columbia but also to Canada. Working in partnership with a Federal-Provincial-Territorial working group, established in October 2006, the Ministry will enlist and coordinate the efforts of all provinces and territories to achieve a dynamic and nationally inclusive Cultural Olympiad.
• Partner with the Vancouver Organizing Committee to support communities across the province to participate in cultural events related to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
  There is considerable expectation in the cultural community that B.C. arts and cultural organizations will be central to Olympic programming. Targeted distribution of earnings of the Olympic Arts Fund through the Spirit of BC Arts Fund programs, in partnership with other public and private sector arts funding agencies, will enable the province's arts community to create new work and enhance the quality of production to a standard that will attract international audiences.

Percentage increase in annual Overnight Tourism Revenues.

Annual Overnight Tourism Revenues refers to the gross revenue resulting from all spending by overnight visitors to B.C. during a year.⁵ It is one of the most reliable indicators of overall tourism activity in British Columbia, supporting the Ministry's goal of ensuring lasting provincial economic and social benefits from tourism. The targets presented are year-over-year increases.

As part of its goal to help deliver lasting economic and social benefits to British Columbians through the development of the tourism industry, the Ministry works to respond to and optimize land-based business opportunities. In concert with other ministries, agencies, local governments, First Nations, resort operators, and new investors, the Ministry facilitates the expansion of B.C.'s resort sector.

• Facilitate access to Crown land resources through licensing and tenure, and continue enhancement of resources for all season resorts, adventure tourism, and outdoor recreation programs.
  The Ministry works to ensure sufficient and accessible land inventory, and works with its partners to improve the responsiveness of decision-making processes related to land investment activities. This work includes actively consulting with First Nations and local governments. The Ministry's Resort Development Branch, based in Kamloops, administers the existing portfolio of major resorts on Crown land, and reviews and approves expansions and new resort proposals. It provides timely and continued access to Crown land through tenure and sales, and promotes responsible and sustainable economic development.
• Complete implementation of the BC Resort Strategy and Action Plan.
  The Ministry is leading the BC Resort Strategy and Action Plan, including initiatives such as developing the Best Practices Guide for Resort Development, and a resort approval process that harmonizes provincial and local government review processes. This integrated tourism and resort policy framework encourages commercial and nature-based investment by enhancing tenure security and business certainty. Next steps are the completion and implementation of the First Nations Accommodation/Economic Benefits Framework for Resort Development, in concert with the Ministry of Aboriginal Relationships and Reconciliation, and implementation of the Resort Timber Administration Act.
• Sustain local partnerships to maintain outdoor recreation infrastructure, such as recreation campsites and trail networks. In addition, upgrade targeted campgrounds and trails to attract new local partnerships.
  Partnerships are an effective means of ensuring world-class recreation opportunities are available on Crown lands outside of parks and settled areas. Local partnerships are designed to maintain safe, sanitary, socially acceptable and environmentally sound recreation sites and trails for the public. Improved campgrounds and trails facilitate the attraction of maintenance partners.

Number of resort development approvals.

Resort development approvals can take several forms.

A Master Development Agreement is a long-term major resort development agreement which provides for the phased sale of Crown land, upon completion of corresponding recreation improvements by the resort operator, to ensure the resort maximizes its potential in accordance with the approved Resort Master Plan.

An Operating Agreement is a long-term agreement between the Crown and a resort operator which provides the operator with the right to operate a ski resort on Crown land but does not contemplate any significant sale or development of base lands.

Other resort development approvals include fee simple land sales for golf resort developments and tenures for major marina operations.

As of December 31, 2006, the province had 15 Master Development Agreements and 11 Operating Agreements.

The Ministry will work with a broad array of stakeholders to ensure that the sport, recreation, arts, culture, heritage, archaeology, and film sectors make strong contributions to the well-being of British Columbians, both socially and economically. As well, volunteerism will be supported, as it is a vital component of the sport, arts, culture, and heritage sectors.

The Ministry will continue to facilitate and support broad community and individual participation in sport and recreation, and the ethical pursuit of sport excellence. Government's investments in the sport system — particularly with respect to major sport event hosting — generate economic benefits and tax revenues that are re-invested in health, education and social programs. The Ministry will monitor the impact of changing demographics, capacity issues of its partner agencies and increased competition on the national and international stage — both in terms of athletic success and event hosting.

