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Positively ‘NO’ Packed with Information & Ideas! August and September 2017 AnAn islandisland communitycommunity whichwhich we’rewe’re SaltSalt SpringSpring incorporationincorporation proudproud toto callcall homehome -- George Ehring referendum—againreferendum—again e have accomplished many things on Let us remind you: our little island, and we have a right to we have accomplished alt Spring is again facing a referendum on Saturday, be proud of them. Under the current all these things under September 9 as to whether the island should incorporate and become a municipality. It is the issue that won’t go away. A modelW of governance, we have built a vibrant, the current system of previous referendum about whether to incorporate, in 2002, failed; engaged, resilient community that works, and we governance. If it is as S 70% of voters opposed it. should never forget that or jeopardize it. broken — as some George This time around, a group of islanders, The Many We are a community run not by government people say — how can Islanders Opposed to Incorporation, are but by people who care—by volunteers who we possibly have done so much? campaigning under the banner of ‘Positvely support seniors in so many ways, by dedicated Salt Spring is a thriving arts community, with ‘‘NO’ is not a ‘NO’ to educate people as to why they men and women who make our terrific library hundreds of local craftspeople and artists, and negative word should not want to incorporate. work, by engaged citizens who build pathways, skilled actors, dancers and musicians. Their when facing real ‘We wanted to express the idea that protect land and the environment, and organize studios are vibrant places of imagination and risks too although we are against incorporation, public activities like the Fall Fair, the Film Festival, creativity. We also have ArtSpring, one of important to our point of view is anything but negative,’ ignore.’ said Positively NO’ spokesperson, Jean and the Salt Spring Forum. the most successful arts centres in Gelwicks. ‘We are proud of Salt Spring’s We are a highly tolerant community any small community in ‘Under the many accomplishments and our intent is to that allows people to be themselves, Canada, where people are not remind people of what we have here—an to live their lives with dignity, current model of only entertained by local governance, we have exceptional, vibrant, engaged community without the over- respect, and support. Our Pride talent and world-class development associated with so many other tourist destinations. built a vibrant, engaged, Parade is the third largest in British performers, but where our This is thanks in no small part to our existing local governance.’ resilient community that Columbia—and this in a painters, weavers, spinners, Many Islanders Opposed to Incorporation is made up of works, and we should community of only 10,000 people. and many others come islanders from all walks of life who believe that a municipality is an never forget that or No matter who you are or where you together to hone their skills inappropriate fit for Salt Spring’s rural island community, The group jeopardize it.’ come from, you can be at home here. and exhibit their work. says that it recognizes that Salt Spring is a very special place which has remained that way precisely because of the visionary all-party In the last ten to fifteen years, our We are recognized as a centre legislation introduced in 1974 to create theIslands Trust Act. community acquired land and built a new of holistic health, with facilities of all The group points out that the legislation’s mandate—which library and an indoor pool, constructed a skate kinds where both island residents and visitors stressed the responsibility of the Islands Trust to ‘preserve and park, and erected an indoor tennis facility and from afar come for treatment, peace, relaxation, protect’—was a much needed intervention in the face of rampant, squash court. We maintain soccer fields, baseball spiritual renewal and, well, even the occasional unregulated development on Salt Spring and other Salish Sea diamonds and a running track, and improved pampering. islands. It is just as valid today, they say. (For more about the Islands public access to beaches and lakes. In the Trust area, where bridges are not In Trust, see advertisement on page 10 and watch the video.) We relocated and expanded facilities for the allowed, we have built our own anyway—not of The group is working