Ministry Role and Services

Ministry Overview

The portfolio of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General includes law enforcement, corrections, crime prevention, victim services, liquor and gaming regulation, liquor distribution⁴, consumer protection, driver safety, and emergency response and recovery.

Five main core business areas within the ministry work together to fulfil the public safety mandate; these are described in detail in the section entitled Ministry Structure and Core Business Areas.

Corrections protects communities through the safe custody and reintegration of adult offenders serving provincial terms of custody, community sentences, or on conditional release, as well as accused persons remanded into custody or released on bail supervision.

Policing and Community Safety superintends law enforcement in the province, provides victims of crime with services and benefits, assists communities with crime prevention, regulates the private security industry, and provides other protective programs, emergency preparedness, response and recovery, and coroners services.

Compliance and Consumer Services provides consumer protection, residential tenancy services and film classification, administers programs related to driver fitness and dangerous drivers, and monitors commercial vehicle industry carriers and professional drivers.

Gaming Policy and Enforcement develops and manages gaming policy and legislation, standards, regulation, licensing, auditing, registration, distribution of gaming proceeds, enforcement for all gaming sectors, and the province's Problem Gambling Program.

Liquor Control and Licensing regulates the manufacture and resale of liquor in licensed establishments in the province in order to improve the safety of communities by reducing harm caused by alcohol misuse.

Ministry Vision, Mission and Values

Vision

People are safe at home and in their communities.⁵

Mission

To ensure the security and economic vitality of communities through effective policing, corrections, liquor and gaming control, and other protective and regulatory programs

Values

The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General shares with all government organizations a commitment to affordability, efficiency, accountability, innovation and reform, and a healthy, supportive workplace. In addition, the ministry strives to deliver its unique services in accordance with these values:

• Respect for the law
• Integration of services
• Community participation
• Risk management
• Self-regulation
• Balance of consumer protection with economic vitality

Ministry Operating Context

Factors Affecting Ministry Service Delivery in 2003/04

Changes in Crime Rate and Nature of Crime

After a decade of declining crime rates, they have begun to climb since 2000 and may continue to do so in the foreseeable future. This is a phenomenon that is being recorded around the western industrialized world and for which there is no single explanation. Crime rates are affected by a number of factors, including changes in the economy and demographic shifts. Preliminary data suggest that the personal and property crime rate in British Columbia in 2003 will be 80.91 incidents per 1,000 population, an increase of over five per cent from 2002.⁶

The nature of crime is also changing. Organized crime is increasingly crossing community, provincial and national boundaries, and expanding into all forms of criminal activity, including human smuggling, prostitution, sexual exploitation of children, gang activity, drug trafficking, theft, fraud and illegal gambling. Police and prosecutors are also seeing new types of crimes, such as Internet luring, identity theft and Internet fraud.

In addition, the number of large-scale investigations in British Columbia is growing and consuming increasingly larger proportions of available resources.

The ministry is responding to increasing demands on the justice system by continuing to seek innovative ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of policing, and by continuing to implement new crime-fighting technology to enhance officer and public safety and improve law enforcement across the province.

Increasing Demands for Victim Services

Along with increased recognition that victims require a range of supports and services as they participate in the justice system, there has been increased public demand for coordinated and comprehensive victim services. Victims continue to seek greater protection and more acknowledgment of their needs from the criminal justice system.

Changes to eligibility criteria and the restructuring of benefits available under the Crime Victim Assistance Act expanded the number of eligible applicants under the legislation in 2003/04, resulting in a backlog of claims awaiting adjudication. In response, new business processes, supported by a new computer system, were introduced to eliminate the backlog and minimize adjudication timelines.

In addition, the missing women case in the Lower Mainland resulted in an increased demand for specialized services and the development of a coordinated, inter-ministry support network to respond to the needs of surviving family members from across Canada and the United States as the case proceeds through court.

Emergencies and Disasters

As a result of devastating wild land interface fires in the interior of British Columbia, a provincial state of emergency was declared on August 1, 2003, and lasted over six weeks. The impact from these fires resulted in more than 45,000 people being evacuated, and destruction of 334 homes and 10 businesses. Three pilots lost their lives in the line of duty. At the height of the emergency, 11 evacuation reception centres were opened to provide short-term assistance to evacuees. Cumulatively, over 27,000 people registered through these centres. Extensive damage also occurred to communications networks, power lines and other infrastructure, as well as the Myra Canyon railway trestles. Fire risk across the province continued to be high into mid-September 2003.

