Whereas the Province of British Columbia provides powers to local governments to regulate protection of the environment and levy maximum fines for offences: Therefore be it resolved that the UBCM call upon the Province of British Columbia to provide urgent protection to watercourses from dumping and discharge, including by providing authority to local governments to impose higher fines.
Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs Local governments have three bylaw enforcement tools with differing maximum penalties depending on the severity of the bylaw contravention. Bylaw notice enforcement currently has a maximum fine of 500. This tool is governed under the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act that is the responsibility of the Ministry of Attorney General. The Ministry of Attorney General is currently reviewing whether the maximum fine amount should be changed. Municipal ticketing fine limits were recently increased such that both regional districts and municipalities can now impose tickets for bylaw contraventions up to 3,000. Multiple tickets may be issued for the same contravention if it continues over a period of time. Local governments can impose fines for prosecuted offences through long-form prosecution in court of up to 50,000, as well as up to six months of imprisonment with the actual fine amount decided by the Courts. These fines are intended for serious bylaw contraventions. The varying fine amounts support local governments in enforcing their bylaws and providing them with more flexibility to set appropriate fine amounts. They strike a balance between allowing for adequate deterrence from bylaw contraventions while keeping limits to a reasonable amount. Ministry staff are continuing to monitor bylaw enforcement fine amounts to ensure they remain adequate over time.