Minister of Finance Regarding Speculation and Vacancy Tax

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Preserving and protecting over 450 islands and surrounding waters in the Salish Sea 
Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola  Galiano Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
 
 
 
1-500 Lower Ganges Road, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2N8 
Telephone  (250) 537-9114    Fax  (250) 537-9116 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver (604) 660-2421.                         
Elsewhere in BC 1-800-663-7867 
Email  ssiinfo@islandstrust.bc.ca 
Web  www.islandstrust.bc.ca
 
 
October 30, 2023        File No: 11-5770-30-10 
 
Via e-mail: FIN.minister@gov.bc.ca  
 
The Honourable Katrine Conroy  
Minister of Housing 
Room 153 Parliament Buildings 
Victoria, BC,  V8V 1X4 
 
Dear Minister Conroy
,
 
 
Re:  Speculation and Vacancy Tax  
 
The Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee passed the following resolution on October 12, 2023:  
 
“
That the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee request staff to send a letter from the 
LTC Chair to Honourable Katrine Conroy Minister of Finance and copy Honourable Ravi 
Kahlon Minister of Housing which references the September 7, 2023 letter from Colin 
Plant, CRD Board Chair to Minister Conroy, and requests the province to examine the 
projected effect of the Speculation and Vacancy Tax on the housing conditions on Salt 
Spring Island, before considering including the Salt Spring Island Electoral Area in the 
Speculation and Vacancy Tax taxable area.” 
 
We generally agree with the rationale provided in Colin Plant, Capital Regional District Chair’s 
September 7, 2023 letter to you.  However, we would like to request that the Province examine the 
projected effect of the Speculation and Vacancy Tax on the housing conditions on Salt Spring Island. Salt 
Spring Island is the most populated Gulf Island and deserves to be considered separately from the other 
islands in the Islands Trust Area. It would be useful to review if the tax would assist in resolving the lack 
of available housing options which is causing severe impacts for Salt Spring Island employers. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
 
 
Timothy Peterson 
Chair, Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee 
Islands Trust 
 
 

Preserving and protecting over 450 islands and surrounding waters in the Salish Sea 
Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola  Galiano Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
 
Cc: The Honourable Ravi Kahlon, MLA, Minister of Housing 
Adam Olsen, MLA, Saanich North and the Islands 
Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee 
Islands Trust Executive Committee 
Islands Trust website

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