Letter Minister Selina Robinson MLA - Leg Change Request

Extracted text (beginning)

200 - 1627 Fort Street, Victoria BC  V8R 1H8 
Telephone  (250) 405-5151    Fax  (250) 405-5155 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 604.660.2421.  Elsewhere in BC 1.800.663.7867 
Email  information@islandstrust.bc.ca 
Web  www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
 
December 18, 2018  File No.: 0110-20 
 
via email: MAH.minister@gov.bc.ca  
 
The Honourable Selina Robinson 
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing 
Parliament Buildings 
Victoria BC V8V 1X4 
 
 
Dear Minister Robinson: 
 
Re:  Request for legislative change 
 
This request follows our January 23, 2018 meeting to discuss matters of importance to the Islands Trust Executive 
Committee, including potential legislative changes to the Islands Trust Act and other relevant legislation.  At that time 
you requested a prioritized list of Act amendments that could form the basis for a review by Ministry and Islands 
Trust staff.  I also understood from that discussion that it would be important that the Islands Trust ensure that it was 
fully utilizing its current authorities to achieve its preserve and protect mandate and that any proposed amendments 
to the Act would need to be demonstrably necessary. 
 
We have taken that advice to heart and believe that we have identified realistic and achievable amendments to our 
primary legislation that will support the efforts of the Trust on behalf of all British Columbians.  At their September 
18, 2018 meeting Trust Council requested that I write to you asking for legislative change along three broad themes, 
as follows: 
 
ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION:   Improvements to the Islands Trust’s ability to enforce its current 
regulatory and legislative powers in support of the preserve and protect mandate of the Trust and its land use 
planning function.  The Islands Trust does not have the same enforcements tools as other land use jurisdictions in 
British Columbia but is expected to provide a similar service.  The recommended amendments are: 
1. Allowance for entry warrants; 
2. Development permit area enforcement via municipal ticketing; 
3. Adoption of development approval information bylaws by local trust committees; 
4. To enable the ability to charge fees for telecommunication applications. 
 
MODERNIZATION:  The Islands Trust Act has not been substantially amended in a number of years and there are 
areas that require updating in order for the organization to remain relevant.  Recommended amendments are: 
5. Amending the Act to add "First Nations" to the list of those with whom we work "in co-operation;" 
6. The ability to delegate development permit and temporary use permits to staff; 
7. Clarification of foreshore zoning authority and jurisdiction throughout the Trust Area; 
8. In keeping with broader powers afforded regional districts, relative to S. 294 of the Local Government 
Act, to allow the Islands Trust entities, “incidental or conducive powers;” 
9. To include reference to the ecosystem in section 8.2 of the Islands Trust Act. 
.../2 

 
The 

First 3,000 characters. Open the original for the whole document.