Removing limitations to Ministerial Authority

Recent amendments to select sections of the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation (FPPR) remove limitations on ministerial authority. This allows for more discretion in decision making and proactive management of forest resources.

On this page:

• Changes to Ministerial authority
• Amended Sections of the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation
• Resources for Forest Practitioners

Changes to Ministerial authority

These regulatory changes will result in several changes to ministerial authorities including setting proportional targets and balancing objectives.

Reasons for the changes

The changes to ministerial authorities are aligned with government’s mandate to reassert itself as the land manager of B.C.’s forests. The increased discretion contained within them provides for greater flexibility in decisions generally made at the Natural Resource District level, allowing for more proactive consideration of localized management challenges and meaningful engagement with local First Nations.

Setting proportional targets

The minister may now establish proportional targets across multiple FSPs within an area without requiring a request from FSP holders.

This change allows the minister to direct the way in which FSP holders share their responsibility to obtain management results consistent with objectives set by government, resulting in more efficient and cohesive forest management at the landscape level.

This change does not trigger a duty to set proportional targets, as these authorities are exercised at the discretion of the minister.

Balancing objectives

Language requiring the minister to balance objectives "on request of a person who submits a forest stewardship plan for approval" has been repealed.

This change increases the minister's discretion when reviewing FSP content for approval, enabling them to consider the impacts of all plan content holistically, and rebalance the relative weight of particular management objectives at their own discretion. This rebalancing may be required when circumstances require greater consideration of localized management challenges that do not occur province-wide.

The change ensures that only government has the authority to trigger such considerations.

Amended Sections of the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation:

These changes are effective immediately. 

Resources for Forest Practitioners

• FRPA Facts – FSP Administration (PDF, 153KB)