Letter Minister Heyman MLA - PRM

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Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
January 19, 2018 
 
via e-mail: CitizenEngagement@gov.bc.ca 
 
File Number: 0420-20 
 
The Honourable George Heyman 
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy 
Room 112 Parliament Buildings  
 Victoria, BC V8V 1X4 
 
Dear Minister Heyman: 
 
Re: Review of Professional Reliance Model 
 
I am writing to you in regards to the Province’s decision to conduct a review of the professional reliance 
model used in the natural resource sector. I understand that under this model government sets the natural 
resource management objectives or results to be achieved, and professionals hired by proponents decide 
how those objectives or results will be met. 
 
We see that a strength of the current system is that most of the Qualified Environmental Practitioners 
(QEPs) in the province have membership in professional associations such as the Association of Professional 
Engineers and Geoscientists of BC or the College of Applied Biology.  Membership in good standing within 
these associations allows for self-governed practice within the discipline.  
 
However, we have concern that the regulatory model allows for instances when clients’ interests may be 
put ahead of sustainability and compliance.  We encourage government leadership for new regulations 
allowing local governments to develop qualified vendors lists and terms of reference for QEPs. This would 
help local governments ensure that the reports from professionals address the specific needs of the 
community. 
 
We also encourage increased provincial staff capacity and resources for provincial assessment of land use 
proposals and other environmental matters. Where the professional reliance model is used, we believe 
there should be more rigorous oversight by ministry staff to ensure that the professionals are following 
established methodology.  For example, ministry staff who are currently dealing with QEP repots under the 
Riparian Areas Regulation do not have any authority to reject a report that does not follow established 
methodology. This results in the local government receiving a QEP report that may or may not meet the 
methodology established in the Riparian Areas Act.  
 
We would appreciate it if you would also consider environmental assessment practices as part of the 
review. In a 2015 letter to the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) about improving public 
participation in environmental assessment I noted, on behalf of the Islands Trust Council, that to address  
 
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The Honourable George Heyman 
January 19, 2018 
Page 2  
community concerns members of the public do not have the same abili

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