Present: Mayor Ranns, L. Urlacher, Chief Administrative Officer, T. Van Swieten, Deputy Corporate Officer and A

Minutes Finance and Environment Committee Meeting April 12, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

Metchosin Municipal Hall Electronic Meeting in Accordance with Ministerial Order M192 ______

IMPORTANT: Public Participation Ministerial Order No. M0192 allows municipalities to conduct business without in person public attendance during the COVID19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 Related Measures Act (CRMA) and Ministerial Order M192 (Order M192) provide flexibility for local governments to shift how they are conducting meetings and hearings based on the current PHO recommendations and local circumstances. Order M192 provides that a council or body is not required to allow members of the public to attend a meeting if, despite the best efforts of the council or body, the attendance of members of the public cannot be accommodated at a meeting that would otherwise be held in accordance with the applicable requirements or recommendations under the Public Health Act.

PLEASE NOTE: The meeting has been recorded

Present: Mayor Ranns, L. Urlacher, Chief Administrative Officer, T. Van Swieten, Deputy Corporate Officer and A. Ward, Administrative Assistant

Via Zoom: Councillors MacKinnon in the Chair, Councillors Epp and Little

Regrets: Councillor Kahakauwila

The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m.

1. Agenda, Additions and Approval

Moved and Seconded by Councillor Little and Mayor Ranns that the Committee approve the agenda as presented. Carried 2. Public Participation

Jay Shukin, resident, expressed support for the two resolutions coming forward, Moratorium on Recreational Wolf Hunting on Vancouver Island and the Old Growth Forests Resolution. Mr. Shukin stated that what happened to the Sooke wolf pack was horrible and the wolves have not been a problem to anyone. Mr. Shukin urged Council to support both resolutions.

Pattie Whitehouse, resident, urged Council to endorse both recommendations coming forward, the moratorium on recreational wolf hunting and banning logging of old growth forests.

Gail Dalzell, property owner, questioned the grant in aid process for this year and asked how much money is being allocated to regular grant in aids and how much is allocated to the COVID grant in aids. Ms. Dalzell also questioned if there will be a tax increase because of the increase to grant in aids.

Bev Bacon, resident, stated her support for the two resolutions coming forward, moratorium on recreational wolf hunting and old growth forests. Ms. Bacon stated there should be no wolf hunting on the island and if it continues it could create a fragmented wolf population that could create a situation where the wolves hunting behaviour could change and effect farmers and livestock. Ms. Bacon also commented on Premier John Horgan’s 14 recommendations he made District of Metchosin - 2 - April 12, 2021 Finance and Environment Committee Meeting Minutes

during the election and complimented the people that participated in the blockades protecting old growth forests. . 3. Adoption of Minutes

Moved and Seconded by Councillors Little and Epp that the Committee adopt the minutes of the Finance and Environment Committee, March 8, 2021 as presented. Carried 4. Receipt of Minutes

Moved and Seconded by Mayor Ranns and Councillor Little that the Committee receive the minutes of the Metchosin Environmental Advisory Select Committee, February 23, 2021. Carried

Moved and Seconded by Mayor Ranns and Councillor Little that the Committee receive the minutes of the Metchosin Environmental Advisory Select Committee, March 23, 2021. Carried 5. Business Arising

a) Moratorium on Recreational Wolf Hunting on Vancouver Island

Councillor MacKinnon gave a brief overview of the resolution recommendation from MEASC, the following discussion ensued: • One of the Sooke region packs identified by Project HOWL has been eradicated except possibly one wolf • Horrified at losing the wolves • Remembering when bears crossed over and started eating livestock in Metchosin and at this point wolves have not made that move. If wolves make that move, hopefully conservation could single out the individual wolves without harming the packs. • Receipt of several letters supporting the moratorium on recreational wolf hunting on Vancouver Island • Councillor MacKinnon stated as representative of Co-Existing with Carnivores Alliance, they are working to support this as well

Moved and Seconded by Mayor Ranns and Councillor Epp that the Committee recommend Council endorse the following resolution; And that staff send a letter to the District of Oak Bay and the District of Sooke informing them of the resolution.

