Updates and Changes at the Ministry of Environment and Parks –

BC Parks and Recreation Sites and Trails BC

To our partners in outdoor recreation and conservation,

As a partner in outdoor recreation and conservation in B.C., we would like to let you know about some recent and upcoming changes and opportunities in our organization.

Earlier this week, Premier David Eby announced a new Cabinet as well as a name change for our ministry.  Tamara Davidson (Haida name Laanas), MLA for North Coast- Haida Gwaii, was appointed as the Minister of Environment and Parks. Before being elected to the legislature, Tamara worked within the federal public service in various areas including land management, indigenous relations and tourism. Tamara was also an elected representative of the Council of the Haida Nation and played an instrumental role in the Haida Nation Recognition Act.  We are excited to work with our new minister.

The Conservation and Recreation Division is undertaking an organizational realignment to more closely integrate the BC Parks and Recreation Sites and Trails BC programs.  Planning for this realignment has been underway since 2022 when Recreation Sites and Trails BC joined the ministry alongside BC Parks in the Conservation and Recreation Division.  Our division will continue to deliver the distinct BC Parks and Recreation Sites and Trails BC programs that British Columbians value with a unified approach.  The changes will be implemented in mid-January 2025.

Provincial functions like budget management, safety, compliance & enforcement, planning, and other key operations will be combined to provide a more effective approach to service delivery and support for regional operations in parks, protected areas, recreation sites and trails. Regional and district operations for parks, protected areas, recreation sites and trails will be jointly managed within the Coast, North and South geographical areas and further organized into seven regions of the province.  This structure aligns the two programs with the broader Natural Resource Sector ministries and enhances coordination across various land management programs.

During the outdoor recreation sector discussions as part of the Provincial Recreation Strategy engagement process, we heard that recreation users wanted to see better coordination and alignment amongst government agencies, increased opportunity for partner engagement and continued prioritization of conservation and stewardship. These themes are central elements of the realignment of BC Parks and Recreation Sites and Trails BC.

Over the next few months, we will be taking steps to put the transition in place. During this time and into the next year, we will remain focused on providing services to the public and our park and recreation site and trail users.

Jim Standen
Assistant Deputy Minister
Conservation and Recreation Division

John Hawkings
Executive Lead,
Recreation Strategy and Service Transformation