{"id":87322,"date":"2026-07-20T10:20:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T17:20:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/?post_type=engagement&#038;p=87322"},"modified":"2026-09-22T08:53:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T15:53:48","slug":"natural-resource-tribunals","status":"publish","type":"engagement","link":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/natural-resource-tribunals\/","title":{"rendered":"Natural Resource Tribunals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group engage-banner has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fbda80\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"top\">Engagement was open July 20 to August 14, 2026<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#858689\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1673\" height=\"1253\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-88686\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/06\/NR-Tribunals-Winery-Construction.jpg\" style=\"object-position:46% 60%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"46% 60%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/06\/NR-Tribunals-Winery-Construction.jpg 1673w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/06\/NR-Tribunals-Winery-Construction-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/06\/NR-Tribunals-Winery-Construction-1024x767.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/06\/NR-Tribunals-Winery-Construction-768x575.jpg 768w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/06\/NR-Tribunals-Winery-Construction-1536x1150.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/06\/NR-Tribunals-Winery-Construction-1200x899.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1673px) 100vw, 1673px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-engagement-container\"><div class=\"engagement-page\"><div class=\"engagement-content-wrapper\"><h1 class=\"engagement-title-banner \" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/themes\/bcgov-engagement\/dist\/images\/blue-curve-bg.svg)\">Natural Resource Tribunals<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-engagement-content\"><bcgov-breadcrumb>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\">Home<\/a>\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/\">Engagement Opportunities<\/a> \n                  <span>\n        Natural Resource Tribunals\n  <\/span>\n  <div style=\"display: flex\" slot=\"breadcrumb-extra\">\n      <\/div>\n  <\/bcgov-breadcrumb>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">On this page:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#tribunals\" title=\"\">What are natural resource tribunals?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#contribution\" title=\"\">What is the challenge?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#proposed\" title=\"\">What is being proposed?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#results\" title=\"\">Results<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#next\" title=\"\">What&#8217;s next<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-govtogether-engagement-header\"><div class=\"text-column\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dates:<\/strong> July 20 to August 14<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"remove-bottom-margin\"><strong>Who: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Ministry of Environment and Parks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Ministry of Forests<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What: <\/strong>Proposed improvements to two natural resource tribunals<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong> Province-wide<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why:<\/strong> To strengthen B.C.&#8217;s economy while maintaining high environmental standards and outcomes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How: <\/strong>Online<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-engagement_category wp-block-post-terms\"><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__prefix\"><strong>Category: <\/strong><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/law-and-public-safety\/\" rel=\"tag\">Law and Public Safety<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/natural-resource-sector\/\" rel=\"tag\">Natural Resource Sector<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/natural-resources\/\" rel=\"tag\">Natural Resources<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"image-column\"><span role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"engagement-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/06\/NR-Tribunals-Logging-Truck-scaled.jpg);background-position:57.99999999999999% 35%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tribunals\">What are natural resource tribunals?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tribunals are legal independent bodies that can review decisions made by the Province. Sometimes a tribunal is also called a board or commission. Natural resource tribunals in B.C. are designed to provide a process for the public to appeal government decisions on environmental issues like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Water licences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pesticide permits<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contaminated site remediation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These tribunals serve as an alternative to taking disputes directly to court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"challenge\">What is the challenge?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In B.C., the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bceab.ca\/\" title=\"\">Environmental Appeal Board (EAB)<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcfac.ca\/\" title=\"\">Forest Appeals Commission (FAC)<\/a> are two major natural resource tribunals. The EAB and FAC resolve disputes about decisions made by government on forests and environmental issues under specific laws and regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Appeal processes to the EAB and FAC were designed to provide a fair, accessible, and timely process for reviewing natural resource decisions. Over time, appeal processes have become more complex and lengthy, which has contributed to delays in the permitting and enforcement system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"proposed\">What is being proposed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Province is looking at possible changes to laws and processes to make sure appeals work the way they were originally intended. This could include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Deciding certain appeals based on existing record instead of requiring a new hearing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No longer pausing monetary penalties when an appeal is filed, and instead refunding the penalty if the appeal is successful<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This work supports efforts to strengthen B.C.