In our May newsletter, we reported that MLA Rob Botterell is supporting our view that the primary mandate of the Islands Trust is to protect the natural ecosystems of these fragile islands from over-development.
His article in the Driftwood stated: “The preservation and protection of the lands and waters of the Trust Area is, and must always, be paramount.… Development and population growth in the islands Trust Area is not inevitable. It is a choice.”
Now Rob is being heavily criticized by members of the Islands Trust Council who feel he may have influenced the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs to turn down their request to review the mandate of the Islands Trust Act.
Actually, even before Rob was elected MLA, the Minister sent a letter to the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee supportive of the Trust protective role when he turned down their request to be included under a new provincial law mandating substantial upzoning for affordable housing.
Rob Botterell will be speaking at the Trust Council meeting on Salt Spring.
It would be very helpful if you could show our support for him by attending his speech at Harbour House at 4:45 pm on Wednesday, June 18th.