Islands Trust is committed to delivering accurate information to the public and often collaborates with the news media to achieve this. However, occasionally it becomes necessary to provide corrections or clarifications. This page aims to provide a central location for directly presenting the factual information in response to inaccuracies.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Does Islands Trust record meetings?
Yes! Islands Trust records Trust Council meetings and committee meetings, with exceptions when technological limitations prevent recording in a specific venue.
To find meeting recordings, look up the date of the meeting you want to view in Meetings & Events, select the meeting you want to view, and then select “Watch Recording”.
Recordings are for convenience only and are not the official record of a meeting; minutes are the official record.
If you can’t find a specific recording or minutes, or have any other questions, contact us.
How many times a year does Trust Council meet and what is the cost?
The Islands Trust Council typically meets four times a year to discuss Trust-wide business. These meetings usually take place from Tuesday until Thursday noon. They can be either electronic or in-person, as decided by Trust Council. In-person meetings are often a hybrid model, meaning that up to 10 trustees can choose to attend the in-person meeting online. The cost of bringing together trustees from across the Trust Area to one location for a three-day meeting, including technology, meals and accommodation costs, is approximately of $31, 000, depending on location and number of participants.
More information about Islands Trust financials can be found in our Annual Report here.
What are closed meetings and why does Islands Trust have them?
Elected officials can decide to have a closed meeting under specific circumstances by passing a resolution that outlines the basis for closure. This basis could include discussions related to personal information, labor relations, security, land matters, law enforcement, litigation, legal advice, and other specific topics, with certain restrictions and requirements in place.
More information about closed meetings for local governments in British Columbia can be found here.
Where is the public comment period during Committee of the Whole meetings?
There is no public comment period during Committee of the Whole meetings. These meetings are working sessions where Trust Council members sit as a committee to discuss issues in depth, deliberate on policies, and develop recommendations. Public comment period is included in Trust Council’s regular quarterly meetings.
In addition to Trust Council, public comment opportunities are available during:
- Standing Committee meetings (Regional Planning Committee, Trust Programs Committee, Governance Committee, and Financial Planning Committee)
- And at all local trust committee regular meetings
- Islands Trust Conservancy Board meetings
To learn more about how you can participate in meetings or share your views in other ways, visit:
islandstrust.bc.ca/contact-us/share-your-views
Why does Islands Trust seek early engagement with First Nations and refer draft bylaws to First Nations? When can I see the responses from First Nations?
Islands Trust bodies seek information from many sources to inform their decision-making. Trust bodies value the unique and important insights and knowledge provided by Indigenous Peoples who have called this place home since time immemorial and who have inherent rights as protected under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
Early at the staff-to-staff engagement provides an opportunity to identify key interests and priorities that should be considered as the bylaw project is developed. Referring a draft bylaw after First Reading provides First Nations with a further opportunity to advise whether the bylaw adequately matter important to them.
In 2019, as part of its responsibility to achieve its legislated mandate to work in cooperation with First Nations, Islands Trust Council passed a Reconciliation Declaration which committed it to striving to create opportunities for knowledge-sharing and understanding.
When a bylaw is submitted for ministerial approval, Islands Trust provides the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs with a record of its engagement with First Nations. The duty to consult rests with the Crown where a decision may adversely affect established or asserted Aboriginal or treaty rights. Islands Trust’s engagement record helps the Minister assess whether the Crown’s consultation obligations have been appropriately addressed. An April 2025 letter from the Minister to the Islands Trust Council Chair confirmed the need to demonstrate appropriate engagement efforts when submitting bylaws for ministerial approval, including Official Community Plans and the Islands Trust Policy Statement.
Once responses have been received and compiled, Islands Trust posts agency referral responses, including responses from Indigenous Governing Bodies, in the project library on the relevant project webpage—for example, the Islands 2050 webpage.
A property that is under a NAPTEP conservation covenant receive a property tax exemption. Who covers these costs?
Property owners that choose to register a conservation covenant through the Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Program (NAPTEP) receive an annual property tax exemption of 65% on the protected portion of their land. Islands Trust and Islands Trust Conservancy prepared some data in 2005 for islands in the CRD around the hypothetical tax shift due to the implementation of the Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Program (NAPTEP). At the time, the shift of taxes if for an anticipated 1% uptake of eligible landowners was estimated to result in an average annual tax increase per taxpayer of approximately:
- 0.01 cents for property owners throughout the province
- 1 to 6 cents for taxpayers in regional districts in the Islands Trust Area
- 40 to 45 cents for Islands Trust Area taxpayers
As of January 2024, 27 eligible landowners have entered NAPTEP, this is less than a 1% uptake of eligible landowners. The slow growth of NAPTEP ensures conservation of important natural areas with minimal cost to tax payers.
Can I record a public meeting?
A member of the public can record public meetings, but the Chair of the meeting must be informed before you begin recording. The Chair will inform everyone present at the meeting that it will be personally recorded. If a member of the public is uncomfortable being recorded while they are speaking, the Chair may require that the person recording temporarily stop the recording.
All meetings are recorded by Islands Trust and can be viewed on the meeting page here: https://islandstrust.bc.ca/whats-happening/meetings-and-events/
Why has Salt Spring Island opted-in to the principal residence requirements?
By opting into the principal residence requirement, Salt Spring Island LTC is prioritizing local families, workforce housing, and responsible tourism that minimizes environmental and community impacts. Provincial legislation aligns with the Salt Spring Land Use Bylaw and enables LTC to leverage the Province’s ability to proactively ensure compliance through the online rental platforms.
How do I become a resident operator of a short-term rental?
Property owners must ensure their property is zoned to allow for a Bed & Breakfast. Bed & Breakfast operations. This can be done by contacting the Islands Trust Salt Spring Office. Compliant operators do not need a business licence, but they do need to sign up with the B.C. Short-term rental registry before June 2, 2025.
Who enforces short term rental non-compliance on Salt Spring Island?
The provincial government enforces short term rental non-compliance. Learn more here.
Questions?
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