Local states of emergency were declared in October 2003 as record flooding affected the southwest parts of the province. Over 1,200 people were evacuated from 9 communities as a series of record rainfalls occurred. Extensive damage to homes, roads and infrastructure occurred throughout the southwest region and on Vancouver Island.

The province was also impacted by significant drought and water shortages in some areas throughout the summer of 2003. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), West Nile Virus and terrorism issues also demanded the attention of provincial emergency managers.

The province and local governments responded to the challenge. Many municipalities and regional districts came to the assistance of affected communities by providing resources and people to support emergency response activities. In support of local government, thousands of public safety volunteers responded through multiple agencies under the emergency social services umbrella. Volunteer emergency program responders from the five Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) Public Safety Lifeline programs logged over 100,000 hours supporting their neighbours and communities in 2003. Hundreds of key people from across government with emergency response training were also deployed to affected areas to manage regional emergency centres on behalf of the province.

Under the B.C. Emergency Response Management System, the integrated emergency management model proved itself in facing the demands of co-ordinating and effectively responding under very difficult circumstances.

The province commissioned a review of the 2003 fire season, led by former Manitoba premier Gary Filmon, to evaluate the overall response to the emergency and make recommendations for improvement in time for the next fire season. The review made 42 recommendations to government which are in the process of being implemented.

Provincial emergency response costs (not including direct wild land firefighting costs) exceeded $87.4 million. In addition to this was the cost for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) which was paid out to homeowners and local governments to cover their eligible losses. DFA is administered by PEP to help disaster victims replace or restore essential items damaged or destroyed in disastrous situations.

Avalanche Safety

The topography of British Columbia makes it prone to avalanches. In spite of this risk, there has been an increase in winter backcountry activities, such as snowmobile riding, snowboarding and skiing. Twenty-four people lost their lives as a result of avalanches in British Columbia in 2002. The government responded by contributing to enhanced public safety through a three-year commitment of $125,000 annually to the Canadian Avalanche Foundation, starting in 2003. This funding allows expansion of snow-safety information coverage to backcountry users, and contributes to building avalanche safety programs that will save lives in British Columbia.

Road Safety

2003/04 was one of the worst years in British Columbia for serious car accidents involving new drivers. New drivers, who make up about seven per cent of the overall driving population, were involved in about 16 per cent of all accidents involving injury or fatality. Novice drivers were also involved in more severe crashes. Following consultations and a review of road safety research and practices in other jurisdictions, the ministry implemented enhancements to its graduated licensing program to give new drivers more time to learn the complex task of driving under the supervision of experienced drivers.

There was also a number of serious dump truck crashes in the Lower Mainland in 2003. Unsafe dump trucks on our roads threaten the safety of other motorists and the public. In response, ministry inspectors began teaming up with police to conduct inspections at roadside sites across the Lower Mainland during a targeted enforcement campaign.

The ministry was also impacted in 2003/04 by revised regulations for commercial vehicle operators. Driver medical examination requirements for commercial vehicle operators were harmonized with the National Safety Code (NSC) guidelines, resulting in a 25 per cent increase in medical examination reports to be reviewed at the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles. The ministry was able to meet this demand as it had received additional resources and planned for the program expansion. Service delivery was not impacted and there were no economic impacts in the road transport sector.

Increasing Public Expectations for Coroners Service

Public expectations regarding the role of the Coroners Service are increasing, particularly with regard to investigations and recommendations related to public health care and related services. These investigations increasingly involve the conduct of public hearings (inquests) and the completion of extensive and far-reaching inquiries that extend well beyond what the agency has done historically.

Demands on the Coroners Service have also increased with the addition of responsibilities relating to the review of children's deaths. There is a growing demand on the Coroners Service for the production of annual reports on these deaths and for the review, study and production of special reports relating to specific areas of risk or concern. A further capacity issue for the Coroners Service is the escalating cost of pathology and toxicology procedures. Fee schedules have remained virtually unchanged for some years while escalating costs have made the procedures progressively more expensive to complete, and have resulted in significantly fewer procedures being completed.

