What does the BC government have authority over when it comes to environmental protection and land use decisions?
On October 19, 2024, British Columbians will head to the polls to vote in BC’s 43rd Provincial Election. We will elect 93 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to represent us in Victoria.
Provincial Elections are pivotal in shaping the future of our communities and deciding the fate of the natural environment because the BC government has authority (jurisdiction) over most land use decisions in the province.
From forestry, mining and oil and gas development, to roads, transit and hydro infrastructure; from greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), air and water quality, to species and ecosystems health, the BC Government makes decisions that directly impact every aspect of our daily lives.
MLAs, especially those appointed by the Premier as Cabinet Ministers, will determine whether BC lands and waters are protected, sustained, restored or lost to industry, fire, flood, and climate change. As biodiversity and climate impacts grow, and tipping points edge closer, the next government will decide the fate of ecosystems, species and communities for generations to come.
The total geographic area of British Columbia is 95 million hectares (ha).
- 94% (89.2 million ha) is provincial public land (Crown land)
- 5% (4.8 million ha) is privately owned
- 1% (.95 million ha) is federal public land (Crown land)
- 15% (14.24 million ha) is designated as Park or Protected Area
- 2% (1.8 million ha) of BC’s land base is freshwater
- 25,725 kilometres of BC is coastline
In this post, we explore a little bit about how the BC government works and why provincial leadership is critical to protecting the environment. We delve into some key areas where the provincial government plays a vital role in shaping our collective future.
In Canada, there are three formal levels of government: Municipal, Provincial, and Federal. First Nations have constitutional rights respecting self governance and use of lands and waters in their territories. Generally speaking, the Provincial Government holds the greatest decision making authority over use of lands and waters in BC.
The BC government is divided into ministries. Each ministry is responsible for a specific area of public policy, government function or service delivery. Ministries are created, dissolved and altered by the elected government.
The 23 existing BC ministries are:
- Agriculture and Food
- Attorney General
- Children and Family Development
- Citizens’ Services
- Education and Child Care
- Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
- Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation
- Environment and Climate Change Strategy
- Finance
- Forests
- Health
- Housing
- Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation
- Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
- Labour
- Mental Health and Addictions
- Municipal Affairs
- Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
- Public Safety and Solicitor General
- Social Development and Poverty Reduction
- Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
- Transportation and Infrastructure
- Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
The main ministries we engage with to pursue conservation include:
The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship is accountable for integrated land and natural resource management, planning and objective setting for land and marine environments, managing cumulative effects of land use activities, advancing reconciliation, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. The Minister is directed by a mandate letter from the Premier. Among other topics and services, this ministry oversees:
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- Watershed Sustainability and Shoreline Protection
- Wildlife and Species at Risk
- Fisheries and Aquaculture
The Ministry of Forests is responsible for managing the forest sector, keeping forests healthy and protecting communities from climate change and extreme weather events linked to management of the Provincial Forest. The Minister is directed by a mandate letter from the Premier. Among other topics and services this ministry oversees:
- Forestry
- Crown Land Policies and Tenures
- BC Wildfire Service
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy is responsible for protection, management and conservation of B.C.’s water, land, air and living resources. It leads work on climate preparedness and adaptation and plans to meet GHG reduction targets. The Minister is directed by a mandate letter from the Premier. Among other topics and services, this ministry oversees:
- Climate Preparedness, Adaptation, Action and Accountability
- BC Parks, Environmental Protection and Sustainability
- BC Environmental Assessment Office
The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation is responsible for electricity, alternative energy, mining and oil and gas, and meeting BC’s greenhouse gas emission targets. The Minister is directed by a mandate letter from the Premier. Among other topics and services, this ministry oversees:
- Oil and Gas Tenures and Royalty Programs
- Mineral Exploration & Mining
- Electricity & Alternative Energy
The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness is the lead coordinating agency for emergency management, including emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. The Minister is directed by a mandate letter from the Premier. Among other topics and services, this ministry oversees:
- Climate Readiness
- Disaster Mitigation
- Provincial Emergency Plans