Ministry of Environment — Continued

Strategic Context

Introduction

The ministry plans and assesses its performance within a context of external and internal factors. These factors include trends and shifts in the environment, economy and society and within government itself, as evidenced by the government's ministry-wide restructuring and the introduction of its Five Great Goals. Over the previous year, as in other years, the ministry analyzed these factors and made operational adjustments where necessary to ensure that it continued to fulfill its mandate and meet government priorities.

Government Goals and Priorities

The government's Five Great Goals provided renewed direction and context for the work of the ministry during 2005/06. These goals are:

The government's reorganization in 2005 resulted in additional responsibilities for the ministry in the core business areas of Water Stewardship and Oceans and Marine Fisheries. The ministry's new corporate framework and revised vision, mission, goals and objectives better reflect its enhanced mandate and the government's Great Goals. The ministry has a leadership role in achieving the government's objectives under Great Goal 4 and accountability for Great Goals 2 and 5.

External Factors

Environmental Factors

In 2005/06, the ministry has continued to build on existing programs and develop new initiatives to provide renewed direction in sustainable environmental management. However, despite these efforts, certain challenges remain. A number of environmental trends are negative, and their threat to the environment is increasing. Science shows that climate change may have more significant implications than previously predicted. Loss of habitat threatens biodiversity in British Columbia and other parts of the world. Industrial contaminants are becoming more widely dispersed in our air, water, land and species. Human-caused and naturally occurring contaminants negatively impact water quality, and water supplies are increasingly under pressure, as are important resources such as marine fisheries. Despite the challenges such threats present, the ministry continues to make significant headway on a number of environmental fronts.

Climate Change

Steady increases in average temperatures have been recorded in British Columbia and other parts of the world. This trend and the more volatile weather patterns linked to it have far-reaching implications for government, society and ecosystems. Preparing for, adapting to and developing initiatives to mitigate climate change are government priorities. The Ministry of Environment is the lead agency for implementing the government's response to climate change as outlined in Weather, Climate and the Future: B.C.'s Plan. The ministry has been developing more initiatives to manage greenhouse gas emissions and enhance British Columbia's capacity to assess impacts connected with climate change and manage climate related risks such as changes in water quantity, quality and timing of river flow, pest outbreaks, species distributions, and agricultural conditions. The ministry also invested approximately $88,000 to support research in the areas of climate change and air quality.

Mountain Pine Beetle

The outbreak of mountain pine beetle in British Columbia has been ongoing for approximately 10 years, but the infestation has increased rapidly in recent years to become the largest in Canadian history.³ Many forest values are affected by the mountain pine beetle infestation, such as landscape aesthetics and tourism, water quality and wildlife habitat. The ministry continues its work on cross ministry initiatives related to the management of the infestation within parks and protected areas, including the Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan. In 2005/06, the ministry authorized the removal of infested pine trees in several provincial parks to lessen the risks associated with this devastating biological event.

3	Natural Resources Canada. The Mountain Pine Beetle Initiative: Federal Forestlands Rehabilitation Program. First Nations Mountain Pine Beetle Element. 2003. Available at: http://mpb.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/federal/first_nations/funding/FirstNations_Guidelines_e.pdf.

Air Quality

Air quality can be affected by many factors such as economic activity, population size and density, energy consumption, topography, meteorology and seasonal variations. Pollutants such as carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter and sulphur dioxide can negatively affect our health and the environment, cause property damage and contribute to climate change. The responsibility for air quality regulation and monitoring is shared among federal, provincial and local governments. Improving air quality is a key component of Great Goal 4, and the ministry continues to support strategies, such as the Clean Air Strategy, and initiatives to promote cleaner air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The ministry is also seizing opportunities to work with community partners on the development of airshed plans throughout the province.

Water Quality and Supply

The need for clean, safe and abundant water resources is fundamental to maintaining our health, prosperity and the environment, and is an important part of Great Goal 4. British Columbia's water resources support vital uses such as drinking water, recreation, wildlife habitats, fisheries, and commerce. Demands on water supplies from population growth, agricultural use and industrial development will continue to increase, especially as British Columbia's population is expected to increase by more than 30% in the next 25 years.⁴ In areas such as the Okanagan Basin, which is a vital and rapidly growing region in British Columbia, the ministry is working in partnership with the Okanagan Basin Water Board and its Water Stewardship Council to assess current and future water availability and demand.

4	B.C. Stats. P.E.O.P.L.E. May 2005. Available at http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/pop/pop/Project/P30BCIntro.pdf.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is life in all its forms and the habitat and natural processes that support it. British Columbia is home to a rich diversity and abundance of native species and habitats. Programs within the ministry endeavour to conserve biodiversity and the viability of ecosystems, which support all forms of life, moderate climates, filter water and air, and preserve soil and its nutrients. The ministry has prepared a document entitled Develop with Care: Environmental Guidelines for Urban and Rural Development in British Columbia, which provides province-wide guidelines for maintaining environmental values during the development of urban and rural lands.

Oceans and Marine Fisheries

The ocean resources and marine fisheries of British Columbia are important contributors to the provincial economy and are the foundation for many coastal and First Nation communities. There are cross jurisdictional responsibilities for and interests in ocean resources and marine fisheries at all levels of government and by many organizations. Finding opportunities to develop effective partnerships and coordinate ministry activities with these entities is essential to protecting and enhancing B.C.'s interests and in meeting the government's objectives under Great Goal 4. The ministry worked with the Canadian Oceans Information Network (COIN Pacific) to assist with the transition from government to its new host at the University of Victoria. Here COIN Pacific will continue to provide increased public access to oceans information and help stimulate oceans science and technology in B.C. In 2006, the government will invest in a number of ocean, fish and watershed projects across the province to help rebuild fish stocks and improve oceans management and water quality.