• Develop and implement coordinated provincial sport and recreation strategies to support accessibility to sport and recreation programs.
  The Ministry's support to provincial multi-sport and recreation agencies helps provide participation opportunities to the more than 860,000 members of provincial sport organizations, 60,000 participants in BC's Family of Games and zone competitions, and the 6.6 million annual registrants in community recreation programs. Ministry funding helps sustain this active population. Additional resources and initiatives such as the Sport Participation program, SportsFunder, SportSafe, Aboriginal Sport Excellence, and Aboriginal Youth FIRST will help provide more opportunities to participate and strengthen B.C. communities' capacity to service populations traditionally under-represented in sport and recreation.
• Provide British Columbians with the opportunity to excel in sports.
  Improving athletic performance is a direct result of sustaining support to provincial and multi-sport organizations (such as PacificSport, the Coaches Association of BC, and Sport BC) so that they can continue to provide high quality programs and services to B.C. athletes. The Ministry supports improved performance through the B.C. Athlete Assistance Program and by directing other resources (for example, the Sport Participation and Aboriginal Excellence bilateral agreement with Sport Canada, BC Lottery Corporation's SportsFunder and government's investments in event hosting and 2010 Legacies Now). These investments not only support athletic excellence, but they provide resources to grassroots sport organizations to allow British Columbians at all ages and skill levels to participate.
• Support innovative partnerships that enable the development of new sport and recreation investments and initiatives.
  The Ministry will: develop and maintain effective intra- and inter-governmental relations, as well as non-government partnerships, in order to bring new resources to sport and recreation; ensure the interests of sport and recreation in B.C. are well-represented in other areas of government; and use the benefits of sport and recreation to help achieve government's priorities with respect to economic development, and positive social, health and education outcomes.
• Support local organizers to pursue and stage international sporting events.
  The Ministry will work with partners such as Tourism BC, the 2010 Legacies Now Society, B.C. communities and provincial sport organizations to take full advantage of opportunities to showcase British Columbia to the world. Planned major sporting events include: the 2007 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Under-20 World Cup, the 2007 BMX World Championships, the 2008 North American Indigenous Games, the 2009 World Police and Fire Games, and a score of international and national events across the province. As well, with the world's eyes on British Columbia during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the Ministry will continue its efforts to market the province as a Sport Event Hosting Destination, and will actively pursue and support these business opportunities.

Per cent of B.C. athletes on national teams (summer and winter games).

Over the past three years, the number of B.C. athletes on Canada's national teams has increased significantly. Most notably, due to B.C.'s recent increased investment in winter sport (through PacificSport), the percentage of athletes on winter national teams in 2005/06 increased by 10 per cent alone. With 13 per cent of Canada's population, B.C. athletes now comprise 25 per cent of Canada's summer and winter national teams. Our goal is to continue to meet or exceed this benchmark as this measure is an indicator of the strength of British Columbia's sport development system, increasing the likelihood of sustained international success.

It will be challenging not only to maintain our disproportionate numbers on the national teams, but to meet the target of increasing our numbers slightly by 2010. Nevertheless, we have set a target of 27 per cent of the national teams by 2010, more than double British Columbia's proportionate share.

Economic impact (benefit) of national and international sport event hosting.

This measure is an indicator of the degree to which government investments in major sporting events are leveraged by contributions from the private sector, other funders, and event revenues. It is calculated by comparing the level of government investment with the incremental provincial tax revenue generated by the event.

The demographic and cultural composition of the province continues to change dramatically. This has enriched the province and provided us with opportunities to experience the arts and traditions of many diverse cultures. Ensuring access to this diversity of cultural expression is a challenge for both the province and for the cultural sector.

Investments in infrastructure and organizational capacity enable organizations to maintain and enhance their many programs, products, and services. Provincial contributions frequently lever additional resources from other governments, private donors, and the sale of products and services by these organizations.