assiduously—organizing information and RCMP and an ambulance station, purchased fire steel and cement, but of sterner, more durable events—to inform islanders about referendum issues, and invites trucks, and continue to provide critical search and stuff: compassion, understanding, and caring. We them to reflect on what is magical and irreplaceable about Salt Spring. rescue operations. We’ve upgraded facilities at know that a helping hand reaches much farther ‘Positively No’ invites you to read this publication, to join the Lady Minto Hospital and built a new medical than the length of one’s arm, and that there is no conversation on Facebook, and to go to www.positivelyno.org to clinic. door is locked to an open mind or heart. find detailed FAQs, research papers on key issues, slide shows, We’ve built seniors’ housing and assisted-living Yes, we have a right to be proud of what we’ve videos news and events, a tribute to Salt Spring called ‘Love Letters’ units, and Island Women Against Violence just built, but not smug, because there is much more and much more. received a major grant to upgrade existing to do. We are certainly not finished, and there are And watch for meetings and events on the island until the buildings at Croftonbrook. The funding includes challenges ahead. referendum on Saturday, September 9. 0 building 52 new units of affordable rental units, Though it is not the form of governance that urn the pages to see what your fellow islanders, young and elders, with 18 of them reserved for people experiencing determines the success of a community, we know say about incorporation and why it’s not the path to take. chronic homelessness. Sure, we need more that governments with vision see farther and T p. 2 Peter Lamb: An economic overview affordable housing—and more is on the drawing reach greater heights than those that do not. p. 2 Donald McLennan: The amazing grants we’ve already got board. Being in the Islands Trust, with its unique p. 3 Richard Kerr: Other options not even considered—yet. We put solar panels on the roof of the high environmental mandate, reminds us that we are p. 4 Deborah Campbell: Losing rural and farmland school, created a network of walking and cycling a part of nature—not apart from it—that we are p. 4 David Denning: What kind of change do we want? paths, and operate a community bus system that its caretakers, not its owners, and that we need to p. 5 Brenda Guiled: Roads through the roof even the BC Transportation Minister recognizes be doing a better job. p. 5 Elissa Poole: Saviour or scapegoat? Islands Trust and incorporation as expertly run. We’ve protected nearly 10,000 This is our foundation, and we should be very p. 6 LETTERS: David Borrowman: Already local, already acres of public greenspace. careful not to tear apart the framework of incorporated & Affordable housing & development; We’re growing more of our own local, healthy everything that we’ve built, not to chip away at the Sam Lightman: Will we be more in control? organic food and raising more livestock—and cornerstone and expect it not to crumble. We’ve p. 7 Samantha Sanderson: What happened on Bowen p. 7 Ronald Wright: One bad council is all it takes handling it at our own community-managed shown that we already have the tools we need to p. 8 LETTERS: Gary Holman: What missing funding?; abattoir! We drafted an Area Farm Plan, created build a successful, strong and caring community; 0 George Ehring: Governance is already ‘home’; an Agricultural Alliance and a Farmland Trust, let us continue to use them wisely. Ashley Hilliard: Incorporation, development and the tax base; acquired community-owned farmland for George has lived on the island for about 25 years, 42 Farmers: Incorporation will be a disaster for local farmers; community gardens and for farmers, and we’re operating a small farm, served as a Islands Trustee, p. 9 Ron Puhky: How the island got to stay so good; and serving with numerous community planning a new produce centre. Our Saturday Samantha Sanderson: Funding failing municipalities organizations. market is one of the best in BC p.10 LETTERS: Sam Sydneysmith: Now or never for alternative governance options; Graham Brazier: A bit of Islands history p.11 Elizabeth White: Incorporation and affordable housing p.11 Ruth Waldick: Municipalities and climate change Don’t Mess with p.11 Richard Kerr: Big policing cost p.12 David J Rapport and Luisa Maffi: Withdrawing from a unique Success! and beautiful federation. p.12 Ruth Tarasoff: Who benefits from the Community Charter?

