Ministry Overview

Purpose of Ministry

The mandate of the ministry is to enhance the economic development and environmental sustainability of the agriculture and food sectors and Crown land, while delivering safe, high quality products for the enjoyment and well-being of British Columbians. Agriculture and food sectors encompass agriculture and food/seafood processing sectors, as well as fish, shellfish and marine plant farming and their products. Crown land includes management of specified Crown land and associated resources in a manner that supports the economic and social fabric of British Columbia. This focus is essential to improving the global competitiveness of British Columbia and enhancing our ability to attract private investment, and to stimulating economic growth and job creation across the Province.

The ministry works with agencies at the local, provincial and federal levels as well as numerous other stakeholders and First Nations to fulfill its mandate. With respect to agriculture, a partnership with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) has been formalized through the national Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) and implementation agreements. This underlines the significance of a strong relationship with the federal government to achieve positive outcomes for the sector. While other relationships are less formal, they are essential and involve federal and provincial agencies, local government, First Nations, regional authorities and industry associations.

Effective Crown land administration will be achieved through collaboration with industry, other provincial resource agencies, local government and First Nations.

For more information about the ministry and related organizations, see http://www.gov.bc.ca/al

Vision, Mission and Values

Vision

World class food, agriculture and Crown land management systems that contribute to the prosperity of all British Columbians.

Mission

For the benefit of British Columbians, we will:

• promote sustainable agriculture and food systems; and
• provide a balanced approach that promotes the sustainable use of Crown land resources.

Values

The ministry’s values are consistent with and enhance government-wide corporate values. These value statements shape and guide development of our strategies, our decision-making and how the organization and its employees interact with clients and each other. The ministry strives to conduct its business in a manner that is:

Fair and Equitable: We build and maintain an effective spirit of teamwork and cooperation based on trust, integrity, flexibility and innovation. We value our diverse workforce and create a work environment that is welcoming and inclusive. We listen to each other and remain receptive to ideas regardless of their origin. We engage people at all levels of the ministry as we communicate our expectations and decisions. We balance personal and workplace expectations and strive to keep both in mind as we meet the demands of public service.

Responsible and Accountable: We emphasize responsible use of government resources and transparency in accounting for the use of those resources.

Service-oriented: We respond to the needs of the public, sector groups, communities and staff in a timely and courteous manner. We treat each other and those we serve with fairness, dignity and compassion.

Goal-oriented: We strive to improve our performance and recognize our progress. We encourage an entrepreneurial spirit by providing the tools for staff to make decisions to manage risks and achieve results.