Whereas local governments are working to prepare their communities for the impacts of climate change including increased severity of rain events, floods, fires, landslides and droughts, by working to develop co-governance and management plans and investing in the assessment, monitoring and, where appropriate, restoration of natural assets such as forests and creeks that provide vital ecosystems services; And whereas the provincial government issues forestry and mining operating licenses and permits for the industrial activity taking place on Crown Lands and where these projects could have a potentially-negative impact on the downstream communities: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of BC to, in their consideration of these projects, include a referral to affected local governments and undertake risk assessments to identify and assess any potential threats to the natural assets that communities rely on to provide essential services such as drinking water and flood mitigation.
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development The province acknowledges the importance of effective consideration to the impacts that natural resource development activities can have on ecosystems, including the influences of climate change. Legislative, regulatory and other policy requirements are designed to inherently limit and mitigate the potential for adverse effects on important environmental values such as streams as well as broader ecosystem health. At the local level, detailed assessments are completed by resource professionals to address matters raised specific to an area or community such as hydrology, terrain hazards and other important environmental considerations. The new Professional Governance Act was brought into force in 2018 and is intended to provide a consistent framework for governance of regulated professions, and to ensure those professions protect the public interest. Where there are resource development implications to local government services or environmental values under their jurisdiction and the communities they represent, referrals are generally provided to enable feedback that can be accounted for and incorporated into resource development plans and management. Often, this is accomplished through permit conditions that seek to address concerns raised by local governments. Legislative changes under the Forest and Range Practices Act also provide enhanced information sharing with the public and other stakeholders through tools like the pending Forest Operations Mapping. Where there are gaps in the existing administrative and legal mechanisms, the province is willing to work with local government to address gaps in communication as required. This may include considering additional existing legislative measures to ensure appropriate communication and where appropriate, environmental value assessments are completed in a manner that is cognisant of local government jurisdiction.