Positively ‘NO’ Page 2, Positively ‘NO’, August 2017 RealisticRealistic costscosts ofof incorporationincorporation - Peter Lamb he act of incorporation would create the potential • $74/year for the average residential property other public utilities to pay for for the much higher costs and liabilities that come ($480,000 assessed value), facility upgrades. The Fire with municipalities in BC. • $250/year for the average business property Hall is included since nearly TProjections of revenues and expenditures and related ($540,000 value) and all taxpayers do contribute. property taxes shown in the Urban Systems Final Report • $54/year for the average farm dwelling ($350,000 Why Would These depend on a blind assumption of “apples to apples” where value) Municipal Taxes there is absolutely no change in the level of service between Closer Look & Better Interpretation Arise? Peter But the current governance structure and a municipality. Now, let’s look at how incorporation is actually likely to Under our current system in BC, municipalities are why would a community incorporate and not expect impact annual property taxes, primarily using the Urban limited to getting almost all their revenues from property things to improve? Systems estimates: taxes which don’t grow with the economy. We know that our roads need over $50 million in repair This table (below) does notinclude added tax increases As a result of this structural revenue problem, almost and rehabilitation, that inadequate past road maintenance for ratepayers in water improvement districts, sewer and all municipalities in BC are having some financial issues— expenses have led to the deterioration of some more than others. our roads, that policing costs and farm The fewer properties in an assessment base, taxes will automatically increase, and that the more each individual property has to carry concentration of authority into one body the burden of municipal operations. SSI tax will soon demand a $5 million municipal base is predominantly residential; unlike many hall accompanied by pressure to increase other communities, we don’t have a major staff to properly manage all municipal commercial or industrial tax base. functions. The only really reliable way to alleviate the As a result, the base estimates of massive squeeze is for a council to increase the municipal costs projected by Urban assessment base by supporting more Systems do not reflect a realistic picture of development. the act of incorporation and the impact on At the same time, we’d be doing a fairly property taxes. The Study Estimate significant de-coupling from the management of land-use through weakening of the authority The Final Report is clear that with our of the Islands Trust. current assessment base, for every Peter is a retired energy economist and former $500,000 net worth of things we might SSI Islands Trustee, who has been actively want our Municipal Council to do, they involved in island life for almost 30 years. would have to raise our taxes by about:

MythsMyths aroundaround grantsgrants - Donald McLennan here is too much misleading information making Judith Guichon, visited Salt Spring in 2013. She made a dollars in the bank in matching funds, just to apply. Grant the rounds about all the grant money Salt Spring point of lauding how much we had accomplished, given applications require much up-front work on studies, would supposedly receive if we incorporate. our size. She knows BC communities well and she was engineering and consultation—again, just to apply. PerhapsT some persons are even led to believe that we get rightly impressed. Increasingly, the Province requires municipalities no grants at all now. The federal government also transfers to have an Asset Management Plan as part of The truth is that Salt resources to the provinces to ‘The truth is that their application to demonstrate that they are Spring already receives distribute to communities; we managing their assets and infrastructure in numerous grants—possibly currently have access to these Salt Spring already a sustainable way. Applicants must itemize more than our share—from Community Works Funds receives numerous grants all assets (such as roads, pathways, waste many different sources. To through the CRD. Salt Spring —possibly more than our management and water facilities), name only a few examples, projects compete with each other share—from many calculate when they will need replacing, we have received significant for the funding and allocations are different sources.’ and set aside funds each year—for each of Donald grants for land conservation, determined on-island by the locally- these assets—for maintenance, repairs and to construct our library, ArtSpring, the swimming pool, elected CRD Director. eventual replacement. Asset management community pathways, the Ganges sewer system and It is true that there are some BC planning takes time and money. Putting aside Murakami Gardens. Our success in this respect would infrastructure grants for which we are not eligible. But sufficient funds for future infrastructure replacement is a make us the envy of any small community. applying for a grant and actually obtaining a grant are not huge challenge, as most municpalities discover to their From 2001-2017, Salt Spring was the recipient of some the same thing. Small municipalities across the province chagrin. $60 million in grants. We have done very well. have complained for years that they cannot get these Urban Systems Incorporation Study did not make The Lieutenant Governor of BC, the Honourable grants. Why? provision for any asset management plans:its estimates First, because they are of infrastructure maintenance costs (and related property difficult, time-consuming taxes) are based on “current spending levels” only. and expensive to apply Therefore, the costs that a future municipality would incur for. But mostly because before it could apply for some grants are not included in there are 162 either the estimated budget or the estimated property municipalities applying taxes for a future municipality. for limited funding, with No one would make his or her retirement plans success rates as low as contingent on winning the lottery. Nor should anyone vote 22% per application. for incorporation in the expectation that Salt Spring will Most of these grants get a lot of free grant money that it doesn’t have access to also require matching already. funds up to 50%. So if you Donald retired to SSI in 2005 after a 35-year diplomatic have a $2 million project, career. He has chaired the SSI Transportation Commission you may need a million and the ArtSpring board and has a passion for Partners Creating Pathways.

