This archived statute consolidation is current to November 10, 1992 and includes changes enacted and in force by that date.

Environment and Land Use Act

[RSBC 1979] CHAPTER 110

Contents
Section
  1.  Interpretation
  2.  Committee established
  3.  Duties of the committee
  4.  Powers of committee
  5.  Provision for expenses of committee members
  6.  Orders of Lieutenant Governor in Council
  7.  Regulations

Interpretation

1.  In this Act

"committee" means the Environment and Land Use Committee established under this Act;

"environment" means all the external conditions or influences under which man, animals and plants live or are developed.

Historical Note(s): 1971-17-1.

Committee established

2.  (1) The committee known as the Environment and Land Use Committee is continued, and consists of a chairman and other members of the Executive Council the Lieutenant Governor in Council appoints.

(2) The chairman and the other members of the committee shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council for a term he determines.

(3) The committee may determine its own procedure and may elect an acting chairman to act in the absence of the chairman.

(4) If the membership of the committee exceeds 3 members, the quorum is 3 members.

Historical Note(s): 1971-17-2.

Duties of the committee

3.  It is the duty of the committee, and it is empowered,

(a) to establish and recommend programs designed to foster increased public concern and awareness of the environment;

(b) to ensure that all the aspects of preservation and maintenance of the natural environment are fully considered in the administration of land use and resource development commensurate with a maximum beneficial land use, and minimize and prevent waste of those resources, and despoliation of the environment occasioned by that use;

(c) to, if considered advisable, make recommendation to the Lieutenant Governor in Council respecting any matter relating to the environment and the development and use of land and other natural resources;

(d) to inquire into and study any matter pertaining to the environment, or land use; and

(e) to prepare reports, and, if advisable, make recommendations for submission to the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Historical Note(s): 1971-17-3.

Powers of committee

4.  The committee may

(a) hold a public inquiry whenever it appears to the committee that the proper determination of any matter within its jurisdiction necessitates an inquiry, and, for that purpose, the chairman of the committee or a member of the committee authorized by the committee to hold a hearing has all the powers and jurisdiction of a justice under the Offence Act;

(b) appoint technical committees; and

(c) subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, provide for the remuneration of experts, specialists and researchers and, under the Public Service Act, of clerks and other employees as required.

Historical Note(s): 1971-17-4.

Provision for expenses of committee members

5.  No member of the committee is entitled to remuneration as a member of the committee, but he may be paid and receive travelling and out of pocket expenses in accordance with the general directives of the Treasury Board.

Historical Note(s): 1971-17-5; 1987-12-5, effective June 26, 1987 (B.C. Reg. 182/87).

Orders of Lieutenant Governor in Council

6.  The Lieutenant Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the committee, may make orders respecting the environment, or land use, that he considers necessary or advisable, and he may make orders under this Act, notwithstanding any other Act or regulation, and no minister, ministry of government, or agent of the Crown specified in the order shall exercise a power granted under any other Act or regulation except in accordance with the order.

Historical Note(s): 1971-17-6; 1977-75-1.

Regulations

7.  The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations.

Historical Note(s): 1971-17-7.