Recommendations and Action Items
Action Post
Call for members for East Kootenay Wildlife and Habitat Advisory Committee
This call supports Action 2 of Together for Wildlife and is the result of significant engagement over the course of the last two years in the region with First Nations and the interim committee. The intent of this work is to create an opportunity to identify shared interests for wildlife and habitat stewardship across Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals through respectful and trust-based collaborations that complement the government-to-government relationships the Province is committed to pursuing with First Nations governments. For more information on Regional Wildlife Advisory Committees and the call for East Kootenay members, see www.gov.bc.ca/RegionalWildlifeAdvisoryCommittee.
Who is affected:
British Columbians
Actions & Next Steps:
Council will continue to press for timely action on these recommendations.
Action Post
Recommendations to Ministers Cullen and Ralston
Council has provided 5 additional recommendations to Ministers. Learn More
Who is affected:
British Columbians
Actions & Next Steps:
Council will continue to press for timely action on these recommendations.
Action Post
Recommendations to Ministers Cullen and Ralston
Council has provided 22 recommendations to Ministers.
Who is affected:
British Columbians
Actions & Next Steps:
Council will continue to press for timely action on these recommendations.
Action Post
Recommendations to Ministers Josie Osborne and Katrine Conroy
Council has provided 19 recommendations to the Ministers.
Who is affected:
British Columbians
Actions & Next Steps:
Council will continue to press for timely action on these recommendations.
Action Post
Development of Regional Wildlife Advisory Committees
Regional Wildlife Advisory Committees will be essential to implementing Together for Wildlife. Council worked with the First Nations–B.C. Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Forum and Provincial Hunting and Trapping Advisory Team to provide recommended approaches to the Minister. This was also informed by discussions as part of the December 2022 wildlife dialogues.
Who is affected:
First Nations, Stakeholders throughout B.C.
Actions & Next Steps:
Work towards the establishment of wildlife advisory committees is now underway in some parts of the province.
Action Post
Council’s Recommendations to Honourable Katrine Conroy in the letter dated January 21, 2020
- We recommend that a letter be sent to your colleagues on the Environmental Land Use Committee to introduce the Together for Wildlife Strategy and Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council. A draft letter has been prepared by Wildlife and Habitat Branch staff for your approval, with the Together for Wildlife Strategy attached, as well as a one-page summary of the Vision, Goals, and Actions. The Council members feel this letter would be an excellent first step in having your colleagues learn first-hand about the strategy and the Council, and would help open communication with other ministries as the Council’s work proceeds.
- We request that Council be involved in a comprehensive review of the Wildlife Act, as mandated in the Together for Wildlife Strategy. We recognize that short-term amendments to the Wildlife Act are currently being considered and that legislative changes will likely be foundational to reconciliation. The Council supports reconciliation, and we hope to become a model of how Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders can work together towards a better, more equitable, and sustainable society.
- We recommend direction be given to your ministry leads for the Forests and Range Practices Act and the Old Growth Strategic Review to collaborate with Council on shared priorities. We kindly request a meeting between these groups and the Council to exchange information and understand how the Together for Wildlife Strategy could support and be part of the outcomes of other priority provincial initiatives. Also, within your ministry, Council supports the ongoing work between staff and industry to implement positive policy changes regarding forestry roads rehabilitation.
- 2021-06-28: Minister’s Response
- 2021-01-21: Letter to Minister Conroy
Who is affected:
Government, Stakeholder, First Nations
Actions & Next Steps:
The Together for Wildlife Strategy and Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council info are shared with ELUC, staff are directed to work closely with the council as work proceeds on a comprehensive review of the Wildlife Act and the Council's interest in collaborating with ministry leads for the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Old Growth Strategic Review on shared priorities is supported. The Council has received information on these two initiatives.
Action Post
Implementation: 2021/22 High level budget discussion
The Province presented information on high level budget and allocations for FY 2021-22. Council provided the following feedback:
- Request for additional detail for each of the funding categories.
- Acknowledge other sources of funding (core budgets, COVID stimulus funds, other ministries) for wildlife work and reconciliation.
- Increase the level of partnership approach and best mechanisms to ensure access to funding for First Nations.
- Ideas and questions were presented related to setting aside a percentage of funds for acquisition, funding for data management, predator management, reconciliation, funding for Forum.
- Council to consider performance measures to clearly set out the efficacy of the Together for Wildlife funding.
Who is affected:
British Columbians
Actions & Next Steps:
The Province to report on regional priorities and additional detail on budget breakdown including baseline budget for various categories at the next meeting.
Action Post
Implementation of Together for Wildlife : Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) Partnership
Council endorsed partnership with HCTF for 2021/22 to broaden funding disbursement to a wide range of wildlife and habitat projects. Council would like to engage with HCTF to provide recommendation on more inclusive allocation approaches.
Who is affected:
British Columbians
Actions & Next Steps:
Council or Funding Working Group to meet with HCTF to discuss allocation process and Council priorities.