Professional

Reliance

The goal of the recommendations in this document is to strengthen trust in professionals by improving transparency and accountability, ensuring the proper use of qualified professionals (QPs), and applying best practices, ultimately leading to better outcomes in natural resource decisions. This recommendation applies to the natural resource sector, specifically the regulation of;

  • Agrologists, biologists, engineers, geoscientists, foresters, and applied science technicians and technologists.  The provincial government can be found here

The Final Report of Review and Professional Reliance in Natural Resource Decision-Making was introduced to the province in 2018. This was introduced a result when significant gaps within professional reliance models were brought to light following The Mount Polley Tailing Storage Facility Breach in 2014. The objects of this document are:

To review and provide recommendations to whether professional organizations responsible for qualified professionals demonstrate best practices to the public.

To review and provide recommendations pertaining to whether government oversight of professional organizations are appropriate.

To review and provide recommendations the rules that govern the involvement of qualified professionals in the government's resource management decisions, as well as the appropriate level of government oversight to ensure the protection of public interests.

Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC

Association of BC Forest Professionals

Environmental Management Act:

  • Agricultural waste control,

  • Contaminated Sites,

  • Hazardous Waste,

  • Landfill Gas Management,

  • Municipal Wastewater,

  • Mushroom Compost Facilities,

  • Organic Matter Recycling,

  • Slaughter and Poultry Processing, and

  • Soil Amendments.

Professional Governance

This document focused on 10 key issues in professional governance, including the capacity of professional associations, the structure of councils and committees, the authority of councils, membership control, specialist designations, quality management, codes of ethics, public interest, complaints and discipline, and the mandates of the associations. It also assessed government oversight of these associations, finding it inadequate since the five associations are overseen by four different ministries, each lacking the professional governance expertise required to effectively manage their regulatory needs.

The first concerns self-governing professions whose members provide services related to natural resource management and environmental protection across the province. These organizations are established by provincial laws that grant them exclusive rights, such as the authority to practice and use professional titles. The legislation also empowers these organizations to set rules for entering the profession, maintaining competency, and establishing standards for practice and professional conduct. Relying on professionals outside of government is unavoidable and fundamental aspect of resource management, benefiting the public interest.

The five organizations and acts within the scope of this review are:

BC Institute of Agrologists

College of Applied Biology

Engineers and Geoscientists of BC

The second aspect of the review looks at how natural resource management depends on and involves these professionals. This includes examining various statutes, regulations, and policies that integrate professional reliance into decisions related to resource management and environmental protection.

The 9 regulations that incorporate professional reliance include:

  • Environmental Management Act,

  • Forest and Range Practices Act,

  • Forest Act,

  • Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act,

  • Mines Act,

  • Oil & Gas Activities Act,

  • Public Health Act – Sewerage System Regulation,

  • Riparian Areas Protection Act,

  • Water Sustainability Act.

It is strongly encouraged that if you are a professional working under the natural resource sector that you familiarise yourself with this document. This is because regime specific evaluations have been identified pertaining to the 9 regulation acts outlined above. Some key notes include:

Forest and Range Practices Act:

  • Timber pricing, and

  • BC Timber Sales professional oversight certification.

Forest and Range Practices Act:

  • Forest stewardship plans,

  • site plans,

  • cutting permits,

  • Road permits, and

  • Monitoring.

Oil & Gas Activities Act:

  • Oil and Gas Activities Act Permitting,

  • Certificates of Restoration, and

  • Drill and Production Regulation.

Water Sustainability Act:

  • Changes in and about a stream,

  • Hydropower projects,

  • Dam Safety Regulation, and

  • Groundwater Protection Regulation.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.

Subscribe

Subscribe