Skip to content

Environmental oversight strengthened by B.C. ombudsperson’s recommendations

Ombudsperson Jay Chalke released his final update last week.
27741664_web1_220111-TDT-Basin_1
The ombudsperson recommends changes to strengthen oversight, compliance with the law, public accountability and transparency of riparian regulation. Photo: Trail Times

Ombudsperson Jay Chalke released his final update last week, regarding an investigation highlighting gaps in oversight of the regulatory scheme that seeks to protect some of B.C.’s most sensitive ecosystems.

The ombudsperson’s initial 2014 report Striking a Balance examined the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Operations’ (now known as the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development) use of what’s known as a professional reliance model in the protection of land surrounding streams, lakes and inland waters when development occurs.

Under the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation government relies on the registered members of five environmental professions — agrologists, applied biologists, applied science technologists/technicians, engineers and foresters — to conduct assessments and make recommendations to protect riparian areas from development, while government provides oversight.

The ombudsperson’s investigation found there were significant gaps in how this system operates and recommended changes to strengthen oversight, compliance with the law, public accountability and transparency.

“Clearly with the growing challenges presented by climate change, the need to have environmental professionals adhering to the highest standards is more critical than ever,” said Chalke in a Jan. 6 news release.

“Our initial investigation found oversight in this sector was lacking and I’m encouraged to see the province putting mechanisms in place that will give the public confidence in environmental decisions that could seriously impact the communities they live in.”

The ombudsperson’s 2014 report made 25 recommendations, 18 of which have now been implemented including:

All individuals who are eligible to conduct assessments under the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation must now complete a mandatory training course;

The ministry, in cooperation with the relevant professional associations, completed and released professional practice guidelines. These guidelines set out a standard of professional conduct for individuals who conduct assessments;

The ministry now establishes expiry dates for assessment reports, ensuring information and recommendations in those reports reflect current site conditions;

The ministry reviews assessment reports to ensure they are complete and in compliance with the regulation before notifying local governments, which provide the final development approval.

“While these steps demonstrate that important progress has been made, today I am calling on the ministry to continue to improve the professional reliance model in the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation,” said Chalke.

Key recommendations where work is still in progress include:

Strengthening the use of site visits to track compliance and taking appropriate action where non-compliance is detected;

Developing and implementing a process for post-development effectiveness monitoring and reporting;

Ensuring regular public reporting on the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation.

“While this update concludes my office’s formal monitoring of government’s implementation of our 2014 recommendations, we will continue to receive and investigate complaints from the public relating to government’s protection of these sensitive ecosystems,” said Chalke.

The Striking a Balance original report and the Jan. 6 update can be found at: https://bcombudsperson.ca/investigative-reports/.

Read more: Clearing out invasive species in the Kootenays

Read more: Students help restore important wildlife habitat at Beaver Creek



newsroom@trailtimes.ca

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

The Office of the Ombudsperson is an oversight office, independent of government, with jurisdiction over more than 1,000 provincial and local public bodies in British Columbia. It has a statutory mandate to receive and investigate complaints from members of the public when they believe they have been treated unfairly when receiving government services. The office also investigates allegations of serious wrongdoing in the workplace under the Public Interest Disclosure Act. The office’s services are free, confidential and impartial.