Sterile Insect Release Program Legislation

In 1989, the Provincial Municipal Enabling and Validating Act (MEVA) (Section 283) was amended to give the four participating regional districts, plus the Regional District of Central Kootenay, the authority to establish a sterile insect release program and an autonomous board of directors to oversee the program. In the same year, each of the five regional districts adopted its own service establishment bylaw to implement the authority granted under the Act.

In 1990, Cabinet issued the Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Service Regulation (BC Regulation 17/90) to provide further detail to key parts of Section 283 of the MEVA. The Regulation sets out methods of cost-recovery and cost-sharing for the Program and gives authority to the SIR Board and its agents to enter onto property to release sterile insects and order or undertake clean-up efforts to prevent infestation.

In 1995, an additional regulation was issued to provide authority for the Board to enter into funding agreements with senior governments and others, and to provide incentives through compliance grants to property owners and growers. Legislative changes since 1995 have resulted in only minor changes to the Program.