The POLIS team applauds the B.C. government’s October 19th announcement that provincial water management responsibilities have been transferred from the Ministry of Forests to the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (WLRS) as part of a larger government reorganization of land and water roles and responsibilities.
As stated in the provincial release, the government is using regulatory orders to transfer all or part of the following legislative acts from the Ministry of Forests to WLRS:
- Water Sustainability Act
- Land Act
- Wildlife Act
- 24 additional acts
This important step builds on reorganization efforts that have been underway since 2021, and which led to the creation of WLRS in 2022. In the first wave of this reorganization process, WLRS was designated as the lead on water planning and policy (including development of the Watershed Security Strategy and Fund). However, until the October 19th announcement, water authorizations remained in the Ministry of Forests, creating challenges around accountability, the ability to trigger action, and coordination and regional planning.
“Coming just months after the announcement of a $100 million provincial Watershed Security Fund, this transfer of responsibility further strengthens the growing provincial commitment to better watershed security,” said Oliver M. Brandes, Project Lead at the University of Victoria’s POLIS Water Sustainability Project. “Transferring the administration of the Water Sustainability Act, including water authorizations and other important statutory decisions like Fish Population Protection Orders, to the same ministry responsible for water policy and planning is a critical step to build a more cohesive and integrated government approach.”
At a town hall discussion on rural issues held in Osoyoos, B.C. on October 20th, Premier David Eby voiced government’s goals for the transfer, with a focus on improving connection and coordination.
“The issue of water and … planning around land use in the province has always been quite disconnected. We’ve had Forestry, Water, Agriculture … What we’ve tried to do is pull it all together [in the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship],” said Eby. “We’re breaking down those silos within government so that they can facilitate those conversations in communities around land use at a regional level to make sure, at a watershed level, that the conversation about managing this is more integrated, more coordinated, and that the community is working as much as possible to agree on key priorities.”
Oliver M. Brandes has had an advisory role on water issues with the provincial government for many years, including with the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship since the early days of the ministry reorganization process. His advisory work has focused on the development and implementation of watershed security priorities and strategy, including direct briefings with the premier, minister, and senior government staff, including specific institutional recommendations on this transfer of water responsibilities, governance, and management.
“Our POLIS team will continue to support next steps in implementation through our ongoing research and advisory roles,” said Brandes. “We commend Premier Eby’s leadership in taking this significant step forward for watershed security.”
