The Islands Trust is a unique, province‑created local government whose core mandate is to preserve and protect the environment and rural character of the Gulf Islands and surrounding waters in the Salish Sea.
On July 29, 2025, Islands Trust Council (ITC) gave first reading to the Islands Trust draft Policy Statement. The multi-year process to amend the Policy Statement marks the first comprehensive update to the document in over 25 years, and ITC wants to know—have they got it right? Now is your chance to review it and provide input by completing the survey here. Please note that the deadline is February 2, 2026.
Following a review of the draft Island Trust Policy Statement and the survey, the Council Executive prepared a response for submission to the Islands Trust Council and the Hon. Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs:
As boaters we believe the protection of ecosystem integrity (sec 3.3.6) is laudable and are pleased that marinas docks and anchorages (sec 3.4.29-30) are identified as recreational components. However we have two key concerns with this Policy Statement that we bring to your attention and in the hope that you will respond to with the completion of your own questionnaire:
a) The policy contains examples of areas of potential jurisdictional conflict and legal challenges around marine shoreline policies:
Island Trust Policy 5.9.2 states: a local trust committee does not have jurisdiction over matters that fall within federal or provincial jurisdiction…
Please refer to sections 3.5. 19 (Aquaculture Tenures), 3.5.22 (Vessel Moorage), 3.5.23 (Marinas), 3.5.24 (Sharing of Coastal Facilities), 3.5.25 (Marine Docks), 3.5.26 (Marine Structures). These activities are all under provincial and or federal jurisdiction. It would therefore seem inappropriate for the ITC to propose changes to their policies that do not comply with their own policy (viz 5.9.2) or related provincial policy.
b) The policy lacks a general balance between efforts to meet our First Nation reconciliation responsibilities while supporting the needs of other parties that have an interest in the Gulf Islands:
Advisory Policies (3.3.10-11) are directed exclusively by Indigenous interests. Will our environmental policies, particularly as they apply to marinas, docks, breakwaters etc. not also consider the application of western scientific standards?
Development directives are restricted (3.4.9) unless they are generated by Indigenous Governing Bodies (3.4.10). We support First Nation self sufficiency, but equitability could be improved if policies were included that support all sensible economic opportunities for our youth, new Canadians and others who wish to build diverse and sustainable island communities.
We are concerned that the preservation of ecosystem integrity for shorelines and nearshore areas (3.3.6), which incorporates a restriction on almost every shoreline type, will effectively exclude permission for the development of shoreline structures on which boaters depend (3.5.22-26). Advice could identify mitigative measures to allow construction and maintenance of boating facilities while providing ecosystem protection and provide some balance and flexibility in the policy.
With the stipulation that First Nation Governing Bodies have the exclusive authority to define areas of “Indigenous Cultural Heritage” (Directive 3.2.1-3 and Advisory 3.2.4-8), we fear the potential prohibition of many sites, with no appeal process available.
These are the policies that will guide the regulation of our recreational boating far into the future. Please have your voice heard by submitting the survey before February 2nd.