Source: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/tasb/legsregs/archive/fpc/fpcact/part7.htm
Timestamp: 2013-05-20 20:21:32
Document Index: 188837166

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 7', 'ART 7', 'ART 1', 'ART 2', 'ART 3', 'ART 4', 'ART 5', 'ART 6', 'ART 7', 'ART 8', 'ART 9', 'ART 10', 'ART 10', 'ART 11', 'art 5']

Forest Practices Code of BC Act - PART 7 - GENERAL
PART 7 - GENERAL NOTE: This is not the current version of the Forest Practices Code. This document is available only as a reference for those sections repealed when the Forest and Range Practices Act came into force January 31, 2004.For the current version click here
TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1 - DEFINITIONS PART 2 - STRATEGIC PLANNING, OBJECTIVES
AND STANDARDS PART 3 - OPERATIONAL PLANNING
REQUIREMENTS FOR GOVERNMENT AND FOR FOREST AND RANGE TENURE AGREEMENTS PART 4 - FOREST PRACTICES SPECIFIC TO
FOREST AND RANGE TENURE AGREEMENTS AND THE GOVERNMENT PART 5 - PROTECTION OF FOREST RESOURCES:
GENERAL PART 6 - COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT PART 7 - GENERAL DIVISION 1 - LIABILITY AND PRIVILEGE DIVISION 2 - MISCELLANEOUS PART 8 - FOREST PRACTICES BOARD PART 9 - FOREST APPEALS COMMISSION PART 10 - REGULATIONS PART 10.1 - PILOT PROJECTS TO IMPROVE
THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR FOREST PRACTICES PART 11 - TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS Division 1 - Liability and Privilege 160. Liability of government
160. (1) The ministers, persons employed under the Public Service Act and
any other person who acts on behalf of the government are not liable in a personal or
official capacity for loss or damage suffered by another person by reason of anything done
or omitted in the exercise or performance or purported exercise or performance of a power
or duty under this Act, the regulations or the standards unless the person who brings the
action proves that the person acting on behalf of the government was not acting in good
(2) Subsection (1) does not absolve the government from vicarious liability arising out
of an act or omission for which it would be vicariously liable if this section were not in
(3) Without limiting subsection (1), the board, the commission, the council, if any, and
their members, their employees, persons retained by them under section 191 (2), persons
exercising a delegated power under section 193 and any other persons acting on behalf of
any of them are persons acting on behalf of the government for the purposes of subsection
(4) Despite subsection (2), the government is not liable in respect of any loss or
damage caused or resulting, directly or indirectly, by or from,
(b) anything done or omitted in the exercise or performance or purported exercise or
performance of a power or duty conferred under this Act, the regulations or the standards, unless the person who brings the action proves that the person exercising or performing or
purporting to exercise or perform the power or duty was not acting in good faith.
(5) It is conclusively deemed for all purposes, including for the purposes of the Expropriation Act, that no expropriation or injurious affection occurs as a result of
(6) If damages or compensation is precluded by this section in respect of a matter, a
person must not commence or maintain proceedings in respect of that matter
161. Protection against libel and slander
161. For the purposes of any Act or law respecting libel or slander,
(a) anything said, all information supplied and all records and things produced in the
course of an investigation, inquiry or proceedings before the board, commission or
council, if any, under this Act are privileged to the same extent as if the inquiry or
proceedings were proceedings in a court, and
(b) a report made by the board and a fair and accurate account of the report in a
newspaper, periodical publication or broadcast is privileged to the same extent as if the
report of the board were the order of the court. 162. Liability of persons to government
162. (1) A person is liable to the government for costs incurred by the
(a) controlling or suppressing a fire, and
(b) establishing a free growing stand if the costs are incurred as a result, directly or indirectly, of the person's failure
(c) the requirements of, Division 2 or 3 of Part 5,
(d) a requirement of a regulation or standard made under this Act respecting fire use,
prevention, control or suppression, or
(e) [Repealed] (f) an order under section 78, 82, 84, 85, 94 or 118.
(2) A person is liable to the government
for the value of Crown timber and other forest resources of the government or other
property of the government damaged or destroyed as a result, directly or indirectly, of
the person's failure to comply with a requirement or order referred to in subsection (1)
(c) to (f). (3) A person is liable to the government
(a) for costs incurred by the government in controlling or disposing of insects,
diseases, animals or abiotic factors, and
(b) the value of Crown timber damaged or destroyed
directly or indirectly, as a result of the person's failure to comply with an order
(4) No person may be found to have failed to comply with a requirement or order referred to in this section if the person establishes that
(a) the person exercised due diligence to prevent the failure to comply with the requirement or order,
(b) the person reasonably believed in the existence of facts that if true would establish that the person did not fail to comply with the requirement or order, or
(c) the person's actions relevant to the requirement or order were the result of an officially induced error.
