Whereas in response to persistent drought conditions and other climate change effects that are placing considerable stress on supplies of safe, reliable water, the Province of British Columbia has launched new regulatory and enforcement tools as well as funding programs targeting the agricultural sector; And whereas efforts by the agricultural sector to develop more efficient water infrastructure, management, supply and storage to maximize available water is being impeded by lengthy, costly, and complex grant application and water licencing processes as well as conflicting guidance from different ministries involved in water management: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the Province of British Columbia to mandate the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to work together in a concerted manner to simplify administrative processes, remove excessive requirements, reduce processing times, ensure consistent policy and enforcement, and provide greater support to farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers in improving water management, supply and storage.
Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship Ministry of Agriculture and Food BC is experiencing increasing frequency, severity and a real extent of drought conditions. The Province is committed to supporting communities and the agricultural sector with building resilience to the impacts of climate change and stabilizing water supplies to support local economies and food security. The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship WLRS and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food AF are working closely together to support farmers and food producers in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from drought. These efforts include 100 million allocated to BCs Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program AWP, which provides a cost-sharing funding source for water infrastructure planning and implementation. Additionally, the Beneficial Management Practices Water Infrastructure program provides funding for smaller projects at a higher cost-sharing ratio for individual farmers. The Province recognizes that lengthy permitting processing times can be a challenge for producers. WLRS is working with AF and the Investment Agriculture Foundation to prioritize applications related to AWP funding. Additionally, WLRS has established a dedicated and centralized team to process applications from existing groundwater users, with a priority on areas with water scarcity. More broadly, WLRS is working to improve the timing and transparency of all permitting processes. These efforts align with ministerial mandate letters and the whole-of-government response to the evolving tariff environment. Drought preparedness and response involves collaboration and consideration of impacts on agricultural users. The WLRS minister must give due consideration to the needs of agricultural users when contemplating issuing a fish population protection order under the Water Sustainability Act section 88. WLRS and AF have expanded communication with agricultural producers through efforts such as Decoding Drought sessions with agricultural communities 30 sessions were held in 2024 and targeted community meetings in water-scarce areas. AF offers producer-focused workshops on topics such as irrigation efficiencies and water storage, and both ministries are working to provide regular updates and resources through mailouts, e-bulletins, and online information portals.