• Provide support to the BC Arts Council's diverse range of programs and activities which provide:
• Arts awards for individual projects;
• Community arts development awards;
• Professional arts development awards; and
• Funding for planning and development of arts organizations.
  The BC Arts Council is recognized as a leading and independent institution that supports arts and cultural development throughout the province. The BC Arts Council delivers programs that support creation, development, production and distribution in all artistic disciplines and are inclusive of the geographic and ethnic diversity of the province.
• In consultation with key stakeholders, develop a long-range arts and culture strategy.
  The summary report of the Ministry-sponsored Arts and Culture Summit held in April 2006 is currently being evaluated by a committee of key community stakeholders. A follow-up document, currently being prepared, will propose the component elements and composition of a long-term development strategy for the province's arts and cultural resources.
  One element of that strategy will be support for the long-term sustainability of the sector. The arts and cultural sector has traditionally been dependent on the public sector. In establishing the BC Arts Renaissance Fund in 2005, in partnership with the Vancouver Foundation, the Province challenged the private sector to make a significant contribution to the sector's sustainability. The Arts Renaissance Fund provides funding to match private contributions to permanent endowments, the earnings of which provide operational support to arts and cultural organizations throughout the province.
  As well, the Ministry will lead ongoing analysis of the capital infrastructure needs of the arts and cultural sector in communities throughout the province and, working with partners, develop long-term strategies to address those needs.
• Oversee the development of an Aboriginal Art Gallery, Women's History Museum, and the Asia Pacific Museum/Centre of Trade and Culture.
  In the February 2006 Speech from the Throne, the province committed to support the development of an Aboriginal Art Gallery, an Asia Pacific Museum of Trade and Culture, and a Women's History Museum. In addition to illustrating the province's commitment to being inclusive of the diversity of our population, these initiatives, when fully operational, have the potential to become global destinations and make a significant contribution to the Province's objectives with regard to tourism development.
  The Ministry will support the continued development of a vision for an Aboriginal Art Gallery in consultation with a focused group of Aboriginal stakeholders. The goal is to have elements of this initiative ready for showcasing in 2010.
  The development of an Asia Pacific Museum/Centre of Trade and Culture supports the Asia Pacific Initiative. The Ministry will continue this significant initiative in the coming year through research into potential programming of the proposed Museum and the development of a long-term capital infrastructure strategy.
  Initiating development of the Women's History Museum illustrates the Province's commitment to social equality and recognition of individual contributions to human and societal progress. Initial proposals for feasibility and development studies, planned for 2008/2009, will be completed by the Royal BC Museum.

Percentage of B.C.'s 25 major cultural organizations that maintain or improve their net financial position.

This measure is intended as an indicator of the health of the sector as a whole. The measure reflects the financial stability of arts and cultural organizations in the province. Each year, 25 major cultural organizations are reviewed. The net financial position of each organization is compared to the previous year's net financial position, and the percentage that has maintained or improved is calculated. For example, if only five of the 25 cultural organizations maintained or improved their financial position, the performance measure would be 20 per cent.

Value of arts endowments established through deployment of the BC Arts Renaissance Fund.

This measure is an indicator of the private and public support for arts and culture programs and products, and the sustainability of arts organizations. It also reflects the degree to which government investments are leveraged. The BC Arts Renaissance Fund is a grant of $25 million established by the Province. It is a depleting endowment program designed to assist the province's non-profit arts and culture organizations to build permanent endowment funds by providing matching grants.

Growth in British Columbia's film and television industry has been remarkable. From a base of just four productions and $12 million in 1978, the industry has grown to 211 productions with expenditures of $1.2 billion in 2005. In addition, expenditures of $100 million on commercial productions were made. The economic impact of the production industry in British Columbia is significant.

• Through the BC Film Society, support the development of British Columbia's production expertise and the growth of British Columbia's domestic motion picture industry.
  The Ministry funds the BC Film Society to sustain and grow a competitive domestic film and television industry in British Columbia. The BC Film Society also supports the marketing and sale of BC productions in the global marketplace and administers tax credit programs (domestic and service) on behalf of the Province. These tax incentives have been renewed until 2008.
  Supporting the development of B.C.'s production expertise and the growth of B.C.'s domestic motion picture industry will increase the volume of B.C. owned and controlled entertainment product over the long term, and help to build a more stable production industry in British Columbia.
• Through the Ministry's BC Film Commission branch, showcase British Columbia as a world-class motion picture production centre that delivers service excellence and marketing.
  The BC Film Commission brings business and investment to the province through strategic marketing and by providing project-driven customer service. By marketing B.C.'s locations, skilled labour and industry capabilities to domestic and international producers and delivering high quality, customer-centred production services and support, the BC Film Commission expands the level of film and television activity in the province, attracts foreign investment and increases employment opportunities for British Columbians.
• Develop a new long-range strategy to support the development of New Media.
  The Ministry will be incorporating New Media opportunities and considerations into the Provincial Arts and Culture Strategy. New Media is an aspect of the arts and culture sector that is growing quickly.

