BackOn 16 April 2014, Provincial Ombudsperson Kim Carter released her office’s latest report, a systemic investigation into an environmental protection program: “Striking a Balance: The Challenges of Using a Professional Reliance Model in Environmental Protection.”
She comes to the conclusion that there has been a lack of oversight, training, information and reporting of the program by the provincial government. Twenty five recommendations were made to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to ensure the Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR) functions in an administratively fair manner as it relates to the challenges and complexities associated with development. Twenty four of those recommendations, concerning improvements to the professional reliance framework, monitoring and compliance, enhancements to public information and accessibility, local government compliance as well as improvements to the process of receiving concerns and complaints, have been accepted.
The RAR, enacted in 2005, is part of the legislative and regulatory framework which protects natural environments, areas surrounding streams, lakes and inland waters in British Columbia from development that would damage the habitat of fish in those waters. It relies on qualified professionals to conduct assessments and make decisions regarding the protection of those areas. The ministry has an important oversight role in monitoring the ongoing implementation of the RAR.
For further details, please find the media release as well as the full report attached below.
Source: British Columbia Ombudsperson, Canada
