Wildlife Act Review

In Managing Wildlife to 2001: A Discussion Paper [12.0MB PDF] [1], the Ministry identified the following strategic goal for its wildlife program:

This goal has been a fundamental element of the Ministry’s approach to managing its wildlife resources over the past 15 years.  The vision is founded on a number of key principles and objectives that will guide decision-making under the legislation: 

• The overarching objective of the Wildlife Act is to maintain and restore the rich diversity and abundance of native wildlife species, based on accepted biological and ecological principles.
• The Act and regulations establish guidelines and standards for the conservation of species and enable monitoring and reporting on achievements.
• The protection of human health and public safety must be considered when making any decision under the authority of the Wildlife Act.
• In the management of wildlife, preference is given to the health of ecological systems, and their ability to support wildlife populations over the well-being of individual animals.
• Ownership of all species defined as wildlife in British Columbia continues to be vested in the government of British Columbia, which retains decision-making authority over the management of wildlife species.
• The Act and regulations meet or exceed the requirements of other provincial and Federal legislation and accord with international obligations.
• Any human use of wildlife in British Columbia must be sustainable and must be conducted in an ethical and humane manner.
• The Act should support a diversity of opportunities related to wildlife if they do not endanger the long-term viability of a species, population or habitat. Use is allocated preferentially, in the following order:
  • First Nations;
  • residents of British Columbia;
  • residents of other parts of Canada;
  • non-Canadian
• The Act encourages and enables British Columbians to take a greater role in environmental stewardship and facilitates partnerships with First Nations, stakeholders, government agencies, private industry and the public.
• The Act provides the appropriate tools to enable the Province to work with First Nations in a government-to-government relationship, in accordance with British Columbia’s constitutional obligations.
• The Act authorizes decision-making at the appropriate level of government.  Decisions made under the authority of the Act are fair, science-based and respect the principles of risk management and administrative law.
• The Act supports the Ministry’s business model by providing outcome-based regulatory requirements that encourage voluntary compliance and are applicable to all activities that impact wildlife.
• The Act sets out clear expectations, accountabilities and penalties related to non-compliance for all activities that impact wildlife.

[1] Managing Wildlife to 2001: A Discussion Paper (Victoria, B.C: BC Environment, 1991). [2] Ibid. at p.11.