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BRITISH COLUMBIA.

NOV 2 7 2018 Mr. Brad Sperling Chair Peace River Regional District 1981 Alaska Hwy PO Box 810 Dawson Creek BC V I G 4H8

Dear Mr. Sperling:

Thank you for your letter of May 17, 2018, regarding the request from the Peace River Regional District for Ministry of Health to create a provincial registry of all industrial worker camps, especially for emergency evacuation purposes. I apologize for the delayed response.

First, I want to acknowledge the concerns that the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) has with respect to the district's ability to properly notify any worker camps in the district for Evacuation Orders and Alerts. This is a matter of public safety and concern. The Ministry of Health (the Ministry) understands the necessity of having information related to the locations of all established residences, including worker camps, in the region for emergency purposes.

The Guidelines for Industrial Camps Regulation states that regional "health authorities require each industrial camp operator to notify the health authority before building or operating a camp". An industrial camp is considered a regulated activity as set out under the Public Health Act (the Act). As per section 19(1)(a) of the Act, if required by regulation to have a license or permit to engage in a regulated activity, the operator may apply for the license or permit by submitting an application in the form required by the health officer. As such, the operator of an industrial camp must comply with the requirements and duties as set out in the Industrial Camps Regulation (the Regulation), including the application for sewage and drinking water permits. There is no specific requirement under the Regulation for regional health authority notification, but health officers have discretionary authority to request additional information they deem necessary to assist them in the approval process for the necessary permits. Each respective regional health authority collects, stores, and maintains this information in a manner deemed most useful for its purposes, and this is not necessarily consistent across health authorities. The Ministry does not collect, store or maintain this information.

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Ministry of Office of the Mailing Address: Location: Health Minister PO Box 9050 Stn Pray Govt Parliament Buildings Victoria BC V8W 9E2 Victoria

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We are aware of instances where worker camps are established without any notification to the regional health authority. This could occur for a variety of reasons, including a lack of understanding on the part of the operator of the regulatory requirements as set out by the Act and the Regulation. The regional health authorities do not have the ability or capacity to track down camps under such circumstances, unless informed of the worker camp by another agency (e.g., the industry-permitting ministry or a community in close vicinity to the camp). Additionally, and as you noted in your letter, there are many types of worker accommodations, such as third party "hotel-like" accommodations, that do not fit under the definition of an "industrial camp" as prescribed in the Regulation.

The Ministry is currently reviewing policies related to industrial camps, including data and tracking mechanisms. The Ministry is engaged in preliminary conversations with the regional health authorities and other ministries to understand the scope and processes, The Ministry will engage with local governments on this issue to ensure that local government needs and concerns are reflected in the review. The Ministry will ensure the PRRD is made aware of engagement opportunities.

I want to thank you for bringing the concerns of the PRRD to the attention of the Ministry and myself. I appreciate the opportunity to respond.

Sincerely, (2) Minister pc: Honourable , Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mr. , MLA, Peace River North Mr. , MLA, Peace River South Mr. Tim Lambert, Executive Director, Health Protection, Population and Public Health

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December 14, 2018 CA-12

December 14, 2018