Fire Inspections in Rural Areas

Whereas the provincial government has enacted various building and fire code regulations for public buildings, including the Fire Services Act; And whereas the provincial government has, through the BC Safety Authority, and various other provincial agencies such as the Health Authorities, established regulatory regimes designed to inspect various installations and operations, such as gas, electrical, health, food safety, etc. aimed at protecting the public from potential hazards associated with public facilities, while the Fire Services Act remains without an effective regulatory regime; And whereas the provincial government is considering requiring regional districts to enforce the Fire Services Act and its regulations in the unincorporated areas of the province, including the obligation to provide for a regular system of inspection of public buildings; And whereas regional districts do not have the capacity to take on an inspection and enforcement role in the rural areas without significant additional financial and human resources: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government provide the resources necessary to inspect and enforce provincial safety regulations, including the Fire Services Act and its regulations, through either the Office of the Fire Commissioner or the BC Safety Authority rather than pursuing options to download the responsibility for inspections and enforcement of provincial regulations on local governments.