Heading into the October 15 local elections, Positively Forward was looking for three outcomes: the re-election of Gary Holman as Salt Spring’s CRD Director, a YES vote in the referendum to establish the Local Community Commission (LCC), and the election of two unequivocably “Preserve and Protect” trustees to the Salt Spring Local Trust Committee (LTC).

We were delighted that Gary Holman was re-elected by a convincing majority, and that the LCC referendum passed with over 60% in favour, but we were completely broad-sided by the results of the LTC elections. In hindsight, we should not have been.

Positively Forward has taken some time to assess all the election results and would like to share the highs, lows, and whys from our perspective, along with an appeal for help moving forward.

First, we thank Gary Gagné and Elissa Poole for their courage in putting their names forward as candidates for Local Trust Committee and for bringing Positively Forward’s core values to the centre of their respective campaigns. PF was impressed by Gary and Elissa and their campaign teams and how they each built on their deep relationships within the Salt Spring community. They did what serious candidates for local office are expected to do. That neither won a seat was not due to lack of commitment or preparation.

What do the numbers tell us?

Overall turnout on October 15 was 39% of eligible voters. The percentage turnout was lower this election than in the previous local elections in 2018. Elections data from Civicinfo BC indicates voter turnout on SSI in 2018 was 42%. While the number of voters increased in 2022, so did number of eligible voters.

3798 voted for CRD director, with Gary Holman receiving 50% of the votes and the balance split fairly evenly between the other two candidates.

The LCC victory was the election highlight for Positively Forward. Despite vociferous opposition to the LCC on social media and in the local paper, 2279 of 3715 voted YES in the LCC Referendum, a resounding 61.3% approval, very similar to the 62% voting NO to incorporation in 2017.

Seven candidates running for two LTC positions proved hugely problematic for Positively Forward.

A total of 7494 votes were cast (by 3747 voters, if each voted for two candidates). One candidate received only 226 votes but the other six received between 1046 and 1418 votes – a tight race with the highest votes received not unsurprisingly by the incumbent.

Corno, Ben                   1046
Gagné, Gary                 1127
Harris, Jamie              1313   elected
Marcotte, Don             1255
McLean, Jenny             226
Patrick, Laura              1418   elected
Poole, Elissa                 1109
Total votes cast     7494

With three of the six new candidates having green credentials, the Positively Forward progressive vote was split:

Gary & Elissa               2236   29.8%
Gary, Elissa & Ben     3345   44.6%
Jamie & Don                2568   34.3%

The combined progressive vote for new candidates Gary Gagné, Elissa Poole and Ben Corno, at 44.6% of total votes cast, significantly outnumbered those voting for the candidates hostile to the Trust’s preserve and protect mandate. But Jamie Harris and Don Marcotte, running as the right wing anti-regulation team, had the organisational and networking backing of pro-incorporation, private property rights business interests and pulled in an extraordinary 34.3% of the votes. Jamie Harris was elected, with Don Marcotte in third place.

The Gospel Chapel polling station at the north end had the highest support by far for Jamie and Don. The other two polling stations, including Jamie Harris’ home turf of Fulford, favoured the other candidates.

Implications for Salt Spring and the Islands Trust

The LTC election results significantly increase the potential for further erosion of Positively Forward’s core values, manifested in the Trust mandate and founding documents. The expected amendments to draft Bylaw 530 allowing additional suites and cottages will be a litmus test. On Salt Spring, and beyond, the entire raison d’être for the Islands Trust is at stake, as Frants Attorp summarizes in his no-punches-pulled opinion piece in the Nov 2 BC Edition of the Globe and Mail: https://globe2go.pressreader.com/article/281633899184998

How you can help

Please monitor LTC meetings. This can be done online or by viewing the meeting recordings, it is not necessary to attend meetings in person. Hold trustees publicly accountable for their voting decisions, speak at LTC meetings when possible, write letters, and, above all, do not stay silent.

LCC election campaign

PF is already gearing up for the 2023 LCC elections. We are aware that there may be LCC candidates running to create a ‘failed experiment’. We will remain watchful for such tactics, seeking out instead candidates committed to the reform of service delivery through an LCC.

We will need help and are looking to expand our core team. Would you be interested in joining us? Would you run as an LCC candidate, or do you know someone who would? Do you have strategic skills?

We welcome your input and suggestions,

The Positively Forward team