Regulatory Corner - February 2024

British Columbia – Increased Financial Penalties

On January 12, 2024, the B.C. government announced that regulatory amendments had been approved under the Water Sustainability Act to significantly increase administrative monetary penalties to a maximum of $500,000 for violations of the Act. The exact amount of a fine will be determined by the comptroller of water rights, following an investigation by provincial compliance and enforcement staff

Further information is available at: https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/ Better Water Management Practices Coming to B.C. and a copy of the regulation is available at Order in Council 6/2024 (gov.bc.ca)

 

British Columbia – Changes to Provincial Dam Safety Program

The Province’s Dam Safety Program has now shifted from the Ministry of Forests to the Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship.

In addition, in response to Recommendation #6 of the provincial Auditor General’s 2021 Oversight of Dam Safety in British Columbia Report ("We recommend that the ministry strengthen accountability mechanisms for central staff to lead regional staff in achieving consistent and timely oversight of dam safety”), organizational reporting changes have been made in the civil service such that provincial regional dam safety officers now report directly to the Dam Safety Program Section Head.

Information on the Auditor General’s 2021 Report is available at: https://www.bcauditor.com/pubs/2021/oversight-dam-safety-british-columbia