Whereas provincial legislation requires consultation with potentially affected First Nations as part of the permitting process for resource extraction and other industrial projects; And whereas there is no such requirement for adjacent communities and local governments to be consulted: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to implement regulatory requirements for local communities rural or municipal and local governments to be consulted in the permitting process, at the same level as First Nations, in all aspects of potential impact, including but not limited to: a Discharges into the environment, including water and air b Noise impacts c Social and economic impacts d Emergency preparedness and response plans e Communication plans f Reclamation and closure plans.
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations As principles under the Community Charter outline, the Province engages with municipalities and local communities on certain decisions. Under the Environmental Assessment Act, reviewable projects undergo an environmental assessment which typically includes local community representatives on the project working group. For other projects, public review and comment is typically guided by regulatory and policy requirements under the Land Act, Forest Act, and Water Sustainability Act. In the forest sector, referral of Forest Stewardship Plans with adjacent communities can provide a broader perspective on planned activities, although there is no process in place for the referral of cutting permits and road permits on an individual basis, or other plans that are most likely to have an impact on the community. The forest industry is also working to develop new processes for community consultation. For example, the Coast Forest Products Association is engaging with UBCM on improving community involvement.