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BC Chamber of Commerce
#1201, 750 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 2T8

T 604.683.0700
F 604.683.0416
E bccc@bcchamber.org

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Advocacy & Policy

2010 - 2011 Policy & Positions Manual

<< back to Statements of Policy

Environment

The Chamber believes there is an obvious need for continued economic development in BC in order to generate the revenues required to sustain and improve the health, educational and social programs essential to our quality of life.  The Chamber also believes that the impact of economic development on the environment must be minimized.  There is an urgent need to ensure that current, relevant and accurate science-based information can be developed and disseminated to underpin decisions and public policy.  The Chamber believes that government can and should play a lead role in this endeavor.

The Chamber supports the Provincial Government in its efforts to minimise environmental impact by the establishment and enforcement of appropriate standards and regulations based on supportable data which take into consideration:

  1. technical feasibility;
  1. economic feasibility and economic impacts;
  1. the assimilative capacity of the environment on a site specific basis; and
  1. recognition of the right of humankind to continue to enjoy the environments to which it has become accustomed; the natural environment as well as the technological, economic, social and material environments which are equally essential to its continued wellbeing.

Eliminate Unproductive Regulations
The Chamber supports the Government’s initiative to eliminate unnecessary and unproductive regulations that create waste, confusion, inconsistency and uncertainty.  Environmental regulations that have no apparent and material benefit to the protection of environmental values should be eliminated.

Efficient and Effective Administration
The Chamber recommends that steps be taken to co-ordinate the interpretation and application of the regulations that remain in order to promote consistency and predictability.  The Chamber strongly recommends that all environmental standards and regulations established by Provincial and Federal Governments and agencies be integrated and harmonized.  Any required environmental assessment and enforcement should be carried out on a joint basis by establishing a single point of contact, and setting clear guidelines which would permit the expeditious processing of applications for industrial and energy development within the province of BC.  Government agencies responsible for environmental regulations should be directed to administer those regulations on a results oriented basis.  Regulations should not be viewed as barriers to responsible development, but as a means of ensuring that development can take place with minimal environmental impact.