Municipal Government

As the local jurisdictional authority, municipalities have more opportunities and ability to set air emission controls through the various channels: zoning, transportation and land-use planning decisions.

The municipal government authority comes from the Community Charter that fundamentally gives municipalities the power to develop bylaws related to municipal services, nuisances and disturbances, protection of the natural environment or public health.

Municipal services and nuisances and disturbances authority are the most direct paths for municipal governments to influence regional air emission levels.

The Town of Gibsons enacted an anti-idling bylaw using the Community Charter and the Motor Vehicle Act. Powell River used similar avenues as Gibsons to enact a wood burning appliances bylaw. If you would like to read these bylaws, see the PDFs in the Resources Section.

Creating bylaws to regulate air emissions through the natural environment or public health authority takes more time because environment and health are a shared responsibility with the provincial government (also called concurrent authority. Going the route of environment or health will slow down the process of creating a new bylaw.