Forest Stewardship and Wildfire Resilience Act
British Columbia's Bill 24 (Forest Stewardship and Wildfire Resilience Act) is the Eby NDP government's response to the record-breaking BC wildfire seasons of 2017 (1.2 million hectares burned), 2018 (1.4 million hectares), 2021 (8,700 evacuated, Lytton fire-destroyed), and 2023 (over 28,000 evacuated, 2.84 million hectares the worst on record). The Act establishes a binding requirement on the Ministry of Forests to publish provincial fuel-reduction-treatment targets, expands the BC Wildfire Service permanent staff complement, creates new funding for community forest fire-resilience under the FireSmart Canada framework, and adjusts the BC Forest Practices Code section 36 stewardship plans for wildfire-mitigation prioritization.
Status
Quick learn
Restructures BC's wildfire-response framework after several record fire seasons. Funds year-round wildfire crews, expands prescribed-burn authority, and updates forest stewardship rules to reduce fuel loads in high-risk zones.
Issues this bill touches
- Climate Adaptation & Disaster Response
Restructures BC's wildfire-response framework after several record fire seasons.
Legislative history
- Introduced
Tabled in the originating chamber by the sponsor.
View source - In committee
Reviewed clause by clause by a standing committee; amendments possible.
View source
Sponsored by
David EbyBC NDPOfficial source
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