Whereas the provincial government has enacted various building and fire code regulations for public buildings, including the Fire Services Act and regulations under that Act; 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 hotels and 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.
Emergency Management BC The current review of the existing Fire Services Act includes stakeholder input and feedback on possible options for each component of the Act. The province is committed to ensuring that public safety is addressed across BC, including the issue of compliance monitoring. The province will continue to consult with stakeholders as the process continues.