Ministry of Environment

Highlights of the Year

Clean and safe water, land and air

  • The ministry invested $500,000 to enhance its air, surface and groundwater monitoring capability in April 2005. These funds were used to maintain, modernize and expand equipment at some of the 37 air quality, 35 surface water and 160 groundwater monitoring locations across the province.
  • A Code of Practice for the Discharge of Produced Water from Coalbed Gas Operations came into effect July 1, 2005. The code was developed to ensure that during coal production, when "produced water" is discharged into streams or to the ground, both water quality and the environment are protected.

Water quality and safety

  • WaterBucket came into being in April 2005. WaterBucket (http://www.waterbucket.ca/) is an interactive, web-based resource that brings together local governments, water utilities, water suppliers and managers to share information, tools and ideas about water sustainability and conservation. The Ministry of Environment is a key partner in this initiative.
  • The new Ground Water Protection Regulation took effect November 1, 2005 to improve the safety and quality of the province's groundwater. New well construction, installation and maintenance requirements are identified in the regulation and a brochure for well owners was produced.
  • The ministry is supporting the rehabilitation of the Britannia Mine site. A $15 million water treatment plant at the site was commissioned in December 2005. The treatment plant is designed to treat an average of 3,000 gallons per minute of metal-laden mine water and groundwater at the Britannia Mine south of Squamish, and will remove a combined total of over 600 kilograms/day of copper and zinc from waters flowing to Howe Sound. The Britannia Project is jointly sponsored by the Britannia Mining Museum, Natural Resources Canada, University of British Columbia and the Province.

Healthy air quality

  • Sumas Energy 2 owners in Washington State wanted to build a power plant with a line into Canada through British Columbia to connect to BC Hydro's transmission system. Due to the impact the operation of this plant would have had on British Columbia's airsheds, the government opposed the project. A decision by Sumas Energy 2 to officially terminate the project was made in March 2006.
  • Investments of over $309,000 were made in February 2006 to support eight related projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. These projects included a community air quality/health lecture series, clean air forums, research on particulate matter and ozone, and green technology in building design and urban development to reduce greenhouse gases.

Effective responses to climate change

  • Research grants of approximately $88,000 were presented in October 2005 to the University of Victoria and the University of British Columbia to study air quality and climate change.
  • The Province provided $325,000* to the OURANOS project to model climate change in B.C.'s mountainous terrain.  *Updated on August 11, 2006.

Alternative energy

  • The Minister was presented with the E-Visionary Award from the World Electric Vehicle Association in December 2005 to recognize British Columbia's leadership in alternative technology such as electric drive and green transportation.
  • In January 2006, the ministry presented a $25,000 grant to the Fraser Basin Council to support market development of biodiesel as a sustainable fuel alternative. The use of biodiesel (made from recycled cooking oil) as a renewable fuel-blend reduces greenhouse gas emissions and most air pollutants.

Effective responses to environmental emergencies

  • On August 5, 2005, a Canadian National Railway train derailed, spilling sodium hydroxide into the Cheakamus River. A Technical Committee led by the ministry was struck to develop a recovery plan. The ministry recommended angling closures, habitat enhancement techniques, and limited hatchery augmentation to assist in the recovery of steelhead stocks.
  • The ministry's spill response team was at the site of the March 2006 ferry sinking of the Queen of the North within hours of its occurrence. Ministry of Environment staff continue to work on protecting the areas affected by the ferry accident and are committed to the development of a long-term monitoring and rehabilitation plan, if necessary.
  • In the fall and winter of 2005/06, due to the provincial mountain pine beetle epidemic, beetle-attacked pine trees in Lac le Jeune, Tunkwa, Ten Mile Lake, Manning, Silver Star and Pinnacles provincial parks were removed from park areas to ensure public safety from falling trees and reduce risks from potential wildfires. These projects were managed by the ministry's parks and protected areas staff. Mountain pine beetle control actions were also conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Forests and Range in Monkman, Wapiti, Kakwa, Robson, Babine River and Elk Lakes provincial parks. These latter projects were conducted under the Mountain Pine Beetle Emergency Response Canada – B.C. Implementation Strategy.1
1  For more information on this strategy, please see the Ministry of Forests and Range 2006/07 - 2008/09 Service Plan. Available at http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2006/sp/for/.

Healthy and diverse native species and ecosystems

Protected, maintained and restored native species and ecosystems

  • Funding in the amount of approximately $3.6 million was provided to the ministry by the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund for 78 fish and wildlife projects. These projects include river and stream restorations, steelhead recovery, grassland ecosystem restoration and wildlife population studies.
  • Fifteen marmots were released back into the wild in 2005. Seven Vancouver Island marmots, Canada's most endangered mammal, were released in the Haley Lake Ecological Reserve near Nanaimo in July 2005. This brings the number of marmots now living in the wild on Vancouver Island to approximately 30 to 35 individuals. The success of the breeding and recovery program suggests that the restoration of the wild population is possible and can reach self-sustaining levels.
  • The Living Rivers Trust Fund was tripled with the addition of $14 million.