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    ĚŶĂŶŽƟĂƌŽƉƌŽĐŶŝŶŽƐƚĐĂĨůĂĞƌĞŚƚƚĞ'       ͗ĞƚŝƐďĞǁƌƵŽƚĂƐƌĞĚŶĂůƐŝŵŽƌĨƌĂĞŚ ŐƌŽ͘ŽŶLJůĞǀƟŝƐŽƉ Vote ‘No’ on Saturday, Sept 9 Positively ‘NO’ ThereThere areare positive,positive, low-risklow-risk alternativesalternatives toto municipalmunicipal Positively ‘NO’, August 2017, Page 3 incorporationincorporation whichwhich havehave notnot beenbeen considered—yetconsidered—yet Richard Kerr ‘Shockingly, the e don’t need to populations from Water Districts provincial government incorporate. which to draw official overseeing the 2013-2016 Following that model, could the Improvements to candidates”. North Salt Spring Waterworks Salt Spring Island governance and our existing governance can be An LCC would W District and the fire department incorporation studies directed the made without the increased consist of four or six be converted to non-profit committees and their consultants not road and policing costs and the Salt Spring-elected societies contracting with the other risks of incorporation. commissioners and to consider improvements that CRD? Fire and water services Shockingly, the provincial the electoral area could be made under our would be eligible for infrastructure government official overseeing director. grants through the CRD under either existing form of the 2013-2016 Salt Spring Richard Successive CRD the contracted non-profit or CRD governance.’ Island governance and incorporation directors have noted their position’s commission approaches. studies directed the committees and their overwhelming demands. LCC consultants not to consider improvements commissioners could share that burden. Multi-Service Model voting rights on Council. that could be made under our existing Gas tax fund and other grant The Comox Valley Regional District The Salt Spring Local Trust Committee form of governance. allocations, affordable housing, CRD (CVRD) contracts with the Hornby Island (LTC) could possibly take on subdivision The committees were told that bylaw enforcement oversight, and other Residents and Ratepayers Association, approval, which is currently done off- incorporation was the only alternative they responsibilities could be assigned to a Salt which operates solid waste disposal island by the Ministry of Transportation could consider, even though existing Spring LCC by the CRD Board. Possible facilities, a community hall, community and Infrastructure. provincial legislation allows numerous, CRD concerns about liability would need parks, and comfort stations, and oversees less drastic changes. to be addressed—as they have been with fire protection. Hornby’s fire hall was Conclusion A Local Community existing services. The ‘Positively NO’ partly paid for from a gas tax grant through Alternatives available under our existing website provides Ministry-approved the CVRD. rural island governance can address Commission background documents on LCC’s. This approach was not considered by almost all of the concerns that Salt Spring’s Protocol agreements between the CRD, In 2010, a BC government official advised our governance study because it was locally elected officials catalogued when the Islands Trust, and other agencies could “outside” the committee’s provincially- local elected representatives to consider they requested provincial funding for a converting improvement districts (water provide for consultation and coordination restricted terms of reference. governance study in 2012. The CRD and and fire) to CRD local service areas and with the Salt Spring LCC regarding Islands Trust the Islands Trust have already shown a creating additional CRD commissions to planning, roads, and policing. manage CRD service delivery: Fire/Rescue The Islands Trust Council has decided that willingness to adapt to Salt Spring’s needs. if SSI votes “NO” to incorporation, it will We don’t need to take the risky, irreversible “Establishing a local community The governance and incorporation studies consider a governance and service delivery step of municipal incorporation with its commission (LCC) could allow residents were not even allowed to consider models to have direct involvement in managing review, examining ways to increase Islands multi-million dollar burden of of fire department service delivery that municipal-type services such as sewer and Trust efficiency and reduce Salt Spring downloaded roads and policing costs, and already exist under the CRD umbrella. The water systems….” taxpayers’ subsidy of local planning on inevitable weakening of the Islands Trust. The 2013-2016 governance and non-profit Pender Island Fire Protection other trust islands. Richard Kerr is an economist who served on incorporation study committees and Society (PIFPS) is contracted by the CRD The new NDP-Green alliance is likely to the 1999-2002 Salt Spring Restructure Study. consultants were forbidden to consider to provide fire protection services. PIFPS be more committed than the BCLiberals to He has chaired the Highland Water and these measures, thus denying voters appoints the fire chief and provides the continued effectiveness of the Islands Maliview Sewer Commission and served on crucial information about positive oversight and planning to the department. Trust. The new BC government could allow the Island Trust’s Salt Spring Advisory reconsideration of an increase in the Planning Committee, the CRD’s Community alternatives to incorporation. Other fire departments are supported by number of Salt Spring-elected Trust Economic Development Commission, and Urban Systems (the incorporation CRD advisory commissions and staff. The Council members from 2 to 4, all having full other local volunteer organizations. study’s consultants) dismissed local Pender fire department and others have community commissions, claiming they received grants for fire hall construction are “best suited to remote isolated and other facilities through the CRD. &ĂŵŝůŝĞƐĨŽƌ^Ăůƚ^ƉƌŝŶŐ communities where it is not practical for Library & Recycling tĞ͛ƌĞǀŽƟŶŐ͘͘͘ regional district staff to administer and 3RVLWLYHO\ operate local services.” In actual travel Two of our most successful services—the time, Ganges is twice as isolated from its library and the recycling depot—are regional headquarters as the five operated in CRD-owned facilities by local communities where LCCs already exist! non-profit societies under contracts with Nothing in the provincial legislation the CRD. The CRD received a $4.55 restricts LCCs to smaller communities. A million grant from the Canada/BC recent governance study in Okanagan- Building Canada Fund to help pay for Similkameen found that LCCs are “more library construction. appropriate for communities with larger

A MEETING at FULFORD HALL. WHICH ONE ARE YOU GOING TO?

