Holding the Trust to Account

We are calling this our June/July newsletter in recognition of this very busy time of year for our Board and for our members. We hope you are enjoying your summer!

Successful Publicity

Friends of the Gulf Islands has been very active during May and June. In addition to our Facebook outreach, an ad campaign has brought us more members and newsletter subscribers. Our letters and ads appeared in the following publications: Mayne Island, Galiano Active Page, Gulf Islands Driftwood, Pender Post, Saturna Scribbler, Bowen Island Undercurrent, Denman Grapevine, Denman Flagstone and the Gabriola Sounder. A big thank you to our members and donors who made this possible.

Trust Policy Statement Petition has Over 1,100 Signatures

Thank you to everyone who has so far signed our petition, sent it to their friends, and/or made a donation to support its circulation. We are proud of this tremendous show of support for a strong Trust Policy Statement (TPS) that prioritizes protection of the natural environment and the rural character of our islands. If you have not already signed the petition, please add your signature and encourage others to do so as well!

The latest draft of the TPS has just been released and will be discussed in a July 9, 9 am Committee of the Whole Meeting, followed by a July 29, 1 pm Trust Council Special Meeting where they hope to give it first reading. We will be listening to these meetings and are analyzing this draft in preparation for commenting during the following public engagement period.

Holding the Trust to Account

Our President, Jennifer Margison gave an inspirational delegation to the Trust Council when they met on Salt Spring Island this June.  First, she proudly unfurled an impressively long scroll with the names of the petition signers who support a strong Trust Policy Statement.

Then, she emphasized our support for the letter to the trustees from the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Ravi Kahlon, that turned down the trustees’ request for a review of the Islands Trust Act. The Minister was clear; the fundamental mandate of the Trust has always been, and remains, an ecological one and the Trust Policy Statement must contain strong policies to uphold that purpose.

Our delegation restated that the Islands Trust is not an ordinary government body. It is unique—a one-of-a-kind institution with a legislated preservation mandate. She urged trustees to ensure that the Trust Policy Statement that is being revised effectively protects our environment from further degradation. This will also support thriving communities, meaningful partnerships with First Nations, responsible affordable housing solutions, and offer both residents and visitors the chance to breathe deeply, feel renewed, and give thanks for these remarkable islands.

MLA Rob Botterell Supports the Environment

Rob Botterell, the new Green Party MLA for Saanich and the Islands, and a Pender resident, spoke to the trustees at the June Trust Council meeting, supporting the Minister’s letter and the trustees’ responsibility to protect the environment. He urged the Trust Council to find consensus on revising the Trust Policy Statement or it will take more time, possibly in the courts, in the long run. He warned against Trust islands becoming municipalities, citing high costs on Bowen Island (where he was once a trustee), when it became a municipality several years ago. He urged trustees to make a specific request of the Minister rather than asking for a general review and offered to assist them in that endeavour. He emphasized that First Nations’ input and support is critical.

The support of the Islands Trust and principles of environmental protection clearly articulated by MLA Botterell and by Minister Kahlon is very encouraging.

Does your Island have Development Challenges?

Our organization was formed because residents on various islands were struggling with proposals that would harm the environment and rural character of their island or threaten scarce water supplies. Now, we get requests from other islanders for help with similar problems. Some examples include, Local Trust Committee approvals for large scale tree removal on Pender and Gabriola, bylaw enforcement problems on Mudge Island near Gabriola, proposals for poorly located housing projects on Galiano and Gabriola and inaccurate or incomplete staff reports on some islands. Future newsletters may highlight these challenges on various islands under the Islands Trust.

Since we focus on Trust-wide issues, we cannot take on opposing a specific island project. But we can advise you on certain matters such as how current bylaws apply, how to oppose a proposal and how local bylaws could be changed to prevent future harm.  If you would like such advice, please contact us at info@friendsofthegulfislands.ca. We have posters and brochures we can provide to you as well.