July 15, 2022 - Trust Council Requests Province to Review Islands Trust Act

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Bowen, Denman, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, Mayne, N. Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, S. Pender, Thetis 
 
 
July 15, 2022 – for immediate release 2022-13-IT 
Trust Council Requests Province to review Islands Trust Act 
 
Lək
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 ʷəŋən, METULIYE/Victoria, B.C. – On July 8, 2022, Islands Trust Council Chair Peter Luckham wrote to the Honourable 
Minister of Municipal Affairs, Nathan Cullen, as the Minister responsible for the Islands Trust Act, to bring Trust Council’s 
request for a provincial review of Islands Trust’s mandate, governance and structure to the attention of the Lieutenant 
Governor in Council.  
 
Trust Council’s decision in June 2022 to request a provincial review comes after much debate and discussion around the 
Policy Statement review process and a governance review conducted by external consultants earlier this year.  
 
“Over the past few years, we have heard many different viewpoints around how to best carry out our special mandate to 
preserve and protect the unique amenities and environment in the Islands Trust Area,” said Peter Luckham, Islands Trust 
Council Chair. “However, we can’t do this work alone. As an agency of the Province, we require provincial leadership, 
direction, and support to ensure that we are honouring the preserve and protect vision, while also addressing the new 
realities and challenges facing the Islands Trust Area today.” 
 
Trust Council also established a new standing Governance Committee at its June 2022 meeting, comprised of seven 
elected members. This new standing committee will begin an in-depth review of the recommendations laid out in the 
governance review by external consultants. It will also be well placed to assist a provincial review process, should the 
Province accept Trust Council’s request. 
 
The Governance Committee trustee members are Alex Allen, Kees Langereis, Lee Middleton, Laura Patrick, Timothy 
Peterson, Tahirih Rockafella, and Kate-Louise Stamford. 
 
New members will be elected when the 2022-2026 new term Trust Council convenes in November. 
 
It has been nearly 50 years since the Islands Trust Act was initiated and 35 years since it was last meaningfully reviewed 
by the Province. The Islands Trust Area is located within Coast Salish territory. Working closely together with First Nations 
to align Islands Trust’s governance model, structure, and mandate with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous 
Peoples Act will be key to fulfilling Islands Trust Council’s (and the Province’s) commitments to reconciliation, and to the 
effective stewardship of this culturally and ecologically significant region.  
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About Islands Trust 
Islands Trust is a special-purpose government representing over 30,000 people living within the Islands Trust Area and 
10,000 non-resident property owners. The Islands Trust Area is located within Coast Salish territory and is the homeland 
to many Coast Salish Peoples who have called this place home since time immemorial. 

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