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| This archived statute consolidation is current to August 17, 2004 and includes changes enacted and in force by that date. For the most current information, click here. |
[Link to Table of Legislative Changes which shows
currency of each section of the Act.]
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Contents |
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Section |
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1 In this Act, "environment" includes air, land, water and all other external conditions or influences under which humans, animals and plants live or are developed.
2 (1) There is to be a ministry of the public service of British Columbia called the Ministry of Environment.
(2) The minister is to preside over the ministry and be responsible to the Lieutenant Governor in Council for the direction of the ministry.
3 (1) A deputy minister may be appointed under the Public Service Act.
(2) The minister may establish committees or councils to advise the minister with respect to any matter included in the minister's duties, powers and functions.
(3) A person serving on a committee or council established under subsection (2)
(a) must, while performing his or her duties, be paid necessary and reasonable travelling and living expenses or a reasonable allowance in respect of them as set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, and
(b) may be paid remuneration as the minister determines.
4 (1) The purposes and functions of the ministry are, under the direction of the minister, to administer matters relating to the environment.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the purposes and functions of the ministry include the following:
(a) to encourage and maintain an optimum quality environment through specific objectives for the management and protection of land, water, air and living resources of British Columbia;
(b) to undertake inventories and to plan for and assist in planning, as required, for the effective management, protection and conservation of all water, land, air, plant life and animal life;
(c) to manage, protect and conserve all water, land, air, plant life and animal life, having regard to the economic and social benefits they may confer on British Columbia;
(d) to set standards for, collect, store, retrieve, analyze and make available environmental data;
(e) to monitor environmental conditions of specific developments and to assess and report to the minister on general environmental conditions in British Columbia;
(f) to undertake, commission and coordinate environmental studies;
(g) to develop and sustain public information and education programs to enhance public appreciation of the environment;
(h) to plan for, design, construct, operate and maintain structures necessary for the administration of this Act or for another purpose or function assigned by the Lieutenant Governor in Council;
(i) to plan for, coordinate, implement and manage a program to protect the welfare of the public in the event of an environmental emergency or disaster.
5 The minister may
(a) acquire and dispose of real property, and
(b) acquire and dispose of personal property if the minister declares that an environmental emergency exists.
6 With the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the minister on behalf of the government may enter into agreements with the government of Canada, the government of a province or an agent of the government of Canada or a province.
7 [Repealed 2000-23-44.]
Copyright (c) 2004: Queen’s Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada