Opportunity:

Reduced barriers can improve market access for B.C. agriculture, food and seafood products which supports growth and diversification into other markets.

Risks:

Barriers to markets will limit market growth, potentially resulting in stagnant or declining sales.

Regulated industries may not be able to adapt to international requirements to reduce subsidies and border protection.

Reduce barriers to international and inter-provincial trade, and ensure B.C. industry interests are considered in trade negotiations and disputes:

— support the agriculture, food and fishery component of the province's Asia-Pacific and International Trade and Investment to 2010 strategies, with the primary objective of ensuring a fair share of federal funding and services for B.C. industries.

— urge the federal government to obtain real improvements in market access for all commodities in the World Trade Organization agriculture negotiations.

• Played a significant advocacy role in the re-opening of U.S. borders in August 2005 to Canadian cattle less than 30 months of age, resulting in $6.7 million in B.C. cattle exports over the last half of the year.

• Represented B.C. industry interests in WTO ministerial conference held in Hong Kong, which produced an agreement for the elimination of all forms of export subsidies by 2013.

• Supported negotiation of the agriculture-related component of the B.C.-Alberta Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement, effective April 2007, that provides seamless access across all sectors, including energy, transportation, labour mobility, business registration and government procurement. The Conference Board of Canada estimates the agreement has the potential to add $4.8 billion to real GDP and create 78,000 jobs in B.C., including the agriculture and food sectors.

• Led and reached trade agreement with western and other provinces, effective July 2006, to address unnecessary differences in technical regulations and standards across governments in Canada, an issue viewed by industry as creating barriers to competition and affecting overall productivity.

• Actively participated in development of the government's Asia-Pacific strategy focusing on export development of agriculture and food products and increased foreign direct investment.

Opportunity:

A supportive partner relationship provides opportunities for leveraging funds, which allows the Ministry to more effectively work towards B.C.'s agriculture objectives.

Risk:

Reduced federal funding will result in critical gaps in services hindering industry's capacity to stay sustainable and profitable.

Obtain the B.C. food and agriculture sector's fair share of federal and cross government programs, initiatives and activities to promote research, exports and inward investment.

• Under the Canada-B.C. Agricultural Policy Framework, an estimated $32.3 million was provided towards agricultural initiatives.

• Continued to meet and exceed the province's financial commitments under the Agricultural Policy Framework.

Opportunity:

A more market-responsive industry environment can lead to increased market development for specialty and higher value products.

Risk:

Regulated marketing constrains the ability of producers to respond to changing consumer demands for specialty products.

Optimize the regulated marketing system to meet consumer needs for a broad range of product choices, including specialty and organic products.

• Advised and assisted the BC Farm Industry Review Board (FIRB) in facilitating the marketing of specialty organic chicken.

• Achieved a successful outcome on allocation of turkey production for B.C., supporting the industry's goal to be market responsive.

Opportunity:

Standards and certification processes may support product differentiation, which provides competitive advantage.

Risk:

Lack of standards or certification processes may limit access to markets where these processes are required, restricting growth potential.

Facilitate industry development and adoption of quality programs in food and agriculture industries that enable B.C. to access domestic and global markets that recognize high-quality standards.

• Collaboratively with other provinces obtained federal government commitment to develop and implement National Organic standards in 2006 to maintain and increase B.C. organic exports to Europe and China.

• Established the BC Wine Authority to administer and enforce the Wines of Marked Quality Regulation.

• With industry, developed a certification process for plant nurseries free of Sudden Oak Death. Certification will become mandatory in 2006/07.

Opportunity:

Promoting healthy food choices can increase awareness and demand for B.C. products produced within the agriculture and food sectors.

Risk:

A lack of consumer awareness on healthy food choices can lead to increased health and social costs associated with poor nutrition and eating habits, and negatively affect demand for these products.

Develop a strategy for partners in the healthy eating component of ActNow BC and provide direction for food policy.

• Encouraged the development of a coalition of Agri-Food Partners in Healthy Eating, which has received funding to develop a multi-year strategy to recognize and promote healthy food products grown and made in B.C.

• As part of Healthy Eating component of ActNow BC, successfully completed a B.C. School Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program pilot project in 10 schools, which provided two servings of B.C. fruit and vegetables per week for each child.

• Developed a draft framework that provides a shared vision for common interest between the Ministry and Ministry of Health for food policy in B.C. It covers the agriculture and food value chain, from the farm to production to retailers and clarifies functional responsibilities of both ministries.

Opportunity:

A long-term outlook for the profitability of the sector should help increase investment opportunities throughout the value chain of B.C.'s agriculture sector.

Risk:

Lack of a forward-looking strategic plan may reduce industry's ability to respond effectively to market challenges in the short and long-term, which could result in industry instability and decline.

Develop an agriculture plan by December 2006 that identifies opportunities for innovation, investment, niche markets and value chains (e.g., agri-tourism and the bio-based economy).

• Established linkages with the government MLA committee working to develop an agriculture plan for B.C. to sustain and facilitate sector growth and to include the perspectives of First Nations regarding opportunities for the agriculture sector. Timeframes for reporting were extended from December 2006 as reported in the 2005/06 Service Plan Update to June 2007 because of delays in developing implementation and committee processes.

• Provided $75,000 to BC Fruit Growers' Association and $50,000 to the cattle industry to prepare long-term strategic plans that will help support the groups to adapt/respond to changing market conditions.

Opportunity:

Ongoing, accessible risk management programs provide continuity and predictability which helps producers to more effectively manage their business.

Risk:

Inappropriate tools or premium increases could result in low farmer participation in CAIS and Production Insurance placing pressure on government to provide ad hoc funding in times of income/production losses.

Promote effective management of income risks through utilization of national programs — CAIS and Production Insurance — and other appropriate private sector tools to facilitate industry planning and sustainability.

• To provide a measure of risk protection from weather-related losses, Production Insurance added coverage for daffodil bulbs in 2005 and tulip bulbs and blueberry plants in 2006.

• Production Insurance provided over $300 million worth of insurance protection to farmers in 2005. Claim activity was light with isolated pockets of damage around the province — frost and hail damage in tree fruits accounting for the major proportion. Claims for all crops totaled under $6 million, with claim processing and payment targets of 30-day turnaround time being achieved.

• During the 2005/06 fiscal year, the CAIS program paid out claims for the 2003 and 2004 crop years. By the end of the year, virtually all 2003 applications had been processed as well as 71 per cent of 2004 applications.

• The CAIS program made 1,768 payments for 2003 totaling over $43 million. BSE was the major factor leading to claims with 35 per cent of the value of payments going to the cattle sector.

• The CAIS program made 1,500 payments for the 2004 claim year totaling over $28 million. Cattle continued to represent about 35 per cent of the value of payments as the BSE crisis continued through 2004. The impact of Avian Influenza also began to trigger claims in 2004.

• Claims totaling $514,581 were paid out for wildlife damage and compensation.

• The Ministry successfully marketed a revised Production Insurance program in 2005 that required higher minimum producer premiums without experiencing a significant decline in participation.

• The majority of payments did not meet CAIS targets for turnaround, prompting the province to seek additional provincial presence of federal program staff.

Opportunity:

Sharing of risks with the private sector limits the province's liability.

Risk:

High claims and adjustment costs in the event of widespread crop losses can expose the province to significant financial risk.

Create partnerships with the private sector in the development and delivery of risk management.

• The Ministry continued to utilize private re-insurers in the provision of Production Insurance to protect against the risk of abnormally high claims and adjusting costs in the event of widespread crop losses.¹

Opportunity:

Traceability systems can support effective responses to future crises and access to markets that demand quality assurances.

Risk:

Lack of integrated and effective traceability systems may make it more difficult to manage food safety issues in a timely way, which may lead to inefficient emergency responses, thereby increasing risk to human health.

Facilitate and support development of tracking/traceability systems that complement national systems for food, agriculture and aquaculture, from production to retail.

• Supported work nationally to establish tracking and traceability systems. Specifically:

— began work with the B.C. cattle industry to implement an animal age verification system by April 2007; and

— worked with industry to develop a pilot project to identify and register commercial poultry premises to aid in responding to foreign animal disease emergency events.

Opportunity:

Applying leading-edge biosecurity strategies could result in more efficient emergency response and increased potential to minimize health and economic costs related to disease outbreaks.

Risk:

Not adopting best practices in biosecurity measures could reduce effectiveness of response, which may lead to increased human health and economic risks.

