We hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend wherever you are during our special west coast autumn.
Trust Policy Statement Update
The governing body of the Islands Trust (Trust Council) is considering adopting a new Trust Policy Statement (TPS). This critical document sets minimum standards for Official Community Plans and zoning bylaws on each island. The Trust is accepting comments until February 2nd 2026. Your opinion is needed to counter those who oppose any restrictions on growth or development and want to define “environment” as including “infrastructure and housing”.
The draft TPS provides little protection for the natural environment and instead facilitates more residences without assuring these will be for affordable/worker housing. It refers to “Managing Growth and Development” rather than “Limiting Growth and Development”. We have long been calling for build-out reports for each island to determine what the eventual estimated population will be according to current lot zonings, before any further rezonings for additional density. This seems to us to be an essential basis for good planning. So what can you do?
Please…
1. Fill out the survey on the TPS
Check our our guide, then fill out the TPS survey. This is very important because if public input is not properly considered by the Trust Council, it might encourage the Minister to reject a weak TPS.
2. Write a letter to the Trust
Our post from October has a summary of our concerns that you can use as topics for your letter. Send letters to islands2050@islandstrust.bc.ca and please BCC us on your letter at info@friendsofthegulfislands.ca. Learn more and view the draft TPS from Islands Trust.
3. Sign and share the Friends’ petition calling for a strong TPS
If you haven’t done so yet, please sign our petition and send it to your neighbours and friends. We now have over 1500 signatures but more is better. We will be sending this petition to the Trust Council and to the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, who will need to approve the TPS.
Trustees Meddling in Bylaw Enforcement
At their September meeting, trustees gave provisional approval to a new bylaw enforcement policy that has many good aspects but unfortunately (if adopted) would allow Local Trust Committees (LTCs), made up of elected trustees, to file bylaw enforcement complaints and to close active enforcement files. This was included in the policy despite advice from the provincial Ombudsperson that “[d]efining and maintaining separation between council and front-line enforcement staff is essential to an administratively fair bylaw enforcement system”. Imagine the situation where an LTC closes a file for some persons and not others. This is an invitation to corruption and favouritism and creates opportunities to damage faith in good government.
Please object to these policies by writing an email with the subject “Attention: Islands Trust Regional Planning Committee” at execadmin@islandstrust.bc.ca before October 20th. We have sent a letter and have requested an opportunity to appear before this committee as a delegate on this matter.
Running Dry – The Islands Can’t Keep Up
Ask your island’s trustees what they will do to curb increased density and population on our water-stressed islands. The August BC Drought Monitoring Summary highlighted the Southern Gulf islands as being particularly vulnerable as water supply is dependent on deep, fragmented-rock aquifers and the region has faced multi-year dry patterns. The report mentions groundwater stress – wells drawing from these aquifers running slower or going dry sooner, combined with high summer demand with residential use accounting for up to 70% of total water use in some communities. Water restrictions, critically low river and creek levels creating severe challenges for fish migration and local aquatic systems, and irrigation issues for agriculture are all consequences.
FOTGIS has noticed an increased volume of water being trucked onto various islands this summer though the current TPS says that islands are to be self-sufficient in their supply of freshwater. Water scarcity is a threat to eveyone’s housing and to surrounding ecosystems. For more information visit droughtportal.gov.bc.
Friends Work to Protect Our Ancient Forests and Biodiversity
Friends of the Gulf Islands Society is pleased to be one of 88 organizations that signed a letter asking for better legislative protection for biodiversity and the forests, especially the ancient forests of British Columbia. In September, a release was sent to the press summarizing our concerns and expressing dismay that the province has not acted.
Friends’ Annual General Meeting
Please attend our AGM on Monday, October 20 at 10 am by Zoom. If you are a member, you should have received a AGM package by email with agenda, reports and Zoom link.
Memberships
Thank you to those of you who are members. Your membership dues fund our website, posters, brochures and other forms of outreach to our island communities. Please share this newsletter and encourage your family, friends and neighbours to become members! Memberships are only $15 (individual), $25 (family). Subscribe to our newsletter for free updates.