THE ISSUE

Thirty years ago, the creation of the Islands Trust was heralded as a unique and welcome effort to govern the Gulf Islands in a manner that protected a provincial treasure yet also provided for local autonomy. Now many people, including a majority of those elected to the Trust, feel it lacks sufficient power to protect the islands from unwelcome development. The Trust’s unique structure means that key development decisions can be made by just three elected people.

Of course, it’s complicated

Island communities are incredibly diverse and independent, and they resist being told what to do. Many islanders who want to stop development are recent arrivals who want to close the door behind them.

The bottom line

Do you favour a provincial, public effort, in conjunction with the Trust, to reexamine its mandate and structure? Do you favour increased controls on development in the Trust area?

THE ANSWERS

Green Party of BC

The Green Party of British Columbia strongly supports community control in resource management and development. In regard to this question, we do not accept the premise that many of those who resist change are recent arrivals only anxious to “close the door”. In fact, many islanders, both long-term residents as well as those who came more recently, share the view that local autonomy on development issues is the only way to preserve unique and potentially endangered island environments and communities. Development decisions for the Gulf Islands must rest with the respective communities and be decided in an island-by-island basis. In general, the Green party believes that there must be increased controls on development to protect the islands and that Gulf Islanders themselves are best equipped to decide how this will be accomplished.

Democratic Reform BC

Responsive government is a Democratic Reform core value. If the consensus among island residents is that the Trust is not working, or can be improved, then a review is in order, but the Trust’s core mandate should remain intact. A January 2005 Ipsos Reid poll found overwhelming support for protecting the Islands’ unique environment. In an appropriate review, it should be the people of the Islands who initiate change, not the provincial government. DRBC fully supports the democratic process on the islands. Development should be firmly in control of local people. If the threshold for full democratic inclusion and participation is not being met, then changes should be made. For the Gulf Islands, Democratic Reform backs the goals of self-determination expressed by Trust initiatives for legislative change in March 2005, including amendments to the Private Managed Forest Land Act and the Local Government Act that would allow local government to protect sensitive habitats. Ian Bruce, North Saanich and the Islands, 250-656-9414, [email protected]

BC Liberals

Calls by the Islands Trust for a revised mandate from the province were initially ignored. North Saanich and the Islands Liberal MLA Murray Coell now says if both the Trust and the Capital Regional District, which includes many Trust islands, want a governance review the province would participate. Some trustees fear a government that loosened controls on private forest land, mining, and the Agricultural Land Reserve, created new rules that allows the province to over-ride local government decisions and is exceedingly kind to the real-estate development industry might not deliver the desired reforms. Others see the BC Liberals’ Community Charter, which granted more power to local municipalities, as a hopeful sign.

NDP

The party platform makes no statement whatsoever on the Islands Trust, but in government the NDP has shown a strong interest in facilitating strong, accountable local land-use planning. In Opposition the NDP was highly critical of Liberal initiatives that have the potential to impinge on the Trust’s ability to fulfil its mandate. Trust chair David Essig, a resident of Thetis Island and a proponent of reform, narrowly lost the NDP nomination race in Cowichan-Ladysmith, where he has served on the party’s local executive. However, some islanders criticized the NDP in government for inattention to preservation initiatives in the Gulf Islands.