Work with federal and provincial government agencies and industry to apply lessons learned in the implementation of biosecurity strategies.

• Worked with the BC Poultry Association's biosecurity committee, to produce a biosecurity manual of operating procedures. The regulated poultry sector has agreed to introduce mandatory minimum biosecurity standards by January 2007. $3 million (50/50 federal and provincial funding) has been provided to assist industry to comply with these procedures.

• Secured funding and completed designs for expanding the Containment Level 2 laboratory in Abbotsford to include a Level 3 section. The laboratory will provide an enhanced level of personal protection for staff, allow for a more complete response to disease-causing agents and help ensure such agents do not return to the environment. It will also help government to deal with new emerging disease agents as they appear in B.C. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2006.

Opportunity:

Quick and effective response to disease outbreaks will help minimize potential harm to people and economic losses.

Risk:

Lack of a coordinated emergency response reduces the ability to control disease outbreaks, which could increase risk of food-borne illnesses and diseases that are transmissible from animals to people.

Review and improve upon the emergency management program for foreign animal disease eradication.

• Participated in an inter-agency review of emergency management of foreign animal disease and completed the interim Foreign Animal Disease Emergency Support (FADES) plan, a coordinated, multi-agency response to public health and food safety emergencies. The plan incorporates lessons learned following the 2004 Avian Influenza outbreak in the Fraser Valley. Effective management and containment of the more recent AI outbreak in 2005 can be attributed to the Ministry's commitment to apply lessons learned in this area. Training and simulation testing will take place in the fall of 2006.

Opportunity:

A focused and targeted approach will help to coordinate efforts across ministries to better manage invasive plant infestations before they expand.

Risk:

Uncontrolled invasive plant infestations can negatively impact agriculture/forage crops, the environment, forestry, recreation, tourism, wildlife forage, public health and property values.

Review and improve the provincial plant management strategy.

• Led the cross government Invasive Plant Management strategy, fulfilling an $8 million, two-year commitment. Highlights include:

— targeted weed control treatments on Crown forest land, 16 provincial parks, seven protected areas, four ecological reserves and critical highway right-of-way sites;

— established three new local weed committees, with four more in progress for a total of 26 to cover most of B.C. These groups coordinate regional invasive plant management;

— invested $668,000 in research and development efforts on effective treatment methods using biocontrol and other environmentally sustainable practices; and

— in partnership with the Regional District of East Kootenay and Northwest Invasive Plant Council, commenced implementation of two pilot weed control initiatives in the East Kootenays and in northwestern B.C.

Opportunity:

Developing relationships with organizations with overlapping mandates provides opportunities to leverage resources through coordinated efforts and increases the potential for efficiency gains by removing potential areas of duplication.

Risk:

Without collaboration of agencies with overlapping mandates, there is a potential that food safety hazards are not addressed resulting in increased risk to public health.

Develop strong working relationships with Ministry of Health, medical health authorities, and among provincial and federal agencies, to develop strong agency collaboration and to facilitate industry-led food safety and quality initiatives.

• Worked collaboratively with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, health authorities, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in developing a work plan for the Food Safety Initiative, to enhance adoption of food safety management systems in eligible non-federally registered processing plants.

Opportunity:

Inter-agency coordination can improve opportunities for improved pest management and for early detection of new pests and diseases to prevent their establishment.

Risks:

Without access to newer reduced-risk pesticides, B.C. growers cannot effectively compete in global markets or fully implement a more environmentally sustainable integrated Pest Management approach.

Undiagnosed plant diseases and pests can cause crop losses, reduce profits of producers and limit export markets.

Invasive plant diseases and pests introduced outside their natural habitat potentially threaten biodiversity of natural ecosystems.

Work with other government agencies to sponsor initiatives to mitigate the impact of plant and animal diseases, and invasive pest and plant species.

• Registered five new pesticides and 14 emergency registrations with Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency. This will provide B.C. growers with critical pest management tools and better access to reduced-risk products.

• Facilitated the adoption of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's new importation protocol for grapevines from France, which will require growers to implement tracking and management practices to reduce risks of plant diseases.

• Made significant progress in the development of antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic database for livestock and poultry production. The data is being shared with the federal Public Health Agency and the BC Centre for Disease Control to support risk analysis of the impact of agricultural use of antibiotics on public health.

