B.C. Major Mines Office Governance Framework

1. Primary Document

1.1 Introduction

This document articulates the governance framework for British Columbia (B.C.) Major Mines Office (MMO) as a participant in the open global community that exchanges verifiable credentials:

Acknowledgements The development of this documentation follows the governance framework created by the Trust over IP Foundation (ToIP) Governance Metamodel Specification created by the Governance Stack Working Group (GSWG).

1.2. Terminology and Notation

Please reference Glossary - General Trust Over IP Terms.

Requirements include any combination of Machine-Testable Requirements and Human-Auditable Requirements. Unless otherwise stated, all Requirements MUST be expressed as defined in RFC 2119.

  • Mandates are Requirements that use a MUST, MUST NOT, SHALL, SHALL NOT or REQUIRED keyword.
  • Recommendations are Requirements that use a SHOULD, SHOULD NOT, or RECOMMENDED keyword.
  • Options are Requirements that use a MAY or OPTIONAL keyword.

Machine-Testable Requirements are those with which compliance can be verified using an automated test suite and appropriate scripting or testing software.

Rules are Machine-Testable Requirements that are written in a Machine-Readable language and can be processed by a Rules Engine. They are expressed in a structured rules language as specified by the Governance Framework.

Human-Auditable Requirements are those with which compliance can only be verified by an audit of people, processes, and procedures.

Policies are Human-Auditable Requirements written using standard conformance terminology. The Policies used in the Governance Framework will use the standard terminology detailed in RFC 2119 keywords. Note that all RFC 2119 keywords have weight from an auditing perspective. An implementer MUST explain why a SHOULD or RECOMMENDED requirement was not implemented and SHOULD explain why a MAY requirement was implemented.

Specifications are documents containing any combination of Machine-Testable Requirements and Human-Auditable Requirements needed to produce technical interoperability.

1.3. Localization

The standard language for this governing framework (GF) is English.

1.4 Governing Authority

The Major Mines Office (MMO) is the governing authority responsible for this Governance Framework (GF).

  • Name: Sean Shaw
  • Title: A/Executive Director and Deputy Chief Permitting Officer
  • Organization: Major Mines Office
  • Email: sean.shaw@gov.bc.ca

1.5. Administering Authority

Mines Digital Services is the administering authority on behalf of the Major Mines Office.

  • Name: Rebecca Stevenson
  • Title: Project Owner
  • Organization: Mines Digital Services
  • Email: rebecca.stevenson@gov.bc.ca

1.6 Purpose

The purpose of this governance framework is to describe the rules/policies/procedures for verifiable credential exchanges involving the B.C. Major Mines Office (MMO) with the open global community. This description enables participants to understand agreed-upon standards, terminology, and processes that allow the community to interact with the MMO in a trusted manner.

1.7 Scope

The Major Mines Office (MMO) is a participant in an open ecosystem and the focus of this framework is to describe the processes MMO uses for digital credential exchanges.

1.8 Objectives

1) Outline legislative and administrative processes relevant to digital credential exchanges. 2) Support digital business interaction/automation within the B.C. mining ecosystem.

1.9 Principles

The BC Public Service has one overarching corporate value, Integrity, and 6 core corporate values: Curiosity, Service, Passion, Teamwork, Accountability, and Courage. Integrity is placed above all the other values as a quality that affirms the Standards of Conduct for the B.C. Public Service.

1.10 General Requirements

Mining activities in British Columbia are subject to a variety of different provincial and federal regulations. The main pieces of legislation that govern major mines in B.C. are the Environmental Assessment Act, the Mines Act and the Environmental Management Act.

1.11. Revisions

Version 1.0.

1.12. Extensions

There are no extensions to this GF.

1.13. Schedule of Controlled Documents

N/A

2. Controlled Documents

2.1. Glossary

ToIP Core Glossary

BC Mines Act Definitions

  • Credential Holders: The holder of a permit issued under section 10 of the Mines Act.
  • Major Mines: Moderate to large-scale mineral and coal mining operations.
  • Major Mines Office (MMO): The branch within the Ministry responsible for managing and issuing construction and operations permits under section 10 of the Mines Act for major mines in B.C.
  • Mine Manager: The person appointed under section 21 of the Health, Safety, and Reclamation Code for Mines in B.C. to be responsible for the management and operation of a mine.
  • Mines Digital Services (MDS): The team that manages a suite of systems to enable easier access for the public, industry, and government to current mining information within the province of B.C.
  • MineSpace: A website portal developed for mining businesses to manage permit applications, see inspection history, and submit reports.
  • Core: A website portal internal to the Province to manage permit applications, track inspection history, and receive reports for mines in B.C.

2.2. Risk Assessment

In accordance with B.C. Government procedures and policies, the standard Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) and Security Threat and Risk Assessment (STRA) processes have been completed for the use of this credential technology.

2.3. Trust Assurance and Certification

Development of digital technology is led by British Columbia’s Digital Code of Practice, applicable to all public service employees and contractors involved in and accountable for digital service delivery.

2.4. Governance Requirements

The operations and processes of the Major Mines Office are governed by the Mines Act.

2.5. Business Requirements

2.5.1. Establishment of Connection

  1. The Mine Manager of the interested mining company MUST log into the MineSpace portal to request a single-use invitation link to connect with the Chief Permitting Officer of Mines for the B.C. government.
  2. After selecting the specific mine from the MineSpace home screen, The Mine Manager MUST request a single-use invitation link for the required mining company (based on the mine site selected).
  3. MineSpace MUST present the connection invitation link (URL) to the Mine Manager.
  4. The Mine Manager MUST use the connection invitation link provided by MineSpace within their organizational wallet to establish a secure connection.

2.5.2. Major Mines Operating Permit Issuance

  1. The Mine Manager MUST look up the authorizations and permits for the selected mine within MineSpace to display the request button for an operating permit.
  2. The Mine Manager MUST select the permit that is desired as a credential.
  3. Traction SHALL offer the credential to the Company’s organizational wallet.
  4. The organizational wallet MUST display offer details to the Mine Manager.
  5. The Mine Manager MUST review the credential offer.
  6. The Mine Manager MUST either Accept/Decline the offer.
  7. Traction MUST receive a problem report if the credential is declined.
  8. Traction MUST notify Core if the offer is declined.

2.6. Technical Requirements

The Major Mines Office uses a Hyperledger Aries-compatible business wallet, therefore mining operators MUST also use a Hyperledger Aries-compatible business wallet solution:

2.7. Information Trust Requirements

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act sets out the access and privacy rights of individuals as they relate to the public sector in British Columbia.

2.8. Inclusion, Equitability, and Accessibility Requirements

The Accessible British Columbia Act informs AccessibleBC

The Diversity & Inclusion Strategy for the BC Public Service outlines the commitments of BC government in supporting inclusion, equitability and access throughout the province.

The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act) establishes the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) as BC’s framework for reconciliation that respects the human rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Mines Act Permit Credential Terms of Use

End of Document