Why does Positively Forward prefer Robin Jenkinson to Bryan Young for the Salt Spring LTC?
While Bryan has done stellar work on climate action as Transition Salt Spring’s leader and spokesperson, Robin’s academic qualifications, her deep understanding of Salt Spring’s ecology, along with her effective leadership and uncompromising commitment to protect all that we cherish make her our preferred choice.
Robin’s academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany, a Master of Science in Fisheries and River Management, a Post-Grad Certificate in Traditional Ecological Knowledge Recording, and a professional certificate in Urban Design from Simon Fraser University (SFU). She has an in-depth knowledge of the plants and creatures that inhabit our region and knows what has been lost and what can be restored. She also appreciates the urgency of such endeavours. Her policy proposals are grounded by a solid working immersion in BC’s planning laws. This is not true of Bryan for the most part. Of concern to Positively Forward is that some of Bryan’s housing proposals open the door to unwanted development.
Former Island Trustee and Vice Chairman of Trust Council (1996–2002) David Borrowman writes, “The most recent Trust committee has done much to confound and obscure this vision (of far-seeing Trust legislation) behind bogus ‘values,’ all aimed at development. They never understood or perhaps believed in the promise of the Trust. Remember, they were bequeathed the most far-seeing community plan possible when it comes to providing for needed housing. Their machinations of the last four years have amounted to surrogate arguments for development.” This may explain some of Bryan’s proposed policies. We provide a detailed comparison of Robin and Bryan’s policy proposals here.
Robin’s thinking aligns more closely with that of Positively Forward with respect to the provision of affordable housing. Like us, she recognizes the flaws in trying to solve affordable housing shortages through market forces that are variable and fuelled by a need to turn a profit. She advocates for housing that will remain affordable through legally binding contracts. Bryan supports rezoning to allow suites and cottages in Ganges and other “serviced” areas. This would include the NSSWD service area, that is, most of the island north of Ganges and substantial portions south of Ganges. Without monitored housing agreements, these suites and cottages would become market housing, and lots with this potential become more valuable and less affordable for islanders.
We recognize that Bryan is well intentioned but feel he is more aspirational than realistic in terms of what lies within the Trust’s purview. He has suggested he would ask the province to provide more funding, but we know that is a non-starter. He proposes controversial projects for which there are not staff resources. Robin has informed herself of the constraints and has realistic policy proposals.
The bottom line is that we trust Robin to assume a leadership role, making decisions informed by the Islands Trust’s legislated obligations and her own deep commitment to the Trust mandate and to the islands within its jurisdiction.