Parks, Ecological Reserves and Protected Areas

The significance people put on the world's great natural areas and cultural sites arises from a widely varying and sometimes conflicting array of values and beliefs. As British Columbia's population grows, and the economy continues to be strong, there is increasing pressure on the province's many significant and world-renowned parks, ecological reserves and protected areas. In early 2006, the government announced historic provincial land use decisions for the Central Coast and the North Coast. This unprecedented collaboration between First Nations, industry, environmentalists, local governments and many other stakeholders will determine how the vast richness of B.C.'s coast is managed for the benefit of all British Columbians. Legislation was introduced by the Minister of Environment in April 2006 to establish a new "conservancy" designation for protected areas that is vital to implementing these land use decisions.⁵

5	The legislation, Bill 28-2006, the Park (Conservancy Enabling) Amendment Act, 2006, was passed in April 2006 and will be brought into force by Order in Council.

Economic Factors

Economic growth in British Columbia has been strong, supported by robust domestic demand, strong business investment and higher consumer spending. The expanding economy of emerging countries such as China and India has resulted in enhanced markets for our products such as coal and metals. The increasing demand for oil and gas also presents enhanced economic opportunities as well as difficult environmental challenges for the province.

Such a robust economy requires effective resource stewardship by everyone involved. Business plays an integral role in society: developing the economy, creating jobs and building wealth. Society expects businesses to be increasingly responsible for their actions, changing their behaviour while meeting consumer demands. The ministry continues to work with companies to focus on generating broader social and environmental dividends through investments in cleaner technology and corporate responsibility.

Societal Factors

Activities associated with population growth and human activity such as expanding development, increasing use of fossil fuels, changing land use patterns and associated economic activities put increasing pressure on the environment. British Columbians realize the government is not and cannot be the sole protector of the environment and that environmental stewardship is everyone's responsibility. The ministry is enhancing and promoting shared stewardship through various strategies such as the B.C. Water Strategy and the Clean Air Strategy. The ministry is also continuing to expand its product stewardship programs. Electronic products and tires were both added to the B.C. Recycling Regulation in 2006. The regulation puts the responsibility on producers to redirect recyclable material from landfills.

Other External Factors

Unforeseen disasters and severe natural or biological events that impact our ecosystems and human health and safety cannot always be predicted. However, the ministry must anticipate such events and manage them once they do occur, as it did for the devastating forest fires of 2003 and the Avian Flu outbreak of 2004. In 2005, the ministry responded quickly to the sodium hydroxide spill into the Cheakamus River from a derailed Canadian National Railway train. The spill killed approximately 90% of the fish in the river at the time of derailment, threatening species, habitat and economic livelihoods. The ministry is continuing to work with local partners to restore the health and diversity of this important ecosystem. In 2006, ministry staff responded within hours of the tragic sinking of the Queen of the North and worked closely with First Nation and emergency preparedness partners to mitigate environmental damage.

Internal Factors

Changing organizational structure

The year 2005/06 was a time of transition for the ministry, which included integrating new business areas, changing from a division centric focus to a cross ministry focus, continuing to build a unified staff culture, and coordinating the planning, management and reporting operations of a new entity. The ministry will continue to evolve in its role, focusing on achieving the government's objectives of leadership in sustainable environmental practices and maintaining a healthy environment.

Capacity

The ministry achieved its objectives over the previous year through effective relationships with partner and service delivery agencies, and through continued efforts to streamline processes and focus resources on clearly defined goals, objectives and strategies. In addition, the ministry continued to advance good business practices and improved technology, and ensured staff were provided with the support, training and tools necessary to do the job. These conditions were critical to the ministry successfully achieving its mandate in 2005/06.

Staff retirements

The public sector is in the early stages of a profound transition. Two hundred and ninety seven of the ministry's staff are expected to retire over the next five years, including a significant number of senior managers. This could result in a significant loss of corporate memory, technical expertise and general capacity. The ministry has developed a People Strategy that outlines the ministry's key human resource objectives for the coming year and is working to identify and resolve future workforce planning needs and challenges. In 2005, the ministry established the B.C. Conservation Corps, which will develop student and graduate skills, provide mentoring opportunities and inspire a new generation of conservationists and future ministry employment candidates.

Risk Management

The government defines risk as the uncertainty that surrounds future events and outcomes, such as those mentioned above. Managing adverse events that could influence ministry progress requires planning — identifying and taking action to minimize the likelihood of risk and the consequences should an event occur.

All core business areas within the ministry address risk in the development, monitoring and implementation of their initiatives, regulations, services and programs. For example, protecting the health of British Columbians and taking a leadership role in environmental stewardship requires programs to clearly identify, assess and undertake activities to mitigate potential risks related to water quality, air quality, contaminated sites and managing species at risk.

In addition, the ministry has a diverse set of proactive planning approaches in which risk is identified, assessed and management strategies are developed and implemented. Some examples include:

Government continues to be called upon to anticipate and address new and emerging risks, as well as potential opportunities. Most issues relating to the environment are complex and have profound implications for both the environment and society. Science plays an important role in effective environmental decision-making. Ministry decision making processes are informed by the best available science, supported through adaptive management⁶ processes and depend on the sound and rigorous judgement of knowledgeable and professional staff.

6	Adaptive management is defined as a systematic process for continually improving management policies and practices by learning from the outcomes of operational programs.