Policy Framework 

​​In July, 2015 HIRMD did some restructuring to expand and strengthen Heiltsuk governance capacity and tools for natural resource management and planning. As part of the initiative we created a new position to focus solely on policy and planning initiatives. Initial tasks have been to develop a Policy Framework document to guide policy, procedure, standard and law development, and to form a technical working group and a Policy Committee.  The draft Policy Framework is presently being reviewed by a HIRMD and a Heiltsuk Policy Committee. 

​HIRMD Policy Working Group
Consists of: Aquatics Manager – Mike Reid; Culture and Heritage Manager – Jennifer Carpenter; Forestry Manager – Matt Garmon

Heiltsuk Policy Committee
Consists of: Hemas representative; HIRMD Board representative; HTC Marine portfolio representative; HTC Lands portfolio representative; HTC Culture and Heritage portfolio representative; Youth representative; Community representative 
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Heiltsuk Forest Management Policy Initiatives

Policies for Heiltsuk forests will be developed over the coming years, with direction from the Policy Committee. Components include initiating new policies and reviewing existing policy documents in collaboration with HIRMD Director and Aquatics, Forestry and Culture and Heritage Manager, and Central Coast Archaeology (on contract basis depending on policy focus), and developing updated drafts; appendices to the forest policy binder will include applicable higher level plans and agreements (Heiltsuk LUP relevant policy statements and management direction pertaining to forest lands and resources; 2016 EBM legal objectives; industry MOUs).The following is our plan for the policy development process: identification of policy priorities, confirm proposed process, conduct relevant research, prepare a discussion paper with policy options, get feedback on discussion paper, draft policy, share draft and integrate input to final draft, present policy and communications plan.
Priorities include:

• Rights to Access policy
• Cedar Policy and strategy to maintain “sufficient cedar over time” (factor in changing population, anticipated growth, housing needs)

Heiltsuk Referrals Policy Initiatives and Processes

In the coming months we will develop a Heiltsuk Consultation policy and procedures framework that integrates earlier draft policy direction and updates it to include more recent agreements with other levels of government and licensees. Appendices with relevant Land and Marine Use Plans, legal objectives and agreements, and procedures for ​tracking communications and the status of projects will be included. It will reflect an increased role for monitoring and enforcement in the region.

Other Policy Initiatives

​Other areas of policy development that may arise.

For further information regarding policy initiatives at HIRMD, please contact Kelly Brown at: 250-957-2303