Whereas the provincial government is undertaking a review of BCs natural resource sector professional reliance model to be complete by Spring 2018; And whereas the use of professional reliance within BCs resource sector is a long-standing practice; And whereas over the past decade the use of professional reliance has increased in response to governments regulatory reform initiatives; And whereas since 2013 the Environmental Appeal Board, Forest Practices Board, Office of the Auditor General and Office of the Ombudsperson have highlighted the need for adequate oversight of qualified professionals in providing independent, objective advice to government regulators; And whereas there is increasing public concern related to specific instances of decision-making based on professional reliance: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government ensure that government oversight of professional associations, and professional associations that oversee qualified professionals, employ best practices to protect the public interest in the management of public land by the natural resource sector.
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy On June 28th, 2018 the Province released the independent final report of the professional reliance review commissioned by government in fall 2017. This report includes 121 recommendations to improve the professional reliance model. These recommendations fall into three themes: first, the governance of professional associations and the qualified professionals they oversee, including forest professionals, engineers and geoscientists, agrologists, biologists and science technicians; second, regulatory recommendations focussed on improvements to professional competency, government expectations and accountability, public trust, and information quality; and third, regime specific recommendations across nine natural resource statutes. As a direct result of the professional reliance review, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy introduced in the House Bill 49 Professional Governance Act on October 22, 2018; the Act subsequently received Royal Assent on November 27, 2018. The Act implements two of the professional reliance reviews recommendations by legislating best practices for professional governance and establishing an Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance the Office. The Office, led by a Superintendent with statutory authorities, will administer the Act, develop policy on professional governance, oversee the regulatory bodies through compliance activities monitoring and guidance and enforcement of the Act, and report annually to the Minister of Attorney General. The Professional Governance Act and regulations developed pursuant to the Act will be implemented in phases over the coming years starting in spring 2019. The Province is carefully considering the remaining recommendations from the final report and will respond to these recommendations in due course.