• Under the National Aquatic Animal Health Program, Ministry staff:

— worked with the federal government to implement a program to protect against fish disease and pests; and

— are developing a pilot project to establish a health monitoring approach for shellfish that is similar to the finfish sector.

• Worked collaboratively with Ministry of Health, BC Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Environment, producers and meat processing sector on the implementation of meat inspection regulations.

• As part of the Cross-Canada BSE Surveillance Network, the Ministry evaluated over 3000 samples for BSE. Due to the need for rapid response, most samples were completed the day of submission and all within 24 hours. Provincial laboratories in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec participate in the network with four Canadian Food Inspection Agency laboratories.

Opportunity:

Investment in research and improved access to information should enable the sector to adopt better environmental practices.

Risk:

Lack of investment in research and development will reduce opportunities for innovation impacting on industry competitiveness and productivity.

Enhance capacity for research and development of industry.

• In 2005/06 estimated spending in R&D and related scientific activities for agriculture and food was $1.894 million. Activities primarily focused on R&D in plant and animal health as well as surveying, analyses and dissemination of related scientific and technological information.

• Provided $1.5 million to UBC for research to remove constraints to growth in the B.C. specialty poultry industry and to upgrade long-term poultry research capability at UBC. Six proposals were accepted and research initiated in 2005 included projects on:

— developing niche market opportunities related to specialty birds;

— identifying science-based and leading-edge food safety and biosecurity practices; and

— undertaking research on disease resistant genes in specialty birds which might be included into commercial breeds to reduce the poultry industry's susceptibility to disease outbreaks.

• Held a world-class event on range management in Vancouver with 1,200 international attendees.

• Assisted industry to hold the annual B.C. Dairy EXPO in Abbotsford with over 1,000 attendees from industry. Speaker topics focus on new technologies, farm management and production practices, and food safety and biosecurity measures.

• With the cooperation of the federal government, created R&D coordinator positions within the aquaculture industry.

• Four scientists received five-year Aquaculture and Environment Innovation funding awards as a foundation to develop research programs in sustainable aquaculture.

Opportunity:

Leading-edge regulations and standards should help ensure environmental protection.

Risk:

Outdated environmental policies and standards may result in the continued use of ineffective or inefficient environmental practices.

Continue to update B.C.'s standards, policies and regulations, maximizing environmental performance of the aquaculture industry.

• Engaged in dialogue on a governance and management framework for aquaculture through proposed federal-provincial-territorial Aquaculture Framework Agreement.

• Facilitated work of the Pacific Salmon Forum and legislative Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture to achieve their mandates of bringing forward recommendations to government for sustainable aquaculture development by April 2007.

Opportunity:

An industry plan will help strengthen environmental performance and citizen and consumer support of the aquaculture industry and the products it produces.

Risk:

Improper practices can cause environmental risks, affect other resource values — such as wild fish — and erode public confidence in the sector.

Develop an aquaculture strategy to focus on environmentally sound practices and consider values to society from both wild and farmed finfish stocks.

• Facilitated development of an industry strategic plan for shellfish aquaculture that identifies critical competitive success factors, including quality standards.

• Developing an aquaculture strategy for B.C. that will fully consider recommendations put forward by the Pacific Salmon Forum and legislative Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture.

• Helped the Coast Alliance for Aquaculture Reform and Marine Harvest Canada reach an agreement to provide for improved communication on salmon farming and undertake collaborative research and monitoring (e.g., research on physical barriers to reduce sea lice loads on farmed fish).

Opportunity:

Encouraging farmers to implement environmental farm plans can reduce the impact of farm practices on the environment.

Risk:

Unmanaged environmental impact of farm practices contributes to pollution or environmental degradation.

Promote the development and use of environmental farm plans on farms.

• Provided technical expertise to BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) for their planning advisers along with materials for use in creating environmental farm plans (EFPs). In 2005/06:

— over 1,148 farm operators attended 375 BCAC workshops, totaling over 2,800 attendants since the program began;

— 662 farms completed EFPs for a total of 783 to date;

— $2.94 million was allocated for 548 applications for a total of $3.28 million and 597 applications to date; and

— approved projects totaled $9.97 million.