$XWKRUL]HGE\3RVLWLYHO\12UHJLVWHUHGVSRQVRU Vote “No” XQGHU/(&)$WKHPDQ\LVODQGHUV#JPDLOFRP There are better options! WƌĞƐĞƌǀŝŶŐĂŶĚƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŶŐĨŽƌƚŚĞŶĞdžƚŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ Positively ‘NO’ Page 4, Positively ‘NO’, August 2017 ParadiseParadise lost?lost? ItIt couldcould happenhappen- Deborah Campbell grew up in a semi-rural municipality in BC’s Lower here to enjoy what they can no longer find at home. To figure out why the Mainland where most people had small acreages with I’ve lately heard some of the fantasies being touted about “progressive” mayor and modest homes surrounded by woodland. Even in the incorporation: that it will end the housing affordability crisis councillors have allowed this Ilate 1990s, it looked a lot like Salt Spring. When I went (which is a worldwide problem in every desirable kind of thing, we should look back there recently, I found it radically changed. place, rooted in the transformation of homes at who funds them. According Deborah Many of the family farms that once shaped ‘…this is real into commodities for global investors); to the Vancouver Sun(Feb 23, 2015), “developers were the the community’s character have somehow life in a small that it will bring more doctors and better top direct source of the party’s funds. Of the top fifteen (mysteriously) been taken out of the municipality where jobs (issues that rural municipalities donors…eleven are development-related.” Agricultural Land Reserve and turned into a mayor-and-council across Canada haven’t been able to Salt Spring is tiny by comparison, and much more rural, cookie-cutter condos that start at $750,000. has handed resolve); that we’ll get better roads by like my former hometown. But as the incorporation study developers far too My relatives still own one of the last much power.’ paying the full cost ourselves—yet our itself acknowledges, under a municipality farm taxes would working farms around, a lovely organic acreage taxes won’t go up; that we’ll be able to “cut immediately go up. A higher tax burden on our farmers that is gradually being boxed in by developments. through red tape” and build more, faster, makes it more likely they will have to sell to developers, who Not long ago the old couple who farmed next door without harming our water supply or quality of life are keener on growing condos than tomatoes. retired, and speculators bought their farmland. Since then, because our population is too smart to elect bad leaders. Speculators and corporations are a bit like pit bulls: they my relatives have been pressured by the speculators to stop One young person even told me that incorporation could need to be kept on a leash. So long as we have safeguards farming and ask council to change the zoning, so both make Salt Spring “more fun” and at the same time, in place through the Islands Trust, we are able to limit the parcels can be turned into yet another development amazingly, raise student test scores at the high school. worst of these threats. By uniting many islands in one body, complex. My relatives have no interest in selling. Perhaps Fantastical promises are popular in anxious times. Just our unique system of governance—created in 1974 to to persuade them, the speculators rented out the old look south of the border. But let’s come back to what control runaway development pressure (it worked!) —gives farmhouse next door as a “party house” for tenants who municipalities actually do—mainly make decisions about us the clout to defend our island heritage from those who like to let their pit bulls run off-leash. land use, taxation, and development—because that’s what would destroy it for short-term gain. For more than forty Unlike the imagined benefits of incorporation on Salt is really at stake here. years, islanders have refused to back down, defeating two Spring, this is real life in a small municipality where a Vancouver is in the midst of an unprecedented building other referendums like the one we face on September 9th. mayor-and-council has handed developers far too much boom that so far has only made the housing crisis worse, We’ve heard assurances that a municipality would still power. What has this done to the sense of community? For driving out young people and families. So much red tape be “within” the Trust. This is misleading: if we vote for one thing, my relatives say the rise in crime is scary. Rural has been cut through that a thousand houses a year are incorporation the Trust will be mortally wounded. We are life is under siege. falling to the wrecking