Value of annual motion picture production expenditures in British Columbia.

From past years' production expenditure results, the BC Film Commission has established $1 billion as a target to be met or exceeded each year.

BC2008 will build collective pride in, and understanding of, the contributions that British Columbians and their ancestors have made in shaping the province, and instill a sense of identity and optimism for a positive and progressive future. With the aim of creating legacies that inspire all generations and cultures to focus on the future of the province, this partnership-based program will work to engage individuals and communities across the province.

• Affiliate with events across the province to raise the awareness of British Columbia's 150th anniversary as a Crown colony.

• The Ministry will facilitate the delivery of initiatives across the province, including:
• Heritage projects, which include activities and events that will enable British Columbians to better understand their history and the people, events and places that have shaped the province.
• Communities' projects, which include activities and events that celebrate 150 years of history and reflect a commitment to local planning and delivery. British Columbia history was written locally and will be celebrated locally.
• Multiculturalism projects, which include activities and events that highlight immigrants throughout the sesquicentennial, contribute to the elimination of racism, and value and celebrate cultural diversity.
• First Nations projects, which include activities and events that profile Aboriginal history, culture and tradition and contribute to greater understanding and a new relationship between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals.
• Arts and Culture projects, which include activities and events that describe British Columbia's sesquicentennial through art and culture including performance, music, essays, film and other forms of cultural expression.
• Encourage participation in British Columbia's 2008 celebrations, across generations and cultures, through partnerships.
  Ten major province-wide programs have been identified for the initiative, including: Local Heritage/Museums Program; BC2008 Multicultural Program; Walk for Reconciliation; BC2008 Schools Program; the 2008 North American Indigenous Games; a 2008 Commemorative Book; a web-based Creative Collections program; and a Spirit Train Program featuring the Royal Hudson steam train and rail cars specially designed by the Royal BC Museum. Projects will be delivered by third party service delivery agencies, and will target a broad cross-section of British Columbians from youth to seniors.
• Facilitate the creation of BC2008 Spirit Squares in communities throughout British Columbia.
  BC2008 Spirit Squares will be the primary legacy of BC2008. The Spirit Squares program will facilitate the creation of outdoor, accessible public celebration spaces in communities across B.C. The location of Spirit Squares is flexible within communities and will feature various components such as: a gazebo, staging, podiums, large screens, seating, murals or other permanent commemorative markers as distinguishing characteristics. Spirit Squares will become a focal point for community-based celebrations. The sites themselves will be designed and assembled locally, and while unified across the province with BC2008 branding, will enjoy enough built-in flexibility of design to allow each community to leave its own cultural and historic mark.

Percentage of municipalities where BC2008 affiliated events are staged.

For communities across British Columbia, volunteerism is one of the most valuable resources — accounting for an estimated $5.2 billion⁶ in unpaid labour annually to support social services, health, education, sport and recreation, and culture and art sectors. An engaged, skilled network of volunteers can make lasting contributions not only in their communities, but in their personal and work life as these skills can be and are often transferred to other areas.

A strong and vital volunteer force is one of the important legacies that result from hosting major events and festivals. In the next decade, there are many sport and cultural events which will depend on large numbers of volunteers, including the 2008 North American Indigenous Games, 2009 World Police and Fire Games and the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. As well, events such as the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, BC2008, the BC Family of Games and the countless cultural events, arts festivals and sport tournaments and events all depend on volunteers.

