Canada-British Columbia agreement on Species at Risk: chapter 2

• Previous page
• Table of contents
• Next page

5.0 Canada-British Columbia Species At Risk Steering Committee

1. A Canada – British Columbia Species at Risk Steering Committee is hereby established with the following membership:

For Canada:

• Regional Director General, Environment Canada, Pacific and Yukon Region
• Director General, Parks Canada Agency, Western and Northern Canada
• Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region

For British Columbia:

• Deputy Minister, Water, Land and Air Protection
• Deputy Minister, Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
• Deputy Minister, Forests
2. The Steering Committee will be chaired by the Regional Director General, Environment Canada and the Deputy Minister, Water, Land and Air Protection on an alternating basis and will, to the extent necessary, establish its own rules and procedures.
3. The Steering Committee will meet at least annually to provide overall strategic direction to the Coordinating Committee established in section 6, and to ensure that communication, cooperation, and collaboration between the Parties with respect to species at risk issues and needs in British Columbia are clear, timely and effective.

6.0 Canada-British Columbia Species at Risk Coordinating Committee

1. A Canada – British Columbia Species at Risk Coordinating Committee is hereby established. Each of the following departments and agencies will be represented by one member:

For Canada:

• Environment Canada, Pacific and Yukon Region
• Parks Canada Agency, Coastal BC Field Unit
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region

For British Columbia:

• Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
• Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
• Ministry of Forests
2. The Coordinating Committee will be chaired by the representatives of Environment Canada and the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection on an alternating basis and will, to the extent necessary, establish its own rules and procedures.
3. The Coordinating Committee will meet at least twice per year to:
• coordinate federal and provincial species at risk planning, protection and recovery initiatives including priorities for joint actions.
• share information with respect to legislation, regulations, policies or operational guidelines either in place or under development that could directly or indirectly affect species at risk planning, protection and recovery in British Columbia.
• coordinate recovery processes and procedures to meet the requirements of federal and provincial legislation.
• consistent with timelines set out in federal or provincial legislation, review and comment upon species recovery strategies and action plans prior to forwarding for approval, to ensure each Party is aware of each other’s interests.
• serve as the Regional Implementation Board for the Habitat Stewardship Program. In the context of this role, the Coordinating Committee may invite additional participants to serve on the Committee.
• with the approval of the Steering Committee, establish working groups or advisory committees including a stakeholder advisory committee.