Youth Criminal Justice Act

On April 1, 2003, the federal Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) came into force, replacing the Young Offenders Act (YOA).⁷

One significant feature of the new Act is that it reflects the principle that different kinds of crime should be treated in different ways and, particularly, that non-violent crimes should be treated differently than violent crimes. The Act encourages the use of informal responses to less serious crimes, responses that focus on accountability, involve victims, families and communities, and are often more effective in dealing with less serious crimes than are formal measures, such as custody.

Under the new Act, police are required to consider all options, including informal alternatives to the court process, before laying charges. In response, the Police Services Division developed and distributed training materials to all police officers in the province in 2003/04 to explain new police responsibilities under the new Act. This legislative change also increases demands on the ministry as more communities seek funding for Community Accountability Programs available through the Victim Services and Community Programs Division.

Restructuring of Gaming Grant Programs

The Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch administers two grant programs through which community organizations can access gaming revenue — Direct Access and Affiliation with a Commercial Bingo Hall — and issues gaming event licenses to eligible community organizations for fundraising purposes.

In 2002/03, the branch conducted comprehensive reviews of the three programs to eliminate unnecessary restrictions and requirements, and ensure policies and procedures are appropriate, necessary and clear. Resulting changes were phased in during 2003/04. Of the three programs, Direct Access underwent the most significant restructuring, including a new application process with revised eligibility criteria, guidelines, application forms and  deadlines. The year-round application intake process was also replaced with quarterly intake based on four funding sectors, effectively reducing time to process applications from up to 6 months to between 11 and 12 weeks. This is particularly significant in that applications to the Direct Access program have increased dramatically. In 2003/04, the branch awarded approximately 4,500 grants (totalling $74 million) compared to approximately 2,900 grants (totalling $62.5 million) awarded in the previous fiscal year.

Ministry Structure and Core Business Areas

The five core business areas described in this section contribute separate programs and services that work together to fulfil the ministry's public safety mandate.

Corrections

The Corrections Branch protects communities through appropriate supervision and case management of adult offenders and accused persons. The safe management and control of offenders is based on assessment of their risk to re-offend and need for rehabilitation. Through assessments, the branch determines suitable levels of supervision and programs to promote positive change in offender thinking and behaviour.

To function effectively and to protect the public, the Corrections Branch works closely with the police, the courts, Crown counsel, victim services, Immigration Canada, the B.C. Board of Parole, Correctional Service of Canada, aboriginal justice organizations and community service agencies.

The branch is comprised of two divisions — Adult Custody, and Community Corrections and Corporate Programs.

Adult Custody Division

The Adult Custody Division is responsible for supervision and case management of individuals held for trial or sentenced to jail for less than two years. The division also supervises offenders awaiting transfer to federal prison, federally sentenced offenders transferred to provincial jurisdictions, and individuals detained under the federal Immigration Act. In addition to supervising adult offenders, the division provides a variety of work and core programs aimed at reducing the risk of re-offending and enabling successful reintegration into the community.

Community Corrections and Corporate Programs Division

This division is responsible for all individuals ordered to bail supervision and community sentences, as well as those paroled from a provincial correctional centre. The division also supervises individuals on peace bonds and those subject to alternative measures.⁸

Community Corrections provides a range of core programs for offenders to mitigate the likelihood of re-offending. The division manages contracted programs for Aboriginal programs and relationship violence treatment. Strategic and service delivery planning, research, evaluation, management information, training and technology systems are also under the mandate of this division and collectively ensure that there is cohesive organization and leadership for the branch as a whole.

Policing and Community Safety

Since publication of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Service Plan 2003/2004 to 2005/2006, the Policing and Community Safety Branch has been consolidated into four divisions: Police Services, Victim Services and Community Programs, Provincial Emergency Program, and B.C. Coroners Service.

As part of the ministry's commitment to enhancing public safety, Victim Services and Community Programs have been integrated to enable a more holistic response to crime — from prevention strategies through to supports for victims of crime — and to allow for greater administrative and program efficiencies. Strong partnerships have been established across disciplines to ensure that coordinated and comprehensive services are available throughout the province.