• Support volunteer leadership and initiatives to build sustainable capacity in the volunteer sector and to recognize the valuable and important contributions of volunteers.
  Volunteer burn-out, succession in leadership and declining rates of volunteerism will continue to challenge the non-profit sector in British Columbia in the coming years. The Ministry will work with volunteer leadership agencies, such as Volunteer BC, to address capacity issues in the sector.
• Utilize the many large-scale sport and cultural events being hosted in British Columbia to engage communities in developing their volunteer capacity.
  Most large-scale events draw on the volunteer expertise and experience from sport and cultural groups. Conversely, the increased skill and experience associated with organizing and delivering large-scale events leave valuable legacies not just for the sport and cultural sector, but for the host community at large.
  Through supporting major sport and cultural events, the Ministry will help to transfer knowledge amongst event organizers and will provide communities with the opportunities to benefit from skilled volunteers during the event and for years to come.

British Columbians in general are among the healthiest people in the world and the most physically active across the country. We want to support the excellent health status of the majority of our citizens while also putting a greater focus on those in British Columbia who are at risk of diminishing health from factors such as obesity and physical inactivity. Not only does increased physical activity provide physical and social benefits, but it contributes to the sustainability of the health care system.⁷

Providing British Columbians and their communities with resources and self care tools can empower individuals to stay healthy and active. With our close partnership with the sport and recreation delivery system, this Ministry is well-positioned to support ActNow BC physical activity objectives. But as the inactive population is not always engaged by organized sport and recreation opportunities, a greater emphasis on promoting "environmental" support for active participation (such as walkable communities, green spaces, trailways, and workplace health) requires support across government. This Ministry will continue to work with other Ministries to engender environments that support and promote physical activity.

• Lead the programs⁸ of ActNow BC which contribute to increased physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices, particularly for at-risk populations.

• The ActNow BC platform focuses on common risk factors and provides an integrated approach. It also provides a framework for strategic investment by government and the ActNow BC partners. By 2010, ActNow BC's objectives are to have a population of British Columbians that:
• Eats healthier;
• Becomes more physically active;
• Maintains a healthy weight;
• Reduces, quits or avoids tobacco use; and
• Makes healthy choices in pregnancy.
• Collaborate with the Ministries of Health and Education, and other ministries and health partners, to reach the core goals of ActNow BC.
  What makes ActNow BC unique is that it broadens the focus of responsibility for the promotion of health and fitness beyond the health care system. ActNow BC is a cross government initiative involving all ministries of government. This approach ensures that, as much as possible, all business of the provincial government harmonizes and cooperates to create constructive policies and programs that support and promote the creation of healthier British Columbians. In addition, the ActNow BC platform builds connections with the private sector through sponsoring the work of high profile ActNow BC events.

• Foster exposure to recreation, physical activity and sport for youth.
  The Ministry is supporting efforts to give children and youth opportunities to participate in sport and recreation, through support to provincial sport organizations, the BC Recreation and Parks Association, BC School Sports, Premier's Sport Awards, and the Sport Participation Initiative, as well as directing SportsFunder funding to KidSport. The Ministry will work to develop better linkages amongst sport, recreation, school and community resources in order to leverage greater exposure to sport and recreation.
• Support Aboriginal participation and physical activity.
  Through the Aboriginal Youth FIRST initiative, Sport Participation Program, and directed SportsFunder funding, the Ministry is investing in Aboriginal youth and programs that help remove barriers to participation in sport and recreation.

Percentage of British Columbians who are physically active enough to derive health benefits.

Being physically active is an important indicator of participation, and a critical contributor to personal fitness and health. The federal, provincial and territorial sport ministers have set a target to increase Canada's physical activity levels by 10 per cent by 2010; British Columbia is building on this national target by setting a target to increase the proportion of physically active British Columbians by 20 per cent by 2010 (from 58 per cent to 70 per cent). The measure is derived from the bi-annual Canadian Community Health Survey of all provinces.⁹

The Ministry's work to enhance economic and social sustainability through tourism, sport and the arts also requires responsible stewardship of the province's recreational resources, heritage places and buildings, and archaeological sites. This is accomplished in two ways. The first is through enhanced appreciation and commitment to sustainability and stewardship by private and public partners, local governments, First Nations, and the community at large. The second is through implementing policies and strategies that protect and maintain B.C.'s unique resources. These activities help to ensure a balance between protecting sensitive assets and enabling responsible development.