(5) Subsection (4) does not apply in respect of a failure to comply referred to in subsection (1) that occurred before the coming into force of this subsection.
162.1 Limitation on liability of persons to government
162.1 (1) Subject to subsections (3) to (4), a holder of an agreement under the Forest Act is conclusively deemed to have met the specified obligations that are referred to in paragraph (d) and are obligations under this Act, the regulations or standards, or under an operational plan, a permit or another authorization, if the holder, in writing, submits to the district manager a declaration specifying all of the following:
(a) the cutblocks or roads affected, if any;
(c) permits affected, if any;
(2) The declaration must be signed by the holder who makes a declaration under subsection (1), if an individual, or, if a corporation, by an individual or the individuals authorized to sign on behalf of the corporation.
(3) If, within the prescribed period after receiving a declaration under subsection (1), the district manager gives notice in writing to the holder that an obligation specified in the declaration has not been met, then the holder remains responsible for meeting that obligation.
(3.1) The district manager must not give written notice to the holder under subsection (3) to the effect that an obligation in respect of establishing a free growing stand on an area has not been met unless the district manager has determined that
(a) a free growing stand has not been established, or
(b) a free growing stand has been established and the following circumstances apply:
(i) at the time the declaration was made, the stand was under threat from
(A) competition from plants, shrubs or other trees established on the area, or
(B) forest health concerns present on the area;
(ii) as a result of the threats referred to in subparagraph (i), the stand is unlikely to remain a free growing stand without further treatment.
(4) A holder who makes a declaration under subsection (1) remains responsible for an obligation if the holder (a) made a material misrepresentation or misstatement of fact in the declaration, or
(b) omitted information from the declaration that the holder knew or ought to have known was material to determining if the obligations referred to in the declaration had been met.
(5) Repealed. [2003-56-20 (B.C. Reg. 467/2003)]
(6) Repealed. [2003-56-20 (B.C. Reg. 467/2003)]
162.2 When government may fund significant extra expense or waive obligation
162.2 (1) The district manager must grant the relief described in subsection (3) to a person who, under this Act, the regulations, the standards or an operational plan, has an obligation other than
(a) an obligation to establish a free growing stand, or
(b) a prescribed obligation, and
(c) because of an event causing damage, the obligation on the area cannot be met without significant extra expense than would have been required if the damage had not occurred, and
(i) did not cause or contribute to the cause of the damage,
(ii) exercised due diligence in relation to the cause of the damage, or
(iii) contributed to the cause of the damage, but only as a result of an officially induced error.
(2) The district manager must grant
(a) the relief described in subsection (3), or
(b) the funding described in subsection (4) to a person having an obligation to establish a free growing stand if the person satisfies the district manager that
(c) because of an event causing damage, the obligation to establish the free growing stand cannot be met without significant extra expense than would have been the case if the damage had not occurred, and
(iii) contributed to the cause of the damage but only as a result of an officially induced error.
(3) The relief, that must be granted under subsection (1) or that may be granted under subsection (2) (a), from an obligation by the district manager to a person is relief from
(a) the person's obligation to the extent only that the obligation cannot be met without significant extra expense related to the damage referred to in subsection (1) or (2), or
(b) the person's obligation in full if the district manager considers that the remaining obligation, after taking paragraph (a) of this subsection into account, is inconsequential.
(4) The funding for an obligation, that may be granted under subsection (2) (b) by the district manager to a person, is funding to the extent only that is required for the purpose of restoring the stand of trees on the area affected by the event referred to in subsection (2)
(a) to the stage the stand had reached at the time of the damage caused by the event, or
(b) to the stage that is consistent with the person's obligation in that regard as modified by a regulation under subsection (7).
(5) A decision in any proceedings, that a person having an obligation referred to in subsection (1) or (2) did or did not do any of the things referred to in subsection (1) (b) or (2) (d), is binding on the district manager.
(6) The district manager may not under this section grant relief or funding in respect of an event causing damage if the event occurred before the coming into force of this subsection.
(a) respecting the modification of an obligation referred to in subsection (2) to establish a free growing stand, and
(b) for the purpose of subsection (6), resolving any doubts as to (i) what constitutes an event, or
(ii) when an event occurred.
Return to Top of Page Division 2 - Miscellaneous 163. Confidentiality and disclosure to government
163. (1) In this section, "person" means
(a) the government, the board, the commission or the council, if any,
(b) an employee, agent and independent contractor of the government, the board, the
commission or the council, if any, and
(c) a member of the board, the commission or the council, if any.
