People in British Columbia are invited to provide feedback on proposed improvements to the province’s natural resource appeals process.

The province has launched public engagement on potential legislative and procedural changes affecting appeals heard by the Environmental Appeal Board and the Forest Appeals Commission, two major natural resource tribunals in B.C.

If approved, changes are expected to help deliver timelier decisions, strengthen compliance and enforcement, and support more efficient permitting, while maintaining environmental protections and the province’s obligations to First Nations.

These independent tribunals hear appeals related to environmental protection, natural resource management and land-use decisions.

Appeal processes to the Environmental Appeal Board and the Forest Appeals Commission were designed to provide a fair, accessible and timely process for reviewing natural resource decisions. Over time, appeal processes have become lengthier and more complex, which has contributed to delays in the permitting and enforcement system.

The province is proposing changes to laws and processes to make sure appeals work the way they were originally intended. The focus on improving how appeals are conducted, not on eliminating appeal opportunities. This includes:

* deciding certain appeals based on the existing record, instead of requiring a new hearing;

* no longer pausing monetary penalties when an appeal is filed, and instead requiring penalty fees to be paid up front and refunded if the appeal is successful, which is intended to strengthen compliance and enforcement and deter people from violating natural resource laws.

The intent is to improve efficiency and balance economic benefits with maintaining environmental standards, public accountability, and First Nations rights and interests. Environmental standards and outcomes are not changing.

Feedback received through the engagement will help inform government’s next steps as it considers options to make tribunal processes more efficient and effective, and support broader natural resource permitting improvements underway in B.C.

The Environmental Appeal Board resolves disputes about decisions made by government on environmental issues, such as water licences, pesticide and waste discharge permits or Wildlife Act permits and quotas. The board helps protect the environment by providing a process for the public and industry to appeal certain government decisions.

The Forest Appeals Commission was established under the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia and now operates under its replacement, the Forest and Range Practices Act.

The public can provide feedback until Aug. 14.

Find Natural Resource Tribunals on the provincial government website for more.

e-KNOW file photo

e-KNOW

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