This objective is based on the premise that sustainability is a shared responsibility. Sustainable practices are fundamental and integral to the longevity of outdoor recreation resources and continued environmental, social, and economic stability of communities and the province. Local governments, community organizations, industry, and individuals all play a role in protecting the environment. The Ministry contributes to natural resource stewardship by working with other ministries and partners to ensure that environmental and social values are fully considered when making resource management decisions for tourism, resort, and recreation development opportunities.

• Apply sustainable environmental practices and procedures when approving adventure and nature-based tourism, recreation and resort development projects.
  Sustainable practices are fundamental and integral to the longevity of outdoor recreation resources and continued environmental, social and economic stability of communities and the province. Success in this area hinges on the support of agencies, First Nations, local governments, and other stakeholders.
• Develop provincial policies and procedures that will ensure tourism and recreation interests are reflected in land and resource planning.
  There is an increased awareness of the relationship between tourism and outdoor recreation. Policy development integrates the commonalities and supports linkages. The interests of the two areas are presently being addressed through the Integrated Policy Framework for Adventure Tourism, All Seasons Resorts and Public Recreation.
• In partnership with recreation groups, community organizations, First Nations, forest companies, regional districts, users and others, effectively manage and maintain the provincial system of forest recreation sites and trails.
  Effective management ensures a network of sites and trails that are safe, enjoyable and environmentally sustainable. Partnerships are essential in the Ministry's work to protect present and future recreation values on Crown lands outside of parks and settled areas, and to enhance public enjoyment through the management of road and trail access, and recreation facilities. New funding has been committed, to increase the number of recreation sites and trails that are regularly maintained.

Percentage of recreation sites receiving regular maintenance.

This measure reflects the degree of Ministry success in working with partners to ensure the maintenance of forest recreation parks. Routine maintenance consists of annual inspection and servicing. When sites are maintained to adequate standards, visitors have safe and positive experiences, and valuable provincial assets are protected.

The Province has a major funding role in heritage resource protection for publicly owned resources and a major regulatory and support role for others. Archaeological sites and historic sites provide a wealth of knowledge about our heritage, and a fragile link to our origins and the nature of our early history, both pre- and post-European demonstrated contact. If we fail to protect these sites, we lose their cultural and historic value forever.

By eliminating or minimizing damaging activities within these sites, the Province will evidence effective stewardship of this non-renewable resource. By allowing controlled activities to occur through the use of permits in these areas, the Province is undertaking responsible resource management.

For archaeological resources, the Ministry has some control in achieving this objective as sites are protected by law with penalties for incidents where evidence proves that legislation has been purposefully breached. The degree of effective stewardship attained depends upon education and awareness of the importance of this resource, as well as the ability to engage in land use planning processes to allow for the early identification and moderation of potential impacts.

With respect to heritage sites, the degree of control for achieving the objective is greater for publicly owned historic resources, but the responsibility is higher in terms of providing the required resources to meet the objective.

• Provide training and resources to community partners for heritage conservation.
  Given that heritage conservation activities are almost exclusively delivered by community partners, training and funding are two essential methods of achieving the Ministry's goals and objectives. Community-based training and funding support are essential, in partnership with the Province's direct contributions, to achieving this objective.
• Partner with other levels of government to foster heritage building rehabilitation and heritage district revitalization.
  The conservation of built heritage resources that are not owned by the Province is managed by local governments within their jurisdictions through the Local Government Act, and jointly with the Government of Canada through the Historic Places Initiative. Cooperative and coordinated efforts between various levels of government have the potential for more cost effective program delivery.
  Legislative authority by local governments, and funding and organizational support from the federal government are used in support of the objective of effective conservation of privately owned historic resources located within communities.
  The role of partners (i.e., other governments and property owners) is essential to this strategy. The Province influences their activities through resources provided for built heritage conservation.
• Increase public awareness of the value of the continued conservation of archaeological resources.
  The most effective protection mechanism is public awareness and appreciation of the value of this resource. When the public is knowledgeable of what these sites represent and how they can be protected, then they are willing to participate in the process.
  It is imperative to have local governments participating in this effort, as they have the most direct involvement with land development processes dealing with private properties. Local governments can act as an early alert in situations where proposed developments may impact these sites. The widespread participation of local governments will be an important component of successfully implementing this strategy.

Percentage increase in the number of local governments using the Remote Access to Archaeological Data system to review land development applications.