Island Governance Basics
Get informed in two minutes with this brief overview.
In 1974, the provincial government created the Islands Trust, a unique governance model designed to preserve and protect the islands in the Trust Area from over-development. The Islands Trust Council is the coordinating body, comprised of two elected Local Trustees from each of the 13 major islands. We are fortunate to live within this very special protected area. The Islands Trust Act has kept Salt Spring relatively undeveloped and rural.
What is governance?
Governance is about the structures and processes that are intended to ensure accountability, transparency, responsiveness, rule of law, stability, equity and inclusiveness, empowerment, and broad-based participation. Governance improves when people participate and let their voices be heard.
Is Salt Spring governance different from other communities?
Yes and no. We are part of the Islands Trust, which makes us different. But like other communities in BC, large and small, we operate under the BC Local Government Act. Salt Spring must also comply with Provincial and Federal laws and regulations, the same as other communities.
Who governs what on Salt Spring?
The two key governance structures on Salt Spring and the focus of Positively Forward’s research and advocacy are:
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- The Islands Trust Salt Spring Local Trust Committee (LTC), comprised of the two elected Local Trustees and a member of the Trust Council Executive Committee. It is responsible for Land Use Planning and our Official Community Plan (OCP). The Islands Trust local office is the go-to place for information about how individual land parcels may be developed. LTC policies and decisions on new development and protected areas have long-term consequences for the sustainability of our island home.
Find out more about the Islands Trust.
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- The Capital Regional District (CRD) provides numerous Salt Spring services—everything from building permits to the indoor swimming pool—and also provides funding for our library, arts, bus service, recycling centre, and Search and Rescue. Islanders elect Salt Spring’s CRD Director and will soon elect 4 Commissioners to a new Local Community Commission (LCC) which will take on responsibility for many local CRD services. The CRD is the big player in terms of budgets, access to federal and provincial funds, and service delivery.
Find out more about the CRD and the new LCC.
The other Salt Spring island-wide governance bodies are:
- School District 64, overseen by the elected School Board, and
- Salt Spring Fire Rescue, which provides fire and first responder services and is overseen by elected Trustees.
There are also area-specific governance bodies such as:
- North Salt Spring Waterworks District, the largest water service provider, serving most of the northern part of the island, including Ganges. The CRD manages six smaller water districts, including Fulford. There are also at least ten small independent water districts.
Other services such as roads maintenance, and policing are overseen — and, in large part, paid for — by the provincial government. This is a significant benefit to the community because covering more of these major costs would be a burden on Salt Spring’s small tax base.
Do I really need to know about this stuff?
Democracy works when people care, speak up, and vote. And knowing who is responsible for what is fundamental when you need to get something done. In this time of extreme weather events and uncertainty, it is especially important to be informed and to participate. We are a rural community and, as such, depend on volunteers and volunteer organisations to support our local governance bodies and, when necessary, to hold them to account.
Find out how you can get involved.