Positively Forward is one of several groups who supported a request for a legal letter to clarify the legality of the current draft Trust Policy Statement (TPS) as written by the Trust Council (the governing body of the Islands Trust). This action became necessary because it became very clear that the contents of the current draft are deficient in implementing the Mandate of the Trust Act, which requires the Islands Trust to protect the unique amenities and environment of the Trust islands for islanders and all British Columbians.
The TPS is the critical document that guides actions of local trust committees (LTCs) on all the islands under the Islands Trust. The TPS sets policies that guide what bylaws LTCs can and cannot pass, as well as what policies must be included in their Official Community Plans.
The current Trust Council has so far chosen to interpret the Islands Trust Mandate as allowing them to adopt a TPS that paves the way for development rather than protection. This letter clearly explains that the Mandate must be interpreted consistent with the dictionary meaning of the words defining it.
We urge Trust Council to take this letter to heart and make major revisions to the TPS before it is sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs for approval. However, Islands Trust staff has informed the trustees that it is unlikely that the new TPS can be finalized before the Islands Trust election on October 17, 2026.