(2) Each of the following persons must take an oath that he or she will not disclose
information or records obtained under this Act, the regulations or the standards except as
permitted by this section and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
and the regulations under that Act:
(c) a person appointed to carry out an audit referred to in section 176;
(3) A person must not disclose any information or record obtained in exercising or
performing a power, duty or function under this Act, the regulations or the standards
except as required for the performance of his or her duties under this Act or the
regulations or as permitted in this section or the Freedom of Information and
Protection of Privacy Act and the regulations under that Act.
(4) A person may disclose to the government any information or record obtained in the
exercise or performance of a power, duty or function under this Act, the regulations or
(5) A person may disclose information or a record in the course of a proceeding referred
to in section 183.
(6) A person must not disclose, or be compelled to disclose, any information or record
obtained in the exercise of a power, duty or function under this Act, the regulations or
the standards to a court, or in a proceeding of a judicial nature, except in the following
(c) a prosecution for an offence under section 154;
164. How notice may be given
164. (1) A notice or other document that the government, board or commission is
required or permitted to give to a person under this Act, the regulations or the standards
may be given by giving it, or a copy of it, to the person as follows:
(ii) by leaving it at the individual's last or most usual place of residence with
someone who is or appears to be at least 16 years of age, or
(ii) by leaving it at the registered office of the corporation if the corporation is
incorporated under the Company Act, or
(B) the attorney of the corporation appointed under section 304 of the Company Act,
(2) A notice or other document that is mailed to a person by registered mail under
subsection (1) is conclusively deemed to be received by the person on the eighth day after
165. Extension of time
165. The minister, or a person the minister authorizes in writing, may extend the time required to do anything under this Act, the regulations or the standards, other than
(a) the time required for a review or appeal of a determination,
(b) the time required to commence a proceeding, or
(c) the prescribed period referred to in section 162.1 (3).
166. Evidence of designation or delegation
166. (1) A document purporting to have been issued by one of the ministers
certifying that the minister has designated a person as an official or senior official
under this Act is admissible as evidence of the designation without proof of the signature
or official character of the minister purporting to have signed the document.
(2) A document purporting to have been issued by a district manager certifying that the
district manager has delegated a power or duty to a person under this Act is admissible as
evidence of the delegation without proof of the signature or official character of the
district manager purporting to have signed the document. 167. Powers cumulative
167. The powers in this Act, the regulations and the standards for the government
may be exercised separately, concurrently or cumulatively, and do not affect the powers
of the government under this or any other enactment.
168. Amendment or remedial action does not affect offences or penalties
168. (1) An amendment to an operational plan does not affect any fine,
imprisonment, fee, charge or penalty to which a person may be liable under this Act, the
regulations or the standards, if the offence or contravention occurred before the
(2) Taking remedial action after an offence or contravention has occurred does not
affect any fine, imprisonment, fee or penalty to which a person may be liable under this
Act, the regulations or the standards, for the offence or contravention.
169. Right of proceeding
169. Nothing in this Act, the regulations or the standards limits, interferes
with, or extends the right of a person to commence or maintain a proceeding for damages
170. Power to enter into agreements
170. (1) The government may enter into agreements to assist in ensuring that
forest resources are properly managed and conserved.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), on behalf of the government
(a) the chief forester may enter into agreements for the growing and disposing of seeds,
seedlings and vegetative propagules,
(b) a designated forest official may enter into agreements for the
control and disposal of insects, diseases, animals and abiotic factors on forest land and
for sharing costs of control and disposal,
(c) the minister or a designated forest official may enter into
agreements under which the government provides forest protection, forest health services,
or fire control or suppression services, or
(d) a designated forest official may enter into an agreement with a
person to develop, expand, maintain, repair or close an interpretive forest site,
recreation site or recreation trail.
(3) An amount equal to any money paid to the government under an agreement referred to
in subsection (2) (c) for a purpose specified in that subsection
(c) is to be paid out of the consolidated revenue fund without any other appropriation
other than this subsection.
171. If money appropriated for direct fire fighting costs in any year is
insufficient, the extra money is to be paid out of the consolidated revenue fund without
any appropriation other than this section.
172. Property in trees
172. Trees established on Crown land under section 69.1 or 70 are the property of the
173. Whistle-blower protection
173. A person must not evict, discharge, suspend, expel, intimidate, coerce,
impose any pecuniary or other penalty on, or otherwise discriminate against, a person
because that person complains or is named in a complaint, gives evidence or otherwise
assists in respect of a prosecution, complaint or other proceeding under this Act, the
regulations or the standards.
174. Cost of performing obligations
174. (1) If this Act, a regulation or a standard requires a person to perform an
obligation or otherwise comply with this Act, the regulations or the standards, the person
must do so at the person's own expense unless another provision of this Act or the
regulations specifically provides otherwise.
(2) If a person is required under the Act, the regulations or the standards to submit an
operational plan or any other plan for approval to a person acting on behalf of the
government, any implementation of the plan or prescription is at the person's own expense.