Whereas the Weed Control Act RSBC 1996 Chapter 487 provides that an occupier must control noxious weeds growing or located on land and premises, and on any other property located on land and premises, occupied by that person; And whereas the proliferation of invasive plants has grown exponentially throughout British Columbia; And whereas invasive plants continue to be sold commercially to uninformed property owners and landscapers; And whereas S. 41 of the Weed Control Regulation provides that no person shall transport, keep for sale, offer to buy or sell, or buy or sell any screenings containing seeds of a noxious weed, it says nothing about plants: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province amend the Weed Control Act to restrict the commercial sale of plants identified in Schedule A, Part 1 2, of the Weed Control Regulation.
Ministry of Forests The risks and impacts of invasive plant species are well recognized by the Government of British Columbia. The BC Weed Control Act is an older piece of legislation that does not fully provide the foundation for improved regulation that could address invasive plant noxious weed sale, movement or trade. The Ministry of Forests recognize that there have been consistent, collective requests over the past 15 or more years for improved legislation to better address invasive species in BC and that this has been reflected in the Invasive Species Strategy for BC. The BC Inter-Ministry Invasive Species Working Group has completed a legislative gap analysis and policy work to address invasive species legislation needs. Closing pathways of introduction and spread of invasive plant species e.g. sale, movement, trade is a cost-effective and critical approach to reduce risk and future impacts.