Letter Minister Selina Robinson MLA - Housing Needs Report

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Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
 
 
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 
 
 
July 26, 2018 
 
 
File No.: 0420-20 
 
 
via email: MAH.minister@gov.bc.ca  
 
The Honourable Selina Robinson 
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing 
Parliament Buildings 
Victoria, British Columbia  V8V 1X4 
 
 
 
Dear Minister Robinson: 
 
Re:  Housing Needs Assessment Reports 
 
In January, 2018 we met with you and mentioned that we were working on housing needs assessments. 
We are pleased to share with you the completed housing needs assessments for the northern islands 
including Denman, Gabriola, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, and Thetis islands while the Capital Regional 
District has supported the completion of a similar assessment for the southern Islands including Galiano, 
Mayne, North Pender, South Pender, and Saturna islands. Salt Spring Island has a housing needs 
assessment from 2015 and Bowen Island has a housing needs assessment that was updated in 2009. 
 
The local trust committees will be receiving these housing needs reports over the summer and we have 
made them publically available on the Islands Trust website.  We understand that by doing this, these 
interim housing needs reports will be deemed, under the transitional sections of the new legislation, to be 
the first housing needs reports for those local trust committees.  
 
The new housing needs assessments starkly illustrate the difficult housing situations that many people 
living in the Trust Area are currently experiencing. Far too many of our island neighbours have a lack of 
housing security, with many forced to vacate during the summer season. Others live in substandard 
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The Honourable Selina Robinson 
July 26, 2018 
Page 2 
 
 
housing with serious potential health and safety risks. Others are paying unsustainable amounts – beyond 
the recommended maximum of 30% of their income – to have a roof over their head.  Some local trust 
committees are addressing housing affordability issues through bylaw amendments to allow secondary 
suites and by enforcing on unpermitted vacation rentals. Much work remains to be done. We are thankful 
for the work you are doing on this important topic.  
 
 
Sincerely, 
 
 
 
Peter Luckham 
Chair, Islands Trust Council 
pluckham@islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
 
Attachments (2): Islands Trust Northern Region Housing Needs Assessment, 2018  
Southern Gulf Islands Housing Needs Assessment, 2018   
 
 
Cc:  Islands Trust Area MLAs 
 Capital Regional District Board 
Bowen Island Municipal Council 
Islands Trust Council 
Islands Trust website

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