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Please Circulate this Advance Notice to Interested Persans

Mew Environmental Legislation and Regulation:
A Conference on the Delegation of Provincial Powers

ponsored by:

Union of BC Municipalities

( Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

' Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and
Housing

Wednesday April 7 and
Thursday April 8, 1993
Waterfront Hotel, Vancouver, B.C.

Ceaturing two interlinked streams:

+ develop the fundamental principles that may be

used to determnine the division of responsibilities

between the provincial and local goverrunents.

» discuss specific topics of currentinterest such as

waste management - municipal solid waste man-
‘ment (Bill 29), liquid waste, contaminated sites,

URaSEETOTING storage sites; alr and smoke man-

agement; and waste reduction (household haz-

ardous and biomedical waste).

Plus infonnation updates on water management,

pesticides, and environmental assessment.

Purpose

The conference will examine important aspects of
the province's new environmental policy and leg-
islation and develop appropriate principles and
processes for entering into parinerships to meetthe
srovince’s broad environmental responsibilities as
well as community and local government goals.

:

The provincial government's environmental “Ac-
ition Plan” contemplates the delegation of powers
in the areas of environmental protection and envi-
ronmental assessment, waste reduction/ manage-
ment and pollution control airand water manage-
ment and the integrated management of fish, wild-
life and endangered species. As well, there are
other provincialinitiatives, such as Commissionon
Resources and Environment, the Protected Areas
Strategy, a renewed land ethic for the adiministra-
tion of Crown lands, and the movement towards
sustainable development, which will require the
active participation of locai government.

In September, 1992 the UBCM passed a policy,
“The Delegation of Environmental Responsibili-
ties”, which set out certain recommendations relat-
ing to how local governments would see the proc-
ess of delegation proceeding.

Conference Goal

The overall goal of the conference is to come to an
understanding about matters of mutual interest
and bring to fruition a vision shared by the UBCM
and the Ministry; the development of an explicit.
comprehensive agreement for the common protec-
hon and management of our environment - an

ITEM

agreement that, in the spint of partnership, meets
the needs and interests of all.

Reaching this goal willinvolve the development ot
understandings, principles and processes to guide
the delegation of “devolution” of provincial envi-
ronmental powers to local government ina coop-
erative and coordinated manner, and the estabUsh-
ment of a comprehensive framework for consulta-
tion between the partiesin relation to all matters of
mutual interest.

Specific Conference Objectives

Towards reaching that agreement, the specific goals
of the conference will be to:

* develop an understanding of the province's cx-
isting and emerging policies and programs ancl
their implications for local governments;

* develop principics and processes forthe delega-
tion of provincial environmental powers;

+ develop a framework for consultation between
the parties;

* provide an overview of some important aspects
of the Action Pian and related legislation and pro-
vide an opportunity for local government to com-
ment and respond;

* provide a major consultation for UBCM input ta
the “N’zgw Approaches to Environnwnhtal Protec-
tion Discussion Paper”;

* discuss the Ministry’s consultation initiatives
and provide an opportunity for local government
to develop appropriate responses.

Meeting these goals willbe animportant milestone
in forging new and stronger relationships between
the province and local governments, and provide
the basis for partnerships in the movement to-
wards sustainable development.

Who should attend
Elected and appointed officials with interests in

environmental planning and programs.

This is an advance notice. More {information and
details on how to register will be distributed by
UBCM. For further information or if you wish to
receive a registration package please cull UBCM
270-8226 or fax 660-2271.

Special Government Meeting Oy portunity

Ministry of Environment officials have said they
will be available for meetings to discuss particular
problems of individual municipalities end regional
districts on Tuesday, April 6, 1993. Additional cle-

tails will be in the registration package.