Flood Plain StreamsideLakeshore Environmental Management

WHEREAS the Province, through the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, provided legislation and technical assistance to local government for floodplain management and the Province adopted the Fish Protection Act 1997 and Streamside Regulations 2001 and provided financial and resource support to local governments in British Columbia; AND WHEREAS the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection has withdrawn the provision of technical assistance to local government and developers, without consultation, and the Ministry has indicated that it will continue to develop policies and guidelines which the Province intends local government will adopt, and which will impose on local government unforeseen costs and liabilities: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities inform the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection that abandonment of the provision of floodplain information and management and environmental management without local consideration or consultation has resulted in the stalling of development approvals and that the Minister should reinstate the mandate for floodplain management and streamside lakeshore environmental management to this Ministry.