• For its work in delivering the environmental farm program, the BC Agriculture Council won the Canadian Agri-Food Award of Excellence for Environmental Stewardship for 2005 from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The Ministry was recognized as a partnering agency in implementing the program.

Opportunity:

Effective coordination among government agencies can improve the province's ability to respond to and control West Nile virus.

Risk:

An ineffective response to West Nile virus increases the risk of spread, thereby posing a risk to public health.

Provide leadership in coordinating the response of resource agencies on Crown lands in managing and controlling West Nile virus.

• Initiated discussions with provincial agencies having a Crown land management role, municipalities and regional districts to identify potential mechanisms to enable access to Crown land for management and control purposes. The Ministry will build on this base to develop a coordinated Crown land response strategy for management and control activities on Crown land, including access mechanisms, notification procedures, funding streams and key government contact information.

Opportunity:

Increasing local government and community awareness of agriculture and aquaculture values and issues will help bridge the urban/agriculture divide.

Risk:

Lack of relationship-building with communities that include agricultural lands could result in restrictive local government policies and bylaws that can hamper the agriculture industry's ability to survive and expand, and can perpetuate urban/agriculture conflict.

Work with local government to enhance the contribution that agriculture and aquaculture sectors make to the community.

• Worked actively with 24 Agriculture Advisory Committees (AACs) through the Strengthening Farming Program to proactively manage the urban/agriculture divide by assisting with planning and bylaw development affecting agriculture, maintaining bylaw guidelines and providing information support on land-use planning. Two AACs, the Township of Spallumcheen and Regional District of Comox-Strathcona, were established in 2005/06. Other highlights include:

— initiated or completed land-use inventories for seven communities in the Fraser and Okanagan valleys, Vancouver Island and Cariboo. The inventories are used by local governments to develop plans for agriculture in their communities. To date, land-use inventories have been completed for almost half of the areas that comprise the 49 communities in B.C. with a significant level of agricultural activity;¹ and

— supported the development of an Agriculture Area Plan for the Central Okanagan Regional District. To date, 15 of 49 agricultural communities have developed Agriculture Area Plans.

Risk:

Improper disposal of livestock waste tissue can create environmental and human health risks.

Develop and implement the provincial livestock waste tissue initiative strategy in concert with local government.

• Contributed $5 million to industry for the implementation of affordable and environmentally sound options for animal tissue waste. Key initiatives include:

— supported 15 projects to look for local solutions to specified risk material disposal; and

— participated in ongoing discussions with the Union of B.C. Municipalities on assistance to municipalities to plan for emergency animal carcass disposal.

Opportunity:

Inter-ministry collaboration helps to ensure the agriculture sector's current and future interests related to water, energy and land are represented.

Risk:

If ministries pursue strategies independently, there is increased risk that all interests are not considered, potentially placing those sectors at a disadvantage.

Contribute to provincial strategies on resource use, such as water.

• Contributed to development of the provincial water, energy, Mountain Pine Beetle and Okanagan Basin Water initiatives to ensure agriculture's contribution and role in achieving provincial objectives is clear and furthered.

• In support of the province's strategy to manage Mountain Pine Beetle impacts, the Ministry has developed an action plan to encourage agriculture sector growth and provided $200,000 to undertake priority arability projects that will identify suitable Crown lands for expansion of agriculture and grazing.

• Contributed $300,000 to support 4 pilot projects addressing wildlife damage in the Comox Valley, East Kootenays and Delta region.

Opportunity:

A coordinated and responsive Crown Land Allocation Framework can help improve the consistency and quality of Crown land decisions.

Risk:

Lack of provincial coordination in Crown land policy can lead to inefficiencies such as duplication of efforts and possible litigation gaps in policies or conflicting policies, which can reduce the value British Columbians realize from Crown land resources.

Lead development of a responsive provincial strategic Crown Land Allocation Framework.

• Initiated the Crown Land Allocation Framework project and started consultation with partner ministries (Transportation; Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources; Tourism, Sport and the Arts; and Forests and Range). The framework will help guide policy development and land-use decisions across government to help ensure access and sustainable use for the benefit of all British Columbians.

Opportunity:

Collaboration, consultation and effective relationships can result in greater certainty, more benefits and better public policy.

Risk:

Without collaboration, it is harder to reconcile different values, which reduces the ability to achieve defined Crown land objectives.

