Appendix B: Agencies, Boards and Commissions

The Ministry of Attorney General has direct responsibility and accountability for the following agencies, boards and commissions.

British Columbia Ferry Commission

The British Columbia Ferry Commission regulates British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. (BC Ferries), the major ferry operator in coastal British Columbia, which holds an effective monopoly on most of its routes. The Commission is established under the Coastal Ferry Act, consisting of the Commissioner and not more than two Deputy Commissioners. The Commission operates independent of government to regulate fares and service levels of BC Ferries on 25 saltwater routes. The Act sets out six principles that the Commission is to follow in the course of its regulatory activities to protect the public interest in the provision of coastal ferry services.

For more information on this organization, please go to: http://www.bcferrycommission.com/

British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal

The Tribunal is responsible for accepting, screening, mediating and adjudicating complaints under the Human Rights Code. The Tribunal provides parties the opportunity to resolve complaints through mediation. Complaints that are not resolved through mediation proceed to a hearing before the Tribunal. The Tribunal is accountable to the legislature through the Attorney General and functions independently of government on all matters related to adjudication of complaints. Orders of the Tribunal are enforceable in the British Columbia Supreme Court.

For more information on this organization, please go to: http://www.bchrt.bc.ca/

British Columbia Review Board

The British Columbia Review Board is established under the Criminal Code of Canada. The Chair and members are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Attorney General. The Board conducts hearings to review and assess the mental condition and level of threat to the public posed by mentally disordered accused persons to determine whether they should be absolutely or conditionally discharged, or detained in a designated place of custody.

For more information on this organization, please go to: http://www.bcrb.bc.ca/

British Columbia Utilities Commission

The British Columbia Utilities Commission operates under and administers the Utilities Commission Act, regulating utilities to ensure customers receive safe, reliable and non-discriminatory energy services at fair rates, and that shareholders of those utilities are afforded a reasonable opportunity to earn a fair return on their invested capital.

For more information on this organization, please go to: http://www.bcuc.com/

British Columbia Treaty Commission

The Treaty Commission is the independent and neutral body responsible for facilitating treaty negotiations among the governments of Canada, BC and First Nations in BC. The Treaty Commission does not negotiate treaties — that is done by the three parties at each negotiation table. The Treaty Commission's primary role is to oversee the negotiation process to make sure that the parties are being effective and making progress in negotiations. In carrying out the recommendations of the BC Claims Task Force, the Treaty Commission has three roles — facilitation, funding and public information and education.

For more information on this organization, please go to: http://www.bctreaty.net/

Child and Youth Officer

The Officer provides support to children, youth and their families in obtaining relevant services and provides independent observations and advice to government about the state of services provided or funded by government to children and youth in British Columbia. The Officer may comment publicly on matters affecting children and youth. At the request of the Attorney General, the Officer must undertake an investigation into any matter within the scope of the Office for Children and Youth Act and make a confidential report to the Attorney General, who determines whether the report should be made public. The Officer reports annually to the Attorney General who must table the report in the Legislative Assembly.

For more information on this organization, please go to: http://www.gov.bc.ca/cyo/

Expropriation Compensation Board

The Expropriation Compensation Board is in transition and will be dissolved December 31, 2005. Jurisdiction over expropriation compensation and related matters previously held by the Board under the Expropriation Act has been transferred to the Supreme Court of BC, effective March 18, 2005. Jurisdiction over inquiries into the necessity for non-linear expropriations has been transferred to the Attorney General. The Board will be able to finalize matters that are currently in progress until December 31, 2005. Parties who have filed claims with the Board, but who do not have a hearing in progress before the Board, may transfer their case to the Supreme Court. All new claims must be initiated in the Supreme Court.

For more information on this organization, please go to: http://www.ecb.gov.bc.ca/

Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia

The Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) is appointed under the Public Guardian and Trustee Act, for a six year term, to protect the legal and financial interests of children, and provide assistance to adults who need support for financial and personal decision making. The PGT also administers the estates of deceased and missing persons where there is no one else able to do so.

For more information on this organization, please go to: http://www.trustee.bc.ca/