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.

This Policy Statement Amendment Project involves engaging First Nation governments, partner agencies, and the public, who each have important roles to play in preserving and protecting this special region for current and future generations.

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.

Actions

March 2025: At its March meeting, Islands Trust Council transferred responsibility for developing further changes to the draft new Policy Statement from Committee of the Whole to Trust Programs Committee (TPC) and expanded TPC’s membership so more trustees could be involved. TPC is reviewing the draft new Policy Statement and will continue to do so.

January 2025: Trustees considered the updated draft Policy Statement and discussed next steps at a Committee of the Whole meeting on January 8. More about this meeting here.

December 2024: At its meeting of December 4, Islands Trust Council considered the fiscal 2025/26 project budget for the Policy Statement Amendment Project and is recommending a budget of $53,500. This budget will allow for a range of communications and engagement approaches, including an Trust-wide mail-out. Trust Council also endorsed an updated project charter for the Policy Statement Amendment Project, which is available under “About the Project” in the Project Library and here. The updated project charter shortens the project timeline by replacing approval-in-principle of the document with first reading, and undertaking local engagement and agency and Indigenous Governing Body referrals concurrently, starting in July 2025.

November 2024: Trustees considered the updated draft Policy Statement and discussed next steps at a Committee of the Whole meeting on November 6. More about this meeting here.

October 2024: Trustees considered the updated draft Policy Statement and discussed next steps at a Committee of the Whole meeting on October 3. More about this meeting here.

September 2024: At its meeting of September 25, Islands Trust Council endorsed revisions to the draft new Policy Statement to address issues related to Islands Trust jurisdiction and the clarity of the document. The updated draft new Policy Statement is available under “Policy Statement Drafts” in the Project Library below. Trust Council also endorsed an updated project charter for the Policy Statement Amendment Project, which is available under “About the Project” in the Project Library and here.

August 2024: Trustees considered the updated draft Policy Statement and discussed next steps at a Committee of the Whole meeting on August 22. More about this meeting here.

July 2024: Trustees considered the updated draft Policy Statement and discussed next steps at a Committee of the Whole meeting on July 8. More about this meeting here.

May 2024: Trustees considered an updated draft Policy Statement at a Committee of the Whole meeting on May 30th. More about this meeting here.

February 2024: In line with Trust Council’s Reconciliation Declaration and its resolutions requesting staff to undertake further work on the Policy Statement Amendment Project , staff continue to work with other agencies and First Nations (as part of First Nations Engagement Phase 3) to receive input on the new draft of the Policy Statement. This work will continue into March.