Work collaboratively with industry, local government, First Nations and provincial government agencies.

• Initiated a project to provide staff with updated operational advice on First Nation consultation and accommodation to meet legal obligations and support the New Relationship.

• Advanced economic and planning partnerships with First Nations and local governments, including:

— a sale to City of Vancouver of the Chinatown Murrin Parkade allowing the city to meet on-going parking requirements; and

— negotiation of a significant Crown land sale to the Squamish First Nation.

Opportunity:

Collaboration among resource ministries can improve the quality of service provided to clients.

Risk:

Lack of a coordinated approach can make it cumbersome and time consuming for clients to access services they require to do business, which can hinder investment.

Develop and implement a mutually collaborative and effective partnership with ILMB and other land-mandated ministries that supports seamless delivery of services.

• Clarified roles and responsibilities through delegation arrangements with the ministries of Transportation, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Tourism, Sport and the Arts and Forests and Range.

• Participated in inter-ministry committees to ensure coordination and collaboration with the Land Act and related programs and processes.

Opportunity:

Effective pricing policies can ensure a fair return from Crown land.

Risk:

Pricing policies that do not reflect market values could either hinder capital investment (if too high) or result in revenue losses to the province (if too low).

Review and develop, as necessary, a current pricing policy to ensure the province receives optimal value from specified Crown land transactions.

• Completed a review of the Utilities Pricing Policy, the Private Moorage Policy and the Residential Policy as it applies to stilt homes to ensure the province receives optimal value from Crown land.

Opportunity:

An accurate inventory and a priority process for remediation can improve the cost-effectiveness of contaminated sites management and government's ability to manage human and environmental risks.

Risk:

Lack of a disciplined process to identify and inventory contaminated sites may result in some high-risk sites not being addressed in a timely manner which can increase environmental and human health risks.

Inventory, classify and prioritize known provincial contaminated sites using a risk-based approach.

• 300 sites were entered into Crown Contaminated Sites Database in 2005, for a total of 840 to date. Data is used to help prioritize sites.

• Completed preliminary investigations of 10 new sites.

Opportunity:

Horizontal coordination of funding requests can ensure that high-risk sites from a province-wide perspective are addressed (as opposed to the priorities of specific ministries or agencies).

Risk:

Lack of provincial coordination can result in ministries addressing sites based on their own priorities rather than a province-wide priority system potentially increasing environmental and human health risks.

Coordinate funding requests and site investigations to address the province's highest-priority sites.

• Base funding has been secured through the Ministry budgetary planning process for 2005/06 to 2008/09 ($21.6, $22.6, $23.6, $23.6 million respectively). In addition, funding of $13.4 million and $7.7 million has been secured for the management of remediation at the Port Alice and New Skeena pulp mills.

Opportunity:

Accurate and timely reporting provides British Columbians with information regarding how the province is managing human and environmental risks.

Risk:

A lack of a public reporting process could affect public confidence.

Implement accountability and reporting requirements related to these sites.

• The first Crown Contaminated Sites program (CCSP) biennial report will be published in 2006/07 and posted on CCSP's website (www.agf.gov.bc.ca/clad/ccs/index.html).

Opportunity:

Progress made in remediating older contaminated sites will help minimize risks associated with health and safety, environmental protection and legal obligations.

Risk:

Not remediating historic sites could result in continued environmental degradation or failure to meet provincial obligations.

Oversee remediation of significant, historic contaminated sites such as the Britannia Mine and Pacific Place.

• Completed remediation work at the Pitt River landfill site and in Goose Bay, a former cannery and fishing camp located on the central coast.

• Major progress made on significant sites, including:

— Britannia Mine: start-up of a water treatment plant under a P3 agreement to treat acid rock drainage flowing into Howe Sound.

— Pacific Place (located on the former Expo lands): continued clean-up of a former industrial site to enable economic growth and redevelopment of the north shore of Vancouver's False Creek.

— Yankee Girl mine (Kootenays): implementation of initial remedial works along the Salmo River, south of Nelson.

Opportunity:

Restoration of contaminated sites can enable new economic investment and contribute to the social fabric of communities.

Risk:

An inability to address historic contamination could result in adverse environmental impacts and foregone economic opportunities affecting communities and employment.

Oversee remediation of new contaminated sites for which the Ministry has been assigned responsibility.