October 16, 2024: Islands Trust Requests Provincial Review of Islands Trust Act

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Bowen, Denman, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, Mayne, N. Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, S. Pender, Thetis 
 
 
 
October 16, 2024 – for immediate release 2024-13-IT 
 
Islands Trust Requests Provincial Review of Islands Trust Act 
 
Lək
̓
 ʷəŋən, METULIYE/Victoria, B.C. – At its quarterly meeting in September 2024, Islands Trust Council voted to request 
that the Province of British Columbia undertake a review of the Islands Trust's mandate, governance model, and 
structure. The Islands Trust Council made the same request in 2022.  
 
It is Islands Trust Council’s recommendation that the Province conduct a comprehensive review of the Islands Trust Act, 
similar in scope to the work of the parliamentary committee that led to the creation of Islands Trust 50 years ago. Islands 
Trust Council believes it is essential that the many Indigenous peoples with interests in the lands and waters of the Trust 
Area be involved through their governing bodies, not only as participants in the review, but also as partners in the 
development of its terms of reference.  
 
Islands Trust Council is seeking alignment with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and believes it is of 
paramount importance that Islands Trust decision-making processes appropriately acknowledge the rights and interests 
of the Coast Salish Peoples for whom the Trust Area has been home since time immemorial.  
 
“Islands Trust Council believes that the Province of British Columbia needs to confirm its vision for the Trust Area in 
consultation with Islands Trust, Indigenous Governing Bodies, the communities of the Trust Area and other interested 
parties,” said Peter Luckham, Chair of Islands Trust Council. “Following that confirmation, the Province should amend the 
Islands Trust Act to give Islands Trust the structure and authorities necessary to fulfill that vision.” 
 
Islands Trust Council is also requesting that the Province of British Columbia provide a clearer definition of the Islands 
Trust’s mandate as set out in the Islands Trust Act, to assist its assessments of the relative importance of environmental 
protection versus the facilitation of thriving human communities within the Trust Area.  
 
In addition, the Islands Trust Council is requesting that the Province reassess whether having equal representation from 
each area on the Islands Trust Council remains an appropriate structure, given modern-day challenges in the Islands Trust 
Area.  
 
The Islands Trust Council is also asking the Province to re-consider the Trust’s funding model to acknowledge that the 
Islands Trust exists to preserve and protect the Island Trust Area for all British Columbians.  
 
Details of the specific request made by the Islands Trust Council to the Province of BC can be found in the Chair’s letter to 
the Minister of Municipal Affairs here: https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/honourable-anne-kang-request-for-
provincial-review-of-the-islands-trust/.  
 
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