Provincial Laws

Under Canada’s Constitution Act, 1867 the Government of Canada received one set of responsibilities, while the governments of the provinces were given another. Environment (or watershed management) is nowhere to be found in the division of responsibilities, and both levels of government have powers over some issues that relate to watershed planning. However a number of key areas of responsibility means that the province is responsible for much of what is now considered watershed management or environmental protection.

The Government of British Columbia is responsible for, among other things:

· Management and sale of provincial lands (which constitute most of the province),

· Property and civil rights (which includes control over environmental problems affecting the physical well-being of the public, water rights and ownership of wildlife, among other things),

· Exploration and development of non-renewable and forestry resources in the province, and

· Production and generation of electricity.

Pursuant to these powers the Government of British Columbia has passed a range of laws that may be relevant to watershed management, including:

· Agricultural Land Reserve Act

· Dike Maintenance Act

· Drainage, Ditch and Dike Act

· Drinking Water Protection Act

· Ecological Reserves Act

· Environmental Assessment Act

· Environment and Land Use Act

· Environment Management Act

· Farm Practices Protection Act