Whereas conflicts can arise when the provincial Ministry responsible for mining chooses to override local government zoning to approve new gravel pits and other aggregate activities in areas not zoned for such purposes; And whereas provincial Aggregate Management Principles state that the Ministry should work with local governments to reduce conflicts that can develop when aggregate activities are proposed in urban and populated rural areas; And whereas consideration of the provincial Aggregate Management Principles is at the discretion of the Statutory Decision Maker within the responsible Ministry, and there is no requirement to follow their principles: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Government of British Columbia to require Statutory Decision Makers to work with local governments to resolve conflicts prior to approving aggregate activities under a Mines Act permit whenever a proposed activity does not conform to existing local government zoning.
Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals Thank you for your resolution requesting that statutory decision makers under the Mines Act be required to work with local governments to resolve conflicts prior to approving aggregate activities that do not conform to local zoning. Under the Mines Act, statutory decision makers SDMs are responsible for assessing permit applications to ensure compliance with provincial legislation and to protect public safety and the environment. While SDMs have authority to make permitting decisions independent of local zoning bylaws, they are expected to consider relevant provincial guidelines which encourage collaboration with local governments to minimize land-use conflicts. The Ministry recognizes the importance of early engagement and coordination with local governments when aggregate activities are proposed in urban or populated rural areas. Current practice includes consultation with local governments during the permitting process, and SDMs are encouraged to incorporate local input where possible while balancing provincial interests such as resource availability and infrastructure needs. The Province will continue to promote collaboration between SDMs and local governments to reduce conflicts and improve transparency in decision-making. We appreciate UBCMs commitment to strengthening these relationships and will review opportunities to enhance guidance and processes that support effective engagement.