The BC Farm Industry Review Board (BCFIRB) provides general supervision of BC’s marketing boards and commissions through rules, regulations and policy direction; hears appeals from decisions under the Natural Products Marketing (BC) Act, The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and hears complaints and conducts studies under the Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act.

BCFIRB is responsible for:

• General supervision of agricultural commodity boards
• Being a signatory to formal federal-provincial cooperation agreements in regulated marketing
• Hearing appeals of agricultural commodity board decisions
• Hearing appeals related to BCSPCA animal custody decisions
• Hearing farm practices complaints from persons disturbed by odour, noise, dust or other disturbances arising from agriculture or certain aquaculture operations
• Conducting farm practices studies

Where it is suitable, BCFIRB promotes early dispute resolution through mediation, facilitation or other processes. BCFIRB decisions are final and conclusive but may be judicially reviewed by the Supreme Court of BC.

The Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) is an independent provincial tribunal responsible for adjudicating applications in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) - the limited physical land in which agricultural products can be grown in BC and where preferential land is zoned for agriculture uses. 

Responsible for administering the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). Encourages farming on agricultural land in collaboration with other communities of interest. Encourages governments and first nation communities to enable and accommodate farm use of agricultural land and uses compatible with agriculture in their plans, bylaws and policies.

The ALC will also reconsider and hear appeals of some types of its decisions. The ALC is established under the Agricultural Land Commission Act and is responsible for enforcing provisions of the Act. 

The purpose as set out in the legislation is to:

• Preserve agricultural land.
• Encourage farming in collaboration with other communities of interest.
• Encourage local governments, First Nations, the government and its agents to enable and accommodate farm use of agricultural land and uses compatible with agriculture in their plans, bylaws and policies.

FPCC is responsible for administering two federal acts:

• Farm Products Agencies Act
• Agricultural Products Marketing Act

Handles complaints and public hearing processes that allow stakeholders to submit a complaint, comment, or opinion regarding the agency’s practices and quality of service.

The CGC…

• Regulates grain handling in Canada
• Establishes and maintains science-based standards of quality for Canadian grain.
• Issuing licenses for grain elevator operators and grain dealers
• recommending and establish grain grades and standards for those grades and implement a system of grading and inspection for grain to reflect adequately the quality of that grain and meet the need for efficient marketing in and outside Canada
• establish and apply standards and procedures regulating the handling, transportation and storage of grain and the storage facilities
• conduct investigations and hold hearings on matters within the powers of the Commission

Orders made by the CGC may be reviewed by the Minister in charge and orders for the payment of any money or apportionment of any loss may be appealed to the Federal Court.

The CFIA enforces policies and standards, set by Health Canada, governing the safety and nutritional quality of all food sold in Canada. It also verifies industry compliance with federal acts and regulations through activities that include the registration and inspection of abattoirs and food processing plants, and the testing of products. In carrying out its mandate the CFIA:

• delivers inspection and quarantine programs related to foods, plants and animals across Canada.
• enforces policies and standards, set by Health Canada, governing the safety and nutritional quality of all food sold
• handles complaints and appeals from members of the public

For more about how to make a complaint to the agency, see Complaints, Comments & Compliments. Also see the Consumer Centre for safety information.

The Tribunal is an independent federal administrative tribunal established by Parliament under subsection 27(1) of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Ac (AAMP Act).

The Tribunal’s mandate is to provide independent oversight, through the exercise of its review jurisdiction, of the use of administrative monetary penalty (AMPs) by federal agencies related to agriculture and agri-food under subsection 38(1) of the AAAMP Act.

• Provides reviews of notices of violation issued by federal agencies regulating agriculture and food.
• Makes decision on the validity of administrative monetary penalties 
• Orders of the Tribunal may only be reviewed in Federal Court.

Three federal agencies currently have the authority to issue AMPs related to agriculture and agri-food:

• the Canadian Food Inspection Agency;
• the Canada Border Services Agency; and
• the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

Orders of the Tribunal may only be reviewed in Federal Court.

See the Guide for Self-Represented Persons if you wish to fIe a request for review before the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal.

The EAB hears appeals of certain decisions made by government officials related to environmental issues, including:

• permits authorizing the discharge of waste to air, water, or land; 
• pollution abatement orders; 
• the licensing and use of surface water; etc. 

 The EAB’s role is to consider and decide appeals from certain decisions made under nine provincial acts:

• Environmental Management Act
• Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act
• Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Renewable and Low Carbon Fuels Requirements) Act
• Integrated Pest Management Act
• Mines Act
• Water Sustainability Act
• Water Users’ Communities Act
• Wildlife Act
• Zero-Emission Vehicles Act

Each Act that provides for appeals to the EAB also specifies who is eligible to appeal a decision to the EAB. The EAB’s website provides information sheets to help participants understand the appeal process.

The Forest Appeals Commission (FAC) was established under the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia and now operates under its replacement, the Forest and Range Practices Act. The FAC has the authority to decide appeals of certain decisions made under five provincial statutes and their associated regulations. 

• Forest Act,
• Forest and Range Practices Act,
• Private Managed Forest Land Act,
• Range Act, and
• Wildfire Act.

Each Act that provides for appeals to the FAC also specifies who is eligible to appeal a decision to the FAC. You can read information sheets on each act, to see if your decision can be appealed to the FAC, by clicking here.

The Forest Practices Board (FPB) is an independent watchdog agency that works to encourage sound forest practices. The FPB: 

• conducts audits and investigations and issues public reports on how well industry and government are meeting the intent of B.C.’s forest practices legislation.
• conducts special investigations and issues special reports regarding forestry-related matters that are of interest to the entire province
• investigates public complaints about compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act  and can also appeal decisions made by government officials under the Act

It cannot deal with complaints related to private property (except tree farm licenses and woodlots), awarding of licences, or other forest-related legislation. The board makes recommendations for improved practices.

The Surface Rights Board assists with disputes about:

• Terms of entry onto land: the board may authorize entry to private land to explore for, produce or develop subsurface resources.
• Compensation: the amount to be paid to the landowner for a company’s entry, occupation and use of private land.
• Damages: the compensation that should be paid for damage to the land or adjacent land, or loss caused by an entry.
• Rent renegotiation: new rental provisions in a surface lease.
• Compliance: whether the terms of a surface lease or right of entry have been complied with or whether the proposed oil and gas activity in a surface lease is different from what was approved.