Whereas the public and wildlife conservation organizations are concerned about provincial regulations for recreational wolf hunting practices on Vancouver Island, and believe that these practices should be re-examined for scientific and ethical reasons.

And whereas very little scientific evidence exists about the size of Vancouver Island’s wolf population or the sustainability of impacts of unrestricted harvesting levels on the Island’s biodiversity related to habitats and wildlife ecology, especially at the regional level:

Therefore, be it resolved that AVICC and UBCM request the provincial government to implement a moratorium on recreational wolf hunting on Vancouver Island, pending the completion of a scientific, data-driven and evidence-based study that includes consultation with the Island’s Indigenous communities, to re-examine the efficacy of unrestricted wolf harvesting practices and their impacts on the Island’s biodiversity, wildlife ecology and sustainability of the resident wolf population.

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Carried It was agreed to bring this resolution forward tonight for ratification.

b) Property Assessment Clean Energy (PACE BC)

Councillor MacKinnon gave a brief overview of the Property Assessment Clean Energy (PACE BC) program, the Committee discussed the following: • PACE is a tool that provides access to long-term financing for energy efficient water conservation, renewable energy, and resiliency measures for owners and developers of residential, commercial industrial, institutional, and multifamily properties. • PACE loans are repaid through an addition to property tax bills and are transferred from one owner to the next when properties are sold. • Enabling legislation for PACE programs to be phased in • A way to overcome a large initial hurdle of costs involved • Clarification on where the money comes from and how it is paid back • Different options available for providing funding, various levels of governments and institutions of lending as a way of providing funding • Difference between paying off a loan at a bank or paying the municipality back through taxes • Inviting Councillor Will Cole-Hamilton to a future F&E Committee meeting to speak to PACE BC

Moved and Seconded by Councillors Little and Epp that the Finance & Environment Committee invite Courtenay Councillor Will Cole-Hamilton to make a presentation at our next Finance & Environment Committee meeting. Carried c) Old Growth Forests Resolution

Councillor MacKinnon gave a brief overview of the proposed resolution from Nanaimo Councillor, Ben Geselbracht. The following was discussed: • Many Metchosin residents taking the lead on this, very passionate about old growth forests • First resolution is from Nanaimo, second one is from Victoria. Nanaimo is the preferred resolution

Moved and Seconded by Mayor Ranns and Epp that the Committee recommend Council endorse the following resolution; And that staff send a letter to the City of Nanaimo informing them of the resolution.

WHEREAS ancient high productivity (big tree) old growth ecosystems are globally one of the most valuable climate mitigation and resiliency assets in terms of carbon storage, sequestration, protection against wildfire, storage of water and bank of biodiversity;

AND WHEREAS, of the miniscule amount (2.7%) of the original high productivity (big tree) old-growth forests that are left (less than 1% of BC’s total current forested area), 75% are still slated to be eliminated through logging; BE IT RESOLVED

THAT the District of Metchosin call on the provincial government to immediately defer logging in all high productivity, rare, oldest, and most intact old-growth forests as recommended by the Old-Growth Strategic Review, until all 14 of the panel’s recommendations have been implemented; including deferrals in such at-risk old-growth forests as, the head waters of Fairy Creek, the Upper Walbran Valley, Nahmint Valley, Eden Grove, Edinburgh Mountain, Upper Tsitika Valley, East Creek, Klaskish Valley, Nimpkish Lake and the Inland Old-Growth Temperate Rainforest.

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AND THAT the District of Metchosin formally oppose the logging of at-risk old-growth forests;

AND THAT the District of Metchosin call on the Government of British Columbia to allocate funding to enact deferrals in an economically just manner, in the full spirit of reconciliation and to support the economic transition of affected First Nations and non-First Nation communities from unsustainable old-growth logging for the development of long-term sustainable local economies.

AND THAT the following resolution be sent to the Union of BC Municipalities and as a late submission to AVICC Carried It was agreed to bring this resolution forward tonight for ratification.

6. Reports

a) Councillors Update

Councillor MacKinnon presented his Councillors Update and it was received for information.

7. Adjournment

Moved and Seconded by Mayor Ranns and Councillor Little that the Committee adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Carried

Certified Correct

______Chair Corporate Officer