B.C. improves Public Environmental Reporting

The launch of a new online database will make it easier for British Columbians to keep track of the people, businesses and industries running afoul of B.C.’s environmental rules.

“The searchable database is part of our mission to improve the way we make information available to the public,” said Environment Minister Terry Lake. “People have a strong interest in environmental stewardship in their communities and an equal interest in knowing who is responsible for environmental offences.”

The free database includes a wide variety of compliance and enforcement actions taken by ministry staff and enforcement officers. It includes orders, administrative sanctions, tickets and court convictions covering hunting and fishing, open burning, mud bogging, dam safety, and pesticide and pollution violations.

Users can search by names, dates or types of infractions dating back to 2006 when the Ministry of Environment began public reporting of violations.

The database augments reporting that takes place through the release of a quarterly Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Summary in conjunction with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

“One of the benefits of making this information even more accessible is that it will serve as an added deterrent and help increase compliance with our regulations,” said Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

The public can also help by reporting environmental violations and human-wildlife conflicts to the 24-hour Conservation Officer Service call centre at 1 877 952-7277.

Learn More:

Use the new search tool and find the most recent quarterly Environmental Compliance and
Enforcement Summary at:

www.env.gov.bc.ca/main/compliance-reporting

Interested in other useful government data? Check out the new DataBC site: www.data.gov.bc.ca

Hon. Terry Lake vs MLA John Les

After the decision to approve Metro Vancouver's Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) which included incineration in the Fraser Valley Air Shed, which includes the City of Chillwack - the MLA for Chillwack and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, John Les, express his public outrage at the approval for this plan - see here

But a couple of issues come up:

1) Why this plan with incineration was approved, given historical opposition to incineration by Fraser Valley BC Liberal MLA's going back to the late 90's and the apparent lack of knowledge on this by Terry Lake?

2) With Cache Creek Mayor John Ranta express his deep disappointment in this decision - see here but it remains to be seen (and I would support it) if Mayor Ranta attempts to meet with Terry Lake and get him to revisit the decision on incineration and the Metro Vancouver SWMP

Finally - with policy decision reversals between Blair Lekstrom and Christy Clark over the Evergreen Line and now this apparent reversal to approve the Metro Vancouver SWMP, given past history of BC Liberal MLA's in the Fraser Valley

As a BC Liberal Party member - we, as BC Liberals', are plain not ready for a fall election and we should look towards a new time table of either the Spring or Fall of 2012 and use the time between now - Spring/Fall of 2012 to get our $#$##$ together to start governing like a team, lest the voters say - enough is enough! - send the NDP in, they can't be any worse

SBF