First Reading of the draft Islands Trust Policy Statement
Islands Trust Council gave First Reading to the draft Policy Statement at its meeting of July 29, 2025.
Public Engagement
Phase 4 of public engagement on the draft Policy Statement will begin in Summer 2025. When the public engagement period begins, feedback may be provided in several ways including:
- Attend a virtual Town Hall on September 10, 2025. Register here
- Completing a survey
- Participating in an on-island engagement event
- Contacting local trustees or staff
- Writing to Trust Council by email or mail
- Speaking at Trust Council’s meetings in September 2025 and December 2025
Referral of the Policy Statement bylaw to Indigenous Governing Bodies and other agencies will coincide with public engagement.
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The Islands Trust Policy Statement
The Islands Trust Policy Statement shapes land use planning across the Islands Trust Area, but the current version has not been meaningfully updated since 1994. A lot has changed over the past 30 years.
In 2019, Islands Trust launched the Policy Statement Amendment Project (Islands 2050) to update the Islands Trust Policy Statement to adapt to current and future challenges and opportunities, and to reflect its commitments related to Reconciliation, climate change, and affordable housing.
Feedback received in the previous rounds of engagement is reflected in the new draft Policy Statement. Read more about what we heard in previous rounds of engagement in the project library below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit the Islands 2050 Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to frequently asked questions about the Islands Trust Policy Statement Amendment Project and its process.
Planned Next Steps
Summer 2025 to Winter 2026 – Public Engagement and Agency/Indigenous Governing Body referral
The Committee of the Whole, Executive Committee, and Trust Programs Committee have reviewed the draft policy statement and made revisions. Islands Trust Council considered the draft at its Special Meeting on July 29, 2025, resulting in first reading. A six month public engagement period will begin. Planned engagement activities include:
- Public engagement events in local trust areas
- A Trust Area-wide survey
- A virtual Community Town Hall
- Referrals to agencies, and Indigenous Governing Bodies
Questions? email us: islands2050@islandstrust.bc.ca
*Timelines subject to change
Meeting dates
Please click on the + below to view the meetings recordings, agendas, and minutes of Trust Council, Committee of the Whole, and Trust Program Committee meetings in 2024 and 2025 where the draft Policy Statement was considered.
Meeting Dates (2024, 2025)
Access meetings agendas and recordings of Islands Trust Council, Trust Programs Committee, and Committee of the Whole meetings at the links below.
Meetings in 2024
- May 30 (Committee of the Whole)
- July 8 (Committee of the Whole)
- August 22 (Committee of the Whole)
- September 24 (Islands Trust Council)
- September 25 (Committee of the Whole)
- October 3 (Committee of the Whole)
- November 6 (Committee of the Whole)
- December 12 (Committee of the Whole)
Meetings in 2025
- January 8 (Committee of the Whole)
- February 6 (Committee of the Whole)
- February 21 (Committee of the Whole)
- April 2 (Trust Programs Committee)
- April 16 (Trust Programs Committee)
- April 29 (Trust Programs Committee)
- May 7 (Trust Programs Committee)
- May 29 (Trust Programs Committee)
- June 17 (Trust Council)
- July 9 (Committee of the Whole)
- July 29 (Islands Trust Council Special Meeting)
Engagement with Indigenous Governing Bodies
Guided by Trust Council’s 2019 Reconciliation Declaration and Action Plan, Islands Trust has and is continuing to undertake early engagement with Indigenous Governing Bodies in the Trust Area. This work is informed by “Truth Precedes Reconciliation” section (1.1)of the Islands Trust Object: Past, Present, and Future Discussion Paper.
Engagement with Indigenous Governing Bodies is ongoing and shared with Islands Trust Trustees as it is received.
Details about previous engagement with Indigenous Governing Bodies
June 2019-May 2021: All First Nations in the Trust Area are invited to engage in the Policy Statement Amendment Project, with First Nations (Cowichan Tribes, Snuneymuxw First Nation, Tla’amin First Nation and the Tseil Waututh First Nation, and the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council) participating. The engagement consisted of a mix of Policy Statement specific meetings and meetings held for other purposes. Trust Council received an engagement status report in July of 2021.
September 2021-June 2022: All First Nations in the Trust Area invited to engage, with six First Nations (Cowichan Tribes, Tla’amin First Nation, K’omoks First Nation, MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) Nation, Lyackson First Nation, and the Snuneymuxw First Nation), the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council, and the Coast Salish People of Galiano participating. In this phase, Islands Trust provided to, and received feedback on, the first draft of the Policy Statement. Trust Council received an engagement update report in June of 2022 (see documents below).
September 2023-Spring 2024: All First Nations in the Trust Area invited to engage. Phase 3 engagement is currently underway with nine Indigenous Governing Bodies (Cowichan Tribes, Lyackson First Nation, Halalt First Nation, Penelakut Tribes, K’omoks First Nation, MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) Nation, Ts’uubaa-asatx First Nation, shíshálh First Nation and the Snaw-naw-as First Nation). In this phase, Islands Trust is receiving feedback on the second draft of the Policy Statement. This input will be brought forward to Trust Council at the same time that the Trust Council receives the second draft for the first time.
*all related documents can be found in the Project Library below
Future Engagement with Indigenous Governing Bodies
Fall 2025-Spring 2026: Phase 4 engagement with Indigenous Governing Bodies is planned to consist of:
- Fall-Winter 2025: Formal referral of the Policy Statement to all Indigenous Governing Bodies in the Trust Area
- Spring 2026: Trust Council to receive referral feedback and summary report
- Spring-Winter 2026: Engagement with Indigenous Governing Bodies continues as needed until adoption of the bylaw
Engagement with Indigenous Governing Bodies is ongoing and shared with Islands Trust Trustees as it is received.
*Dates are subject to change
Project Library
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About the Project
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Agency Referrals Phase 1 2021-2022
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Agency Referrals Phase 1b 2023
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Delegation Presentations
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Discussion Paper
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Engagement with Indigenous Governing Bodies Phase 1 2019-2021
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Engagement with Indigenous Governing Bodies Phase 2 2022
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Engagement with Indigenous Governing Bodies Phase 3 2023-2024
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News Releases
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Policy Statement drafts
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Previously Adopted Versions of the Policy Statement
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Public Correspondence 2019-2023
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Public Correspondence 2024-2025
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Public Engagement Phase 1 2019
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Public Engagement Phase 2 2021
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Public Engagement Phase 3 2022
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Public Legal Opinions