Governance Committee Regular Meeting Addendum

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Governance Committee
Addendum
 

Date:Friday, February 10, 2023
Time:9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location:Electronic meeting, Public venue
Islands Trust
200-1627 Fort Street
Victoria, BC V8R 1H8
Pages
7.BUSINESS - WORK PROGRAM ITEMS
7.1Analysis and Prioritiy Setting of the February 2022 Governance Report - Briefing
7.1.1Appendix A.  v. Trustee Stamford submission
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KL Stamford – Feb 2023
  P 1 
 
Response to the Great Northern Islands Trust Governance Review Report 
Kate-Louise Stamford 
The Great Northern Islands Trust Governance Review Report grew out of a general 
malaise in the Trust Council as its 26 members grappled with a growing budget, 
evolving dissatisfaction of regional representative disparity, and an unclear vision.  
Trustees were buffeted with increasingly hostile constituent engagement as well as a 
frequent, but non-specific charge of inefficiency both from within the Trust Council and 
by external interests.   
The decision to have an external review came at a particularly fraught time as Council 
was struggling with the significance and direction of the Policy Statement and the huge 
impact of the pandemic.  Not only had the whole operation of the Trust turned 180 in a 
matter of weeks into an unprecedented virtual existence, the Council had not met in 
person in more than a year.  The Review Committee was self-selected and 
unintentionally further fanned the flames of distrust about the whole project. The 
decision itself barely passed a majority vote demonstrating how fraught the Trust 
Council was. 
It was no surprise then that the Great Northern Review, both in its process and in its 
recommendations, reflected a state of the Islands Trust that, to me over-emphasized a 
critical but temporary state of angst and under-emphasized the long-term strength of an 
organization looking for a path forward to modernization and clarity.  The in-person 
presentation by the consultants in March of 2022 provided a much more positive and 
nuanced recognition of the unique position and opportunities the Islands Trust has in 
British Columbia. 
Finally, by releasing the report to the public sans context and endorsement by the Trust 
Council, the Great Northern IT Governance Review has taken on a life of its own among 
various people and groups that distorts the complex situation at the Islands Trust. 
Here are my views about the recommendations outlined in the report: 
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Appendix A.
     v.  Trustee Stamford  - submission
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KL Stamford – Feb 2023
  P 2 
 
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Trustee’s priorities continue to languish
efficiency’s
hip position which doesn’t really fit our
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KL Stamford – Feb 2023
  P 3 
 
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KL Stamford – Feb 2023
  P 4 
 
Planning review – While I agree with several of the recognized difficulties (ie OCP’s – 
Gambier LTA one has 4 of them!) I don’t think the timelines are realistic if First Nation 
engagement is really a priority for the Trust.  I look forward to the final roleout of the 
Regional Planning Team and how 

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