In addition, the former Security Programs Division has been included as a section of Police Services as there are linkages regarding the continuum of public and private policing. Combining the programs allows for more consolidated and coordinated program delivery and policy analysis.

Police Services Division

Police Services Division superintends law enforcement functions in British Columbia, oversees the private security industry and provides protective public safety programs by:

• ensuring adequate and effective levels of policing enforcement throughout British Columbia on behalf of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General;
• developing and administering policing policy and ensuring central oversight of all policing;
• administering the RCMP provincial police force contract, and overseeing the organization of all provincial and municipal RCMP forces;
• supporting the provincial police service and other police agencies, including the Organized Crime Agency of B.C. and the Police Academy at the Justice Institute of B.C.;
• collecting, monitoring, analyzing and reporting on provincial crime and police data;
• conducting inspections and audits for municipal police force services using provincial policing standards;
• licensing and regulating the security industry, including security guards, private investigators and other security industry personnel;
• conducting criminal record checks on individuals who work with children, as defined under the Criminal Records Review Act, and administering a related process for determination of risk; and,
• maintaining the Protection Order Registry.

Victim Services and Community Programs Division

Victim Services and Community Programs Division develops and delivers programs to help British Columbians build and maintain safe communities, and supports victims of crime and their families by:

• providing leadership, advice, training and expertise on victim and community safety issues;
• establishing and maintaining partnerships with organizations, communities and government to ensure coordinated and comprehensive services;
• funding over 150 police-based and community-based victim service programs that provide information, assistance and support to victims of crime;
• funding a 24-hour, provincewide telephone service (VictimLINK 1-800-563-0808) which provides information and referral services to all victims of crime, and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence;
• providing funding to community and youth organizations, local governments, school districts and police departments to support projects that enhance public safety and local crime prevention efforts (Safe Streets and Safe Schools Fund);
• providing operational funding to key community justice and crime prevention organizations to support services to communities throughout British Columbia;
• providing funding to support the development of volunteer-based community accountability programs that embrace the principles of restorative justice;
• enhancing high-risk victim safety by providing safety planning, including notification of offender release information;
• overseeing the Victims of Crime Act, which promotes a fair and accessible justice system for victims of crime;
• administering the Crime Victim Assistance Act and Program, which provides financial benefits and assistance to victims of crime;
• managing the Youth Against Violence Line, an automated phone line (1-800-680-4264) and email link that provide safe, confidential means of preventing and reporting incidents of youth violence or crime or seeking assistance from local police;⁹
• administering the annual Solicitor General Community Safety and Crime Prevention Awards which recognize individuals, groups and programs that have made outstanding contributions to crime prevention and community safety; and,
• on behalf of the Assistant Deputy Minister's Committee on Prostitution and Sexual Exploitation of Youth, providing project funding to assist communities in developing local initiatives to address sexual exploitation of youth and prostitution-related issues.

Provincial Emergency Program

The Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) minimizes the loss of life and economic impact of disasters and emergencies, such as floods, earthquakes, landslides and severe storms by:

• maintaining an integrated response and recovery immediate activation capability for all hazard emergencies and disasters;
• recruiting, training and maintaining a resource pool (TEAMS) of provincial staff experienced in managing emergency operations;
• providing leadership and subject matter expertise in assisting local governments, non-government agencies and families in preparing for and responding to emergencies and disasters;
• managing the provision of Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) for individuals and families, local governments and businesses; and,
• administering the Emergency Program Act and regulations, the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) and five public safety lifeline volunteer services.

B.C. Coroners Service

The Coroners Service is responsible for ensuring that all of the facts leading to and surrounding a death are uncovered and made a matter of public record either through the completion of a Judgement of Inquiry (quasi-judicial report) or the holding of an Inquest (quasi-judicial public hearing). One of the agency's most important responsibilities is the identification and advancement of recommendations to individuals, groups, agencies, and others aimed at prevention of death in the future under similar circumstances. The agency maintains a major database and conducts ongoing surveillance on common causes of death aimed at identifying problems, concerns, trends, etc. When such issues are identified, the agency conducts additional reviews and studies aimed at establishing effective and workable preventative measures.

