Whereas effective communication and engagement between local government and the Province of BC is essential in facilitating collaborative discussion and resolutions that support local economies: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government to ensure provincial decisions regarding the removal of crown land from current and potential resource extraction activity, impacting the local economy must first include consultation from local government prior to decisions being made.
Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship The Province recognizes the importance of local government consultation and engagement when making Crown land use decisions. The Local Government Act and Community Charter recognize BCs local governments collectively as an independent, autonomous and accountable order of government within their jurisdiction. Both statutes include provisions that reflect five underlying principles, two of which are consultation and collaboration. Applications for Land Act tenures are referred to municipal governments for comment when they have the potential to impact the interests or jurisdiction of the municipality. Applications are also posted publicly on the Applications, Comments, and Reasons for Decision website. All relevant referral responses and public comments are considered by the delegated Land Act decision maker. The use of Land Act withdrawals s.15, 16 and 17 to remove Crown land from disposition under the Land Act are only utilized to support Governments objectives and are on behalf of agencies or Ministries engaging directly with local governments. While these land withdrawals support future Land Act decisions, other resource extraction activities i.e. Forestry, Mining, Water, etc. will proceed under a different regulatory framework resulting in potentially different local government consultation requirements. Applications, Comments, and Reasons for Decision URL: https:comment.nrs.gov.bc.caapplicationssplash