Preserve and Protect

On May 21, 1974 James Lorimer, Minister of Municipal Affairs for British Columbia, introduced the Islands Trust  Act. After two weeks of debate, the act passed and a unique new form of government was put in place to preserve and protect one of the most pristine and accessible island clusters in the world.

The Trust Area

The Trust Area, as it is known, encompasses all islands and waters of the southern Strait of Georgia that are not covered by B.C. mainland or southern Vancouver Island communities and First Nation reserves.

In addition to salt Spring, there are 12 other major islands and 450 small islands governed by the Trust.

It became apparent to the environmentally conscious public in the late 1960s that the Gulf Islands, home to more than 200 species of migratory and resident birds plus a diverse range of marine and terrestrial wildlife, needed protection from unrestrained development. Subdivision restrictions were put in place as the government made a concerted effort to promote community planning throughout the islands.

The Islands Trust

Instead of designating the San Juan/Gulf Islands as an international park in 1973 as requested by an international commission, the provincial government, wanting more direct representation, placed the islands in trust. Trustees would be appointed or elected with a mandate to preserve and protect the natural resources that existed while also addressing the inevitable changes and problems caused by human population growth in the Trust Area. On that basis they became the primary authority on land-use issues and all rezoning applications within the Trust Area.

In  1977, amendments to the Act ensured that a total of 26 trustees would be elected, two each from the thirteen larger islands. The Islands Trust was also given the power to develop and amend Trust Area community plans and zoning by-laws.

By 1974, salt spring had developed its first Community Plan, and while it allowed some cluster development, green space was written into the formula. After, 1977 that Community Plan was finalized and the island’s role in self-government came down to the election of its two island trustees and plan implementation.

These Trustees are now elected for a three year term. Under the current system, all local land zoning issues on a given island are addressed by a Trust Committee made up of three trustees — two from the island in question and a third committee chairperson who comes from another island. The third member acts to protect the interest of the other islands in matters that concern them. Collectively, all 26 trustees respond to issues that affect the Trust Area as a whole or more than one jurisdiction.

The Islands Trust Act was redrafted in 1990. It assigned a new regional planning function to the trust council. Population in the trust Area grew 26 percent between 1986 and 1991. Ferry traffic was up 37 percent on the inter-island routes. Summer tourist traffic was placing new demands on limited water supplies in some locations. Those trends have not changed and the present Trustees are faced on a daily basis of the task of  trying to find a balance between growth and sustainability of Salt Spring’s limited resources.

On Salt Spring, the Trust’s effectiveness is easily measured by the broad support given by the public. In June 2002, a referendum to Incorporate the island was defeated by a 70% margin, but the topic is being raised again by a group calling themselves, Islanders for Self Governance. Incorporation has become quite a contentious issue so we are sure to face another referendum down the road — the question is, is how far down the road?

However, even many supporters of Incorporation continue to believe that it is really important for the Islands Trust to continue have the mandate to Preserve and Protect the islands as the external pressures for increased development continue grow.

We are facing another upcoming election in November 2008 with numerous items on the block to be major issues. Some feel the Community Plan that was adopted in 1998, after countless hours of public consultation is due to be reviewed. Others are quite happy with it as it exists.  Preserving a safe water supply is always a concern, and affordable housing issues need attention as well.

The one thing most people agree with, is that if we had not been fortunate enough to have had the protection of the Islands Trust Act for the past 30 years, Salt Spring would be a much different place than it is today and for sure not the jewel we have fought so hard to protect!