Parks and protected areas

  • Amendments to the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act were passed in March 2006 establishing four new Class A provincial parks (Enderby Cliffs, Kiskatinaw River, Klin se za and Sikanni Chief Canyon) and adding lands to three existing Class A parks and one existing ecological reserve.
  • Amendments to the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act were passed in November 2005 to add lands to Charlie Lake Park in the Peace Region and San Juan River Estuary Ecological Reserve on west Vancouver Island.
  • In 2005/06, the ministry acquired, through purchase, exchange or donation, 13 properties valued at approximately $13 million. All acquisitions were private lands that will either become additions to existing parks or new protected areas.
  • In 2005, the Province made a commitment to invest $20 million for park capital improvements over three years, including $12.2 million in the 2005/06 budget.

British Columbians understand that they share responsibility
for the environment

Shared stewardship

  • Introduced is 2005, the British Columbia Conservation Corps is a program that provides work opportunities for students and recent graduates to promote interest in conservation and environmental careers. Over 150 Corps members were employed in 2005/06 to work on 34 projects located throughout the province. Projects included work related to species at risk inventory; data collection and monitoring; surveying angler usage and satisfaction; implementing bear awareness and bear aversion strategies; mapping vegetation and managing invasive plants; assessing mosquito breeding sites in conjunction with research into West Nile Virus; and restoration and restocking of steelhead habitat.

Product stewardship

  • Electronic products were added to the B.C. Recycling Regulation in February 2006. The electronic products included in the B.C. Recycling Regulation are computers, monitors, desktop printers and televisions. Disposal of these products has become a growing concern with the expansion of technology industries. It is estimated that up to 70% of electronic waste can be recycled.
  • Scrap tires were added to the B.C. Recycling Regulation in March 2006 in order to divert them from going into landfills and/or to stop illegal dumping. The regulation places responsibility on manufacturers for end-of-life product management. This includes reducing the environmental impacts, collection, storage and safe disposal of product residuals.

Conservation Officer Service

  • New highway signs, a website and a toll-free hotline for the public to "report all poachers and polluters" (RAPP) were introduced in March 2006. The new online reporting form will make it easier for the public to report violations of environmental regulations.
  • The Conservation Officer Service celebrated 100 years of service to the province. The role of Conservation Officers is to protect the environment where human health and safety are at risk. The Conservation Officer Service works with other Ministry of Environment staff to ensure compliance with environmental legislation. Officers also respond to wildlife – human conflicts.
  • The Conservation Officer Service successfully implemented a Seasonal Conservation Officer program, hiring and training 13 Conservation Officers to provide additional compliance and enforcement capacity during those times of increased operational pressure.

Sustainable use of British Columbia's environmental resources

Sustainable and collaborative management and use of marine
and ocean resources

  • Contributions in the amount of $190,000 were made during the 2005/06 fiscal year to help reform the management of Pacific salmon fisheries; support the implementation of a new integrated Groundfish Quota Management system; build new approaches to recreational fisheries development and marketing; and support oceans science and technology development projects.
  • Ministry staff represented the British Columbia seafood industry at the European Seafood Show in Brussels in May 2005 and at the North American Seafood Show in Boston in March 2006. Ministry staff promoted our seafood sector companies to key international markets.
  • In 2005/06, the ministry established a new Oceans Coordinating Committee in conjunction with the Government of Canada to collaboratively deliver programs and initiatives for Canada's Ocean Strategy.
  • The Oceans and Marine Fisheries Division worked with BC Parks and the Integrated Land Management Bureau to update resource data on the province's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This update will help to identify the potential conservation contribution of provincial protected areas to a national system of MPAs.

Compliance

  • The ministry established a new Compliance Division in February 2005. This division consolidates the strategic development of compliance policy and planning with the operational delivery of compliance and enforcement to provide ministry-wide leadership, innovation and services in support of the ministry's compliance goals.
  • The ministry's new Compliance and Enforcement Policy and Procedures were completed in June 2005. This document guides the selection of appropriate compliance tools to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Compliance tools include warnings, advisories, tickets, investigations and/or prosecutions.
  • The ministry announced that it will be releasing a Quarterly Compliance and Enforcement Summary to demonstrate its commitment to being publicly accountable for achieving its environmental protection responsibilities.
  • The ministry provided funding of $330,000 for the province-wide Bear Smart program.
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