Islands Trust governance changes generally come about through:
- Governance Reviews
- Requests to the Province of British Columbia for specific legislative changes
- Incorporation referenda
Governance Reviews
By undertaking governance reviews Islands Trust evaluates current structures and decision-making processes, to identify areas for improvement and enhance accountability.
2021-2022: A consultant undertook interviews and review of key documents, making 15 recommendations in a Governance Review Report. The Islands Trust Council’s Governance Committee is reviewing the recommendations and advising Trust Council on recommended actions to address them.
2006 – 2007: Based on a consultant-produced Governance Review Report and input from a public engagement process, Trust Council asked the Province to amend the Islands Trust Act to have four local trustees elected to sit on the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee and Islands Trust Council, as well as other legislative changes. The Minister proposed that the matter of four locally-elected trustees on the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee should be determined by referendum. In 2008, the increased level of representation was opposed by 57% of the voters.
2003: The Islands Trust Council undertook, with staff and consultant support, a Governance Renewal Initiative, focused on four targeted governance options: Transfer of Land Use Authority (building inspections, subdivision approvals, non-farm land uses and subdivision of ALR lands); island service coordination; legislated Object dispute resolution mechanisms; and differentiated tax requisitions.
Requests to Province of British Columbia for legislative change
At times, for matters outside its legislative powers, Islands Trust Council/Islands Trust Conservancy Board request that the Province of British Columbia review and amend the Islands Trust Act/related legislation. Since 2007, the following requests have taken place:
2020: Enhance the Trust’s jurisdiction over tree cutting bylaws to make its jurisdiction equal to that of municipalities under section 8 of the Community Charter. (withdrawn in 2023)
2018: Allowance for entry warrants by bylaw officers (not achieved)
2018: Development permit area enforcement via municipal ticketing (not achieved)
2018: Adoption of development approval information bylaws by LTCs (achieved in 2021)
2018: The ability to delegate to staff the granting of development permits (achieved in 2021)
2018: Seeking clarification of foreshore zoning authority (not achieved)
2018: Broadening of Islands Trust entities under the Local Government Act, relative to s. 294, allowing for “incidental or conducive powers” (not achieved)
2018: Ability to provide an affordable housing agreement with a third party and to create a Housing Service (not achieved)
2018: Include reference to the ecosystem [environment] in section 8.2 of the Islands Trust Act (achieved in 2021)
2018: Ability to charge fees for telecommunication applications (not achieved)
2015: Add “First Nations” to the list of whom Islands Trust works “in co-operation.” in section 3 of Islands Trust Act (achieved in 2021)
2015: Trust Fund Board corporate status and name change to Islands Trust Conservancy (achieved in 2018)
2009: Bylaw dispute adjudication system (achieved in 2011)
2009: Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Program (NAPTEP) extension to Bowen Island Municipality (achieved in 2010)
2008: Number of Vice-Chairs increased from three to four (not achieved)
2007: Four local trustees to be elected to sit on the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee and Trust Council (not achieved)
2007: Islands Trust Council to determine the size of its Executive Committee (not achieved)
2007: Islands Trust bodies permitted to hold meetings through electronic or other communication facilities (achieved in 2009)
Incorporation Referenda
Islands Trust has a formal agreement with the Province defining roles for every step of municipal incorporation. Trust Council has a policy guiding how to assess costs and resources for incorporation studies and a policy for calculating municipal share of the Islands Trust budget. When it comes to the issue of potential island incorporation within the Trust Area, the Islands Trust Council does not take a position for or against.
- 2017: Salt Spring Island Incorporation Referendum (opposed by 62% of voters).
- 2004: Gabriola Island Incorporation Referendum (opposed by 87% of voters).
- 2002: Salt Spring Island Incorporation Referendum (opposed by 70% of voters).
- 1999: Bowen Island Restructure Study and Incorporation Referendum (supported by 60% of voters).
- Bowen Island Municipality then incorporated as the first island municipality within the Islands Trust Area. Since incorporation, the Bowen Island Municipality is represented on the Islands Trust Council by two Municipal Councillors, elected through a ‘double-direct’ system during regular local government elections.
- 1991: Bowen Island Incorporation Referendum failed.
Questions about the request for a Provincial review of Islands Trust?
Please contact:
E: Information
T: 1-250-405-5197