\u2019s economy while maintaining high environmental standards and outcomes, and obligations to First Nations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"results\">Results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you to everyone who participated in the engagement process and shared feedback on the proposed changes to the appeals system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Participants generally recognized challenges with the current system, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Concerns about how long appeals can take<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The complexity and cost of the process<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Duplication of effort<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lack of transparency<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Many participants expressed support for the proposed changes, particularly where those changes could help make the appeals process more efficient, predictable and effective. Participants also identified important considerations, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Maintaining fair and transparent decision-making<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meaningful opportunities to participate in the appeals process<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Appropriate engagement and consultation with First Nations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Safeguards to support access to appeals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Participants shared suggestions on how the proposed changes could be put into practice. Key themes included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Access to decision-making information and records<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Notification and information-sharing processes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improving opportunities for affected parties to be heard during appeals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Refund and cost-recovery mechanisms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stewardship and environmental outcomes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"next\">What&#8217;s next<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Province is reviewing the feedback received through engagement. Input from participants will help inform ongoing policy development and consideration of potential improvements to the appeals system. As this work progresses, your feedback will be considered alongside legal, operational and implementation requirements to support any future changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related engagements<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"related-engagements\">\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Health Care Assistant Regulation. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Education and Training, Health, Law and Public Safety. Status: Open.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-open\">\n                                            Open                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/health-care-assistant-regulation\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Health Care Assistant Regulation                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Education and Training<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Health<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Law and Public Safety<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/health-care-assistant-regulation\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/09\/Health-Care-Assistant-Regulation1-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: BC Wildfire Service App Experience Survey. Categories: Law and Public Safety, Natural Resource Sector. Status: Open.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-open\">\n                                            Open                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/bc-wildfire-service-app\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        BC Wildfire Service App Experience Survey                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Law and Public Safety<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resource Sector<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/bc-wildfire-service-app\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/09\/BC-Wildfire-Banner.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Child and Youth Well-Being Action Plan. Categories: Families and Residents, Health, Law and Public Safety. Status: Ongoing.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-ongoing\">\n                                            Ongoing                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/child-and-youth-well-being-action-plan\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Child and Youth Well-Being Action Plan                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Families and Residents<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Health<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Law and Public Safety<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/child-and-youth-well-being-action-plan\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/06\/CYWB-engagement-hero-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Community Advisory Group on Extortion. Categories: Families and Residents, Law and Public Safety, Multi-language. Status: Open.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-open\">\n                                            Open                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/extortion\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Community Advisory Group on Extortion                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Families and Residents<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Law and Public Safety<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Multi-language<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/extortion\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/03\/Extortion-Police-Car.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Daylight Saving Time. Categories: Families and Residents, Law and Public Safety. Status: Closed with results.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed with results\">\n                                            Closed with results                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/daylight-saving-time\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Daylight Saving Time                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Families and Residents<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Law and Public Safety<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/daylight-saving-time\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/03\/DST-Banner.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Legal Professions Regulatory Reform. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Law and Public Safety. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/legal-professions-reform\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Legal Professions Regulatory Reform                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Law and Public Safety<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/legal-professions-reform\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/02\/LegalProfessions2.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":88686,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","engagement_category":[247,22,272],"engagement_region":[192],"engagement_status":[207],"engagement_pin_group":[],"class_list":["post-87322","engagement","type-engagement","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","engagement_category-law-and-public-safety","engagement_category-natural-resource-sector","engagement_category-natural-resources","engagement_region-province-wide","engagement_status-closed-with-results"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"pinned_engagement_toggle":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/87322","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/engagement"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/87322\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89837,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/87322\/revisions\/89837"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87322"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"engagement_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_category?post=87322"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_region?post=87322"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_status?post=87322"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_pin_group","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_pin_group?post=87322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}