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The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG) is a provincial government department in the Canadian province of
British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...
. Its primary responsibilities are overseeing the province's policing and correction services, as well as consumer protection. The current minister is
Garry Begg Garry Begg is a Canadians, Canadian politician who has served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia since 2017, representing the electoral district of Surrey-Guildford. A member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party ...
, since 2024.


History

The ministry was first established, as the Ministry of Solicitor General, on July 6, 1988, by the government of Premier
Bill Vander Zalm William Nicholas Vander Zalm (born Wilhelmus Nicholaas Theodore Marie van der Zalm; May 29, 1934) is a Dutch-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as the 28th premier of British Columbia and leader of the British Columbia Social ...
. The solicitor general assumed responsibility for policing, the corrections system, the coroner's office, the Motor Vehicles Branch, Public Gaming Branch and the emergency program, all previously under the
Attorney General of British Columbia The attorney general of British Columbia (AG) oversees the Ministry of Attorney General, a provincial government department responsible for the oversight of the justice system, within the province of British Columbia, Canada. The attorney gener ...
. The creation was not without controversy; a week before the official announcement, Attorney General
Brian Smith Brian Smith may refer to: Academics and educators *Sir Brian Smith (chemist) (1933–2023), British university administrator * Brian David Smith (born 1961), academic researcher, author and adviser in the area of strategic management *Brian Cantwe ...
resigned from cabinet in protest, citing the planned split as a reason. Smith charged that the reason for the split was to weaken the attorney general's office and make it easier for the premier's office to control. In 1991, newly elected premier
Mike Harcourt Michael Franklin Harcourt Officer of the Order of Canada, OC (born January 6, 1943) is a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 30th premier of British Columbia from 1991 to 1996, and before that as the 34th List of mayors of Vancouver ...
abolished the ministry and returned its responsibilities to the Ministry of Attorney General. The ministry was re-created as the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General on June 5, 2001, by Premier
Gordon Campbell Gordon Campbell may refer to: * Gordon Campbell (cricketer) (1885–1961), Australian cricketer * Gordon Campbell (Royal Navy officer) (1886–1953), British admiral, recipient of the Victoria Cross and British politician * Gordon Peter Campbell ...
. In addition to regaining responsibility for policing, corrections, emergency management and gaming, the ministry gained responsibility for liquor control and licensing, the
British Columbia Film Classification Office The British Columbia Film Classification Office, part of Consumer Protection BC (legally known as the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority) in the Canadian province of British Columbia, is responsible for rating and censoring films ...
and landlord/tenant dispute resolution. On July 1, 2007, administration of the BCFCO was transferred to Consumer Protection BC. On February 8, 2012, Premier
Christy Clark Christina Joan Clark (born October 29, 1965) is a Canadian politician who served as the 35th premier of British Columbia from 2011 to 2017. Clark was the second woman to be premier of BC, after Rita Johnston in 1991, and the first female premi ...
merged the attorney general and solicitor general ministries to form a single Ministry of Justice and Attorney General. The move was part of an effort to reform and modernize the province's justice system. As part of the streamlining efforts, some of the duties of PSSG were not carried over to the justice ministry but transferred to other ministries: responsibility for the Public Sectors Employers Council and the
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is a provincial Crown corporation in British Columbia providing vehicle insurance. ICBC was created in 1973 by the NDP government of Premier Dave Barrett. By law, any vehicle registered an ...
were moved under the authority of the Ministry of Finance, and oversight of liquor and gaming went to the Ministry of Energy and Mines. Three years later, on December 12, 2015, Clark reversed course, restoring the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. On December 7, 2022, Premier
David Eby David Robert Patrick Eby (; born July 21, 1976) is a Canadian politician and lawyer who has served as the 37th and current premier of British Columbia since November 18, 2022. Eby is a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (NDP) a ...
split emergency management into its own ministry, the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.


Portfolio

The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General is one of two ministries, alongside the Ministry of Attorney General, that is responsible for the
Government of British Columbia The Government of British Columbia () is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The term ''Government of British Columbia'' can refer to either the collective set of all three institutions, or mo ...
's administration of justice, protection of rights and delivery of public safety services. The specific responsibilities of the PSSG has varied over the years, but has included: policing and law enforcement; correctional services; victim services; coroners services; road safety; regulation of the liquor, cannabis and gaming sectors; and co-ordination of the emergency management system (via
Emergency Management BC The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR), formerly Emergency Management BC (EMBC), is a provincial government department in the Canadian province of British Columbia. EMCR works with local governments and other provincial ...
). PSSG is additionally responsible for several agencies and boards: Consumer Protection BC, the
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is a provincial Crown corporation in British Columbia providing vehicle insurance. ICBC was created in 1973 by the NDP government of Premier Dave Barrett. By law, any vehicle registered an ...
, the Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia and municipal police boards.


List of ministers


See also

*


References


External links

* {{official website, https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/ministries/public-safety-solicitor-general British Columbia government departments and agencies Law enforcement agencies of British Columbia
British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...
Emergency management in Canada