Islands 2050 is the Islands Trust’s public engagement process designed to help the Trust plan for the challenges and opportunities that the Islands Trust Area will face in the next 30 years, particularly as it prepares for the realities of climate change.
Islands 2050 supports Trust Council’s initiative to modernize its guiding document through public and First Nations engagement.
We Welcome Your Input
Send us an email with your thoughts, or write to islands2050@islandstrust.bc.ca, or call 1-250-405-5151 to have your say.
Present to Trust Council
Contact the Executive Coordinator, at execadmin@islandstrust.bc.ca or 1-250-405-5161.
Islands 2050 input is public. That means your comments could show up on our website or be included in documents that we create and distribute to the public. All materials produced by the Islands Trust, including emails, are subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
What is the Policy Statement?
The Policy Statement shapes land and marine use planning in the Islands Trust Area. The document guides the preserve and protect mandate of Islands Trust, but the last version of the Policy Statement was written in 1994 and a lot has changed in the last 26 years:
- Trust Council made a commitment to reconciliation and engagement with First Nations
- The population got older
- Trust Council declared a climate emergency
- Development pressures in the neighbouring cities of Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle, caused land prices to go up and reduced housing options
We are updating the Policy Statement to be current, to be able to adapt to future challenges, and to take advantage of new and developing opportunities.
The Policy Statement helps shape the 20 official community plans — documents providing direction for community growth and change — plus associated bylaws, policies and regulations.
Timeline
Islands 2050 started in September 2019 with community and First Nations engagement.
Updating the Policy Statement has seven stages:
- Stage 1 is public engagement. We met with the public and gathered input face-to face and online.
- Stage 2 is reporting back what we heard during the public engagement.
- Stage 3 is policy analysis and sharing what we learned. We sought public input on policy directions and key themes.
- Stage 4 involves applying what we learned and drafting a revised Policy Statement Bylaw.
- Stage 5 is when the revised bylaw (Policy Statement) will go to Trust Council and be introduced for first reading. We will seek public input on the draft bylaw as well as feedback from First Nations and referral agencies.
- Stage 6 is second reading of the bylaw (Policy Statement) at Trust Council. Council will discuss the bylaw and may make amendments. Then, during the third reading, there will be a final discussion about the bylaw, and possible amendments, before it is approved.
- Stage 7, the Minister of Municipal Affairs will approve the bylaw.
- Stage 8, Trust Council will adopt the bylaw through fourth reading.
Throughout the eight stages, Islands Trust is meaningfully engaging with First Nations government and communities through a parallel process.
How Have We Asked for Public Input?
In Stage 1, we traveled across the Islands Trust Area and hosted 24 public events. We rode the ferries with our information booth, held evening open houses, set up booths at key community locations, and also welcomed ideas online through a comment forum called Thought Exchange. We asked three questions:
- What do you value about the Area?
- In the context of a changing climate, what concerns do you have about the future of the Area?
- What opportunities do you feel will help us preserve and protect the Area?
In Stage 2 we summarized all we had heard in Stage 1 in the What We Heard Report.
In Stage 3 we released a Policy Directions report and held a public survey.
Visit the Surveys and Polls page to view survey results.
We are now in Stage 4.
Prior News Releases
- January 18, 2021 news release: Public Survey about Updating Islands Trust Policy Statement
- July 20, 2020 news release: Islands Trust Releases What We Heard Islands 2050: The Future of the Trust Area report
- September 6, 2019 news release: Islands 2050: The Future of the Trust Area
Public Legal Opinions
In November 2020, the Executive Committee released a legal opinion to assist the Policy Statement Amendment Process.
For More Information
Thank you for your interest and contribution to the Island’s 2050 engagement process.
Sign up for our Island’s 2050 subscriber notice, and we’ll email updates to you. For more information about Islands 2050, please contact:
Program Coordinator, Trust Area Services