The Coroners Service is also responsible for conducting reviews of all reportable children's deaths occurring within the province. This requires appropriate liaison with agencies such as the Ministry of Children and Family Development and the Officer for Children and Youth, among others. In addition to an annual report on children's deaths, the Coroners Service is responsible for conducting special reviews on issues affecting the prevention of child death and child safety more broadly.

In completing its responsibilities, the Coroners Service issues warrants authorizing the conduct of autopsies, toxicology testing, and additional procedures, such as microscopy, where they are warranted. Coroners have legislated seizure and inspection powers when and where warranted in order to gather the facts surrounding a death. The agency is also responsible for body removal and transportation. In the event of a mass disaster involving significant loss of life, the agency is responsible for the identification, recovery, examination, and repatriation of human remains, including establishing a temporary morgue facility and connecting with families of the victims.

Compliance and Consumer Services

The ministry's public safety mandate is supported by the Compliance and Consumer Services Branch through the Consumer Services Division, Film Classification Office, Residential Tenancy Office, Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles, and Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Division.

Consumer Services Division

The Consumer Services Division promotes fairness and understanding in the marketplace through a combination of consumer protection and industry regulation. This is accomplished by:

• developing and administering consumer protection legislation;
• regulating key industries or sectors to enhance consumer protection;
• participating with other enforcement agencies in combating consumer fraud and commercial crime;
• providing consumer/business mediation, information and education;
• administering consumer protection boards/funds, trusts and financial instruments; and,
• managing cost recovery and providing restitution to consumers, thereby reducing costs to taxpayers.

Film Classification Office

The Film Classification Office safeguards public interests by regulating the public exhibition, rental and distribution of films, video games and videos in British Columbia. The office is responsible for:

• administering the Motion Picture Act and regulations;
• classifying films into age-appropriate ratings and providing advisories on film content to assist the public in making informed viewing choices;
• assessing adult videos for content that is prohibited under the Motion Picture Act or the Criminal Code of Canada;
• licensing film and video distributors, video retailers, and theatres;
• enforcing the Act and regulations and removing unapproved or prohibited adult videos from the marketplace and taking action to ensure the restricted sale of mature video games;
• assisting the police and Canada Customs in the review of seized adult videos and the prosecution of cases resulting from these investigations; and,
• educating the public on the film classification system through a comprehensive Internet site and school outreach program.

Residential Tenancy Office

The Residential Tenancy Office encourages and actively promotes harmonious relationships by providing landlords and tenants with information and dispute resolution services, including a quasi-judicial arbitration process that is intended to be quick, inexpensive and accessible. The key functions of the office are:

• administering legislation that regulates relationships between residential property landlords and tenants;
• providing intervention, arbitration and arbitration review services to resolve landlord and tenant disputes; and,
• providing information services to landlords and tenants.

Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles

The Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles regulates drivers to help ensure the safe and responsible operation of motor vehicles in British Columbia. The office is responsible for:

• setting licensing policy and monitoring and regulating dangerous and unfit drivers;
• conducting appeals of administrative driving prohibitions and vehicle impoundments;
• conducting hearings and reviews of Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) decisions respecting driver licence sanctions, driver training school and driver trainer licences; and,
• leading and supporting government traffic safety initiatives.

Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Division

The Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Division contributes to the public safety network by:

• enforcing laws and regulations related to commercial vehicle safety and vehicle equipment standards in British Columbia, including provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, Commercial Transport Act, Transport of Dangerous Goods Act, Motor Carrier Act, Highway Act and Motor Fuel Tax Act;
• maintaining and promoting road safety through the implementation and management of the National Safety Code, Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program, Private Vehicle Inspection Program, Commercial Transport Program, Transport of Dangerous Goods Program and Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance; and,
• participating on various national and international government road safety bodies to coordinate and harmonize commercial transport and vehicle equipment and safety standards.

Gaming Policy and Enforcement

The Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch contributes to the ministry's public safety mandate by ensuring a comprehensive legal and policy framework regulating gaming and horse racing in British Columbia, ensuring the integrity of people and equipment involved in the gaming industry, and investigating allegations of wrongdoing relating to gaming.

