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.
Is the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee bringing in new regulations regarding "liveaboards"?
Recently, there have been a number of questions regarding “liveaboards” in Salt Spring waters, culminating in a presentation at the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee on June 22, 2023.
The Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee is not considering changes to its regulations regarding “liveaboards” at this time.
At the June 22, 2023 LTC meeting, following a presentation from a local group, the local trustees asked staff to look at the material prepared by the group and report back at a future meeting.
The Salt Spring Island Land Use Bylaw already prohibits use of any vessel as a dwelling (“liveaboards”).
Enforcement of regulations related to unlawful dwellings with the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Area, such as “liveaboards”, are not enforced because of a Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee standing resolution to not enforce “until there are safe, secure appropriate housing options that are affordable for all demographics and household types”. This resolution does not apply to regulations intended to protect ensuring health and safety, appropriate sewage disposal, pollution, location in environmentally sensitive areas, and unpermitted campgrounds.
There is an exception: this restriction does not apply to temporary wharfage of transient vessels, to licensed commercial fishing boats, or to the use of one vessel as a dwelling for security personnel at a public docking facility.
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.
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.
Questions?
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