By JOHN MONEY
I have been involved in the Islands Trust since its conception and longer in the creation of the official community plans (OCP) and land use bylaws (LUB), with the help from planners working for the various regional districts in the Trust area, which preceded the Islands Trust.
The Islands Trust was originally created as a body to supply planning services to 13 different island communities to look after their local OCPs and LUBs that had been created by planners from the various regional districts working with the local communities.
Because the Trust area was spread amongst five regional districts, the islanders petitioned the government to form a single planning service. The government created the Islands Trust and charged it to think about the people of B.C. while servicing the local residents and taxpayers that voted them in.
The Island Trust does not have subdivision approval. It does not issue building permits. It does not issue foreshore leases, mining permits or water licences. It does not contribute to fire departments, water systems, health, ambulance, emergency response or transportation and roads. It does not represent First Nations, which have their own referral bodies.
Islands Trust is simply a body that interprets the local bylaws involved and makes recommendations to the approval authority involved.
I would guess that the given job of supplying planning services to the 13 island communities and their OCPs and LUBS would take about one third of the present budget. The rest of the budget seems to be empire building.
People might ask, “How do we rein in this gluttonous bureaucracy that keeps raising our taxes?”
I suggest there is an election coming this fall. Pick level-headed candidates that will respect the taxpayer, residents and their Local OCPs and LUBs with the fortitude to stand up against the bureaucrats. Once you have such a candidate, get on their team and campaign hard for them. If you feel you are that person, form a campaign team and throw your hat in the ring.
The first thing a trustee faces after an election is the laid-on hot tub party in a nice hotel and much romancing from the bureaucrats, who give their version of the trustee’s job. Do not be seduced by them! Remember, you are married to your community and its residents, taxpayers and the local OCPs and LUBs!
The biggest and most unique amenity on each island is its community, and each community has built its own OCP and LUB after going through many long, long town hall sessions to get consensus on the plans.
Do not let the bureaucrats build a Policy Statement that neuters those bylaws that your community so carefully and painstakingly made.
All you need is 14 or more good, strong candidates. If you don’t want to spend the effort and time to get good, strong local candidates elected then I suggest you get in line, open your wallet and bow before the gluttonous beast.
The writer is a former multi-term Saturna Island trustee and Trust Executive Committee member.