Policy, Legislation and Standards Division

The Policy, Legislation and Standards Division promotes responsible gambling practices by developing and maintaining a rigorous regulatory environment for gaming and horse racing that balances economic benefits with public safety. The division provides advice regarding the legislation, policies and standards that govern gaming. The division also coordinates administrative review hearings as required and is responsible for delivering the Responsible Gambling Strategy, which includes the Problem Gambling Program.

Licensing and Proceeds Distribution Division

The Licensing and Proceeds Distribution Division issues gaming licences permitting eligible community organizations to hold fundraising events, such as ticket raffles, independent bingo games, wheels of fortune and social occasion casinos. The division also allocates government gaming revenue to eligible community organizations through grants from the Direct Access and Bingo Hall Affiliation programs.

Racing Division

The Racing Division develops and implements policies to regulate horse racing in British Columbia to ensure its integrity, and monitors and enforces the Rules of Thoroughbred and Standardbred Racing. The division oversees all races taking place in the province, monitors the activities of track officials and other employees, ensures the safety and security of race track grounds, and investigates and adjudicates matters arising from race meetings. In addition, the division licenses participants in the horse racing industry.

Registration Division

The Registration Division ensures the integrity of organizations, employees and equipment in the gaming industry by conducting mandatory background checks to determine the suitability of potential employees and service providers, and approving and certifying all gaming equipment. The division also maintains a register of gaming service providers and gaming workers.

Audit and Compliance Division

The Audit and Compliance Division manages a comprehensive audit strategy for commercial gaming, including horse racing, to ensure compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations, policies and directives. The division conducts regular audits of gaming activity in the province, assesses compliance reviews conducted by the B.C. Lottery Corporation and reviews community organizations' use of funds received through gaming licences and through the Direct Access and Bingo Hall Affiliation grant programs.

Investigation Division

This division investigates all complaints and allegations of criminal or regulatory wrongdoing relating to gaming and horse racing in British Columbia, and is responsible for the province's Illegal Gambling Strategy. This strategy includes a team of branch investigators and RCMP officers who work with other law enforcement agencies on gaming-related investigations. All investigators in this division are special provincial constables.

Liquor Control and Licensing

The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch regulates the manufacture of liquor and the resale of liquor in licensed establishments in order to improve public safety by reducing liquor misuse.

Licensing and Local Government Liaison Division

The Licensing and Local Government Liaison Division is responsible for the analysis, approval and processing of licence applications for the manufacture, sale and service of liquor in the province. The division is responsible for all aspects of issuing, amending, transferring and renewing licences for licensed establishments, licensee retail stores, wineries and manufacturers. During the approval process, the division works closely with local government staff and elected officials to gather community input for licensing decisions. The division is also responsible for issuing permits to purchase and store grain alcohol, regulating the sale of medicinal and cooking alcohols, and reviewing requests for exemptions to Special Occasion Licences.

Compliance and Enforcement Division

The Compliance and Enforcement Division is responsible for inspecting, investigating and educating licensees to ensure they comply with the law, and taking enforcement action when voluntary compliance cannot be achieved. The division partners with police agencies and local government agencies to monitor compliance and target high-risk licensees.

Policy, Planning and Communications Division

This division leads the branch in strategic planning processes and in the development of legislative, regulatory and policy change. The division is also responsible for consulting with federal/provincial/territorial and stakeholder groups, including industry associations, police and local governments. In addition, the division is responsible for responding to media, legislative and public inquiries related to the mandate and activities of the branch.

Strategic Shifts and Significant Changes in Policy Direction

There have been no significant changes in the ministry's overall strategic directions since the service plan on which this report is based was published in February 2003.

Following what was learned from the 2001 core review of ministry programs and services, the ministry continues to further its commitment to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of policing, work toward safer streets, schools and communities for all British Columbians, provide support to victims of crime, promote responsible gaming and liquor industry practices, and ensure a sound and streamlined regulatory environment for consumer services industries.

As demonstrated by the performance results presented in this report, the ministry is continuing to seek innovative ways of achieving its mission of ensuring the security and economic vitality of communities through effective policing, corrections, liquor and gaming control, and other protective and regulatory programs.

Update on New Era Commitments

The following table provides an update on the New Era projects and commitments that were outstanding at the beginning of the reporting year 2003/04.