Series GR-3559 - Land use strategy and planning process records

The series consists of records, primarily dating from 1992 to 1996, which document the functions and activities of the Commission on Resources and Environment (CORE). While the majority are operational records, some are classified as administrative records (for example, under the ARCs (1993) number 200 for "Committees and Commissions.)"

The records document BC’s province-wide strategy for land use and related resource and environmental management. The records reflect CORE’s goal to develop land use plans on a regional and community basis, create protected areas, and develop dispute resolution mechanisms. Many records were created through committee work, and in the process of holding of a variety of workshops, consultations, and public forums on land use throughout the province.

CORE’s operational records divide into six different areas, as follows: [1] Land use strategy records, which relate to the development of a strategy for the province on how to deal with planning processes at the provincial, regional and community level; [2] Land use hearing records, relating to land use hearings, policies and disputes; [3] Records relating to the process for coordinating the provinces’ protected area strategy; [4] Records relating to the provincial land mapping and resource inventory. These mapping case files consist of maps, and inventories of regions for their biological and geographic features, existing values and activities. Maps of specific areas of the province depict watersheds, energy potential, mineral and other resource potential, industrial uses, environmental values, wildlife, habitat, wilderness areas, and present land uses; [5] Records relating to communication with tribal councils, bands, and treaty negotiations and land claims by aboriginal peoples; [6] Records relating to liaison committees, which include liaison between industry, labour unions, environmental groups, and between government ministries.

Record types include correspondence, memoranda, maps, reports, technical data, discussion papers, background papers, proposals, meeting notes, cabinet submissions, business plans, background economic technical information, project evaluation files, organizational charts, Treasury Board submissions, briefing notes, government statements, regional meeting minutes (e.g. for the land and resource management planning process), working documents on socio-economic evaluation, newsletters and media articles.

An Operational Records Classification Systems (ORCS) for CORE was developed in 1993 (Schedule 111737). In some cases, administrative records which may be related to a certain subject matter are interfiled with the records.

The creator’s file codes often reflect ORCS and the regional organization of CORE, with obvious abbreviations; for example CC for Cariboo-Chilcotin, KO for Kootenay-Boundary. Kootenay-Boundary was divided into an “East Table” and “West Table,” coded E and W. The following file code is an example:

86100-20-KO REPORT-W =

86100 = [Land Use Strategy – Regional – Land Planning Process]
-20 = [Regional planning process]
KO REPORT-W = [Report of Kootenay West table]