MOTI Minister Fleming UBCM Meeting 2023

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Ministry of Transportation 
and Infrastructure 
  
Office of the Minister 
  
Mailing Address: 
Parliament Buildings 
Victoria BC  V8V 1X4 
 
 
 
 
November 29, 2023 
 
Peter Luckham, Chair 
Islands Trust 
200 - 1627 Fort Street 
Victoria BC  V8R 1H8 
Reference: 320719 
  
 
Dear Chair Luckham: 
 
Re: UBCM Meeting 2023 
 
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me in Vancouver during the 2023 Union of British 
Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Convention. 
 
I appreciated the opportunity to discuss your support for the development of an integrated 
transportation strategy for the Island Trust area. 
 
Every year at UBCM I am reminded how fortunate British Columbia is to have local leaders who 
are dedicated, informed and passionate about the future of their communities. Our governments 
are most effective when we bring together our insights and resources, and my team and I were 
honoured to be part of this year’s gathering to hear more about the ideas and priorities B.C.’s 
communities care about most. 
 
The Province has developed an integrated planning approach to better align transportation and 
land-use planning in B.C., which will enhance current planning processes to help focus 
government policy and better coordinate with local governments and First Nations on economic 
development and land-use planning initiatives. 
 
Ministry staff are committed to continuing to work closely with Islands Trust to address your 
priorities with respect to Gulf Islands maintenance activities, active transportation interests and 
concerns about ferry services. I have asked ministry staff to follow up with you to discuss 
arranging regular meetings with your office to discuss these matters. Please do not hesitate to 
contact District Manager Michael Pearson if you have any questions in the meantime. He can be 
reached at 250 713-2815 or Michael.Pearson@gov.bc.ca and would be pleased to assist you. 
 
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The ministry’s B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program helps Indigenous and 
local governments develop and improve safe active transportation networks: 
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/funding-engagement-permits/funding-grants/active-
transportation-infrastructure-grants. The program shares the cost of infrastructure projects, such 
as bicycle and pedestrian overpasses and separated multi-use paths, with local governments. 
In 2022, the budget for this program was increased by 67 per cent to $60 million over the next 
three years.  
 
The active transportation grants are a regular, annual funding program. Although the intake for 
this year closed on October 27, 2023, I would encourage Islands Trust to visit the ministry’s 
website for more information, such as program eligibility and deadlines for future intake. If you 
have questions about the application process, please do not hesitate to contact Kate Berniaz, 
Director, Clean Transportation and Programs. She can be reached at 250 419-8544 and would be 
happy to assi

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