Volume 1 - Resource Management
Chapter 16 - Enforcement

Policy 16.4 - Senior Officials

Effective Date: 01-June-95
Responsible Branch: Compliance and Enforcement Branch

Resource Management Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

This policy covers Senior Officials and alternate Senior Officials as defined by the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act.

Purpose

To ensure that Senior Officers exercising authority under the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act are authorized for that purpose and that their actions are legally defensible.

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy:

"alternates" means personnel designated in writing to act on behalf of a specific senior manager in their absence

"determination" means any act, omission, decision, procedure, levy, order, or other determination made under this Act, the regulations, or the standards by an official or a senior official

"senior official" means

(a) a District Manager or Regional Manager; and
(b) a person employed in a senior position in the Ministry of Forests, who is designated by name or title to be a senior official for the purposes of the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act by the Minister of that Ministry

Policy

It is Ministry policy that:

Senior Official Status

Staff within the Ministry of Forests designated to exercise authority as Senior Officials will hold the following positions:

  • Fire Centre Manager;
  • Director, Protection Branch;
  • Director, Enforcement Branch;
  • Assistant Deputy Minister of Operations; and
  • Chief Forester.

Designation of Alternates

Alternates acting in place of a Senior Official must be designated in writing by the direct supervisor of the Senior Official which they are acting on behalf of, or an official in a higher position who also has Senior Official status. Standing designations are acceptable if in writing and specific to an individual, or individual in order of ranking.

Authority of Designated Alternates

Upon written designation alternates, will have authority under the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act equivalent to the Senior Official which they are acting in the absence of.

Continuity and Completion

Alternate Senior Officials who have made determinations will continue to be responsible for those determinations. Determinations made by the alternate which:

  • are subject to review or appeal;
  • require attendance at meetings;
  • require additional rationale statements; or
  • require other attention

will remain the responsibility of the alternate Senior Official that made the original determination.

Alternates, where appropriate, also have Senior Official status for determinations made by the Senior Official they are alternating for. This authority will be relinquished when the original Senior Official returns to their regular duties, or another Senior Official takes the position for which they are alternating.

Notification of Change

Change of Senior Official on an open case under review or appeal requires official notice and rationale from the "new" Senior Official to all parties who may be affected by the determinations.

References