ball; meanwhile the city is glutted mad to gamble our future on the loyalties of a small and Like many of us, I value the rural character of our island with empty housing owned by absentees, and widespread vulnerable council confined to one island. To keep the Gulf and the security afforded by strong community. Indeed, “reno-victions” are ousting established tenants—young and Islands we love, we must vote ‘No’ to incorporation. compared to most of the world, we live in paradise, with old—from entire apartment buildings. Three of my Deborah Campbell is the author of ‘A Disappearance in enviable services and facilities but few of the ills choking Vancouver colleagues have been evicted in the last six Damascus’, which won the 2016 Hilary Weston Writers' Trust other once-healthy communities. That’s why tourists come months. Prize for Nonfiction. She lives on Salt Spring. Change yes, Incorporation no - David Denning Dates to Remember he literature, support letters and website a review of the Six Open House Days at the Library of the ‘vote yes for incorporation’ Islands Trust system campaign admonish us to ‘vote for after the wheels for Sun, Mon, Tues, August 27, 28, 29 & Tues, Thurs, Fri, change’. incorporation were September 5, 7, 8 T I moved to the island 25 years ago, and I’ve seen already rolling. And ‘Positively No’s’ drop-in Open Houses at the Library, plenty of change—almost all of it for the better in yet they did not delay 9:30am–5pm = Open Houses will provide a space where islanders our community, and most of it because we are a the incorporation can drop in and get informed about issues. You’ll be able to special community with an identity, spirit and referendum vote. watch film clips, browse displays, take home handouts and David engage with a number of people who really know the topics. drive to make things happen within the unique Did it not make sense to push a referendum governance system we have. I’ve seen a new vote back until after the review of the Islands Trust Tuesday, August 29 library, a swimming pool, bus system, heaps of arts system was complete? Free Movie Night at the Library—Islander Speak Out! filmed and culture programs, a thriving education I’m alarmed too, at the disgraceful omission of interviews with many islander who are voting ‘No’; a social and community, modest development, and lots of consultation with First Nations in the informative evening to see and hear fellow islanders talk about natural landscapes preserved for future incorporation study process. We live at a time why they are voting ‘No’ = 7pm generations—and I’ve even had the pleasure and when considerations of reconciliation should be of Sunday, August 27 privilege of contributing to some of that change. high priority, not omitted! Affordable Housing: expert-on-hand Janis Gauthier, Noon = For me, as a naturalist and science educator, And speaking of change—what about the most Options and Alternatives: expert-on-hand with Richard Kerr, 2pm change is a vital component of ecosystems. Change crucial change facing the world? In the entire by humans can be modest and appropriate but it incorporation study document there is no mention Monday, August 28 can also too easily do great damage. Sustainability, of how climate science and climate Costs of Incorporation: expert-on-hand Peter Lamb,10am of course, is not about ‘better business as usual’. It’s accommodation studies need to inform our Water and the Environment: expert-on-hand David Rapport, 2pm about finding ways to simultaneously support journey into the future. Are we to tell our Tuesday, August 29 ourselves and the natural ecosystems that nourish grandchildren that climate change just didn’t seem Cost of Incorporation: Fire & Police: expert-on-hand Donald us. important to us at the time? McLennan, 10am But is the current incorporation push really And then there is money. Who paid the Grants and Options: expert-on-hand Gary Holman, Noon about change and sustainability? Two things have $330,000 bill for an incorporation study that Monday, August 28 made me discouraged about the entire seemed destined to lead to a referendum vote? Local Governance Options Without Risk—information and incorporation study and referendum—one, the Who volunteered $20M as a ‘transition fund’ discussion session with Hornby Island Residents and Ratepayers process and two, the money behind the so that they could off-load the responsibility for our Assoc Administrato Reina Le Baron; Gary Holman; Linda Adams; process/promotion. roads to an ‘incorporated’ community? Greg Clayton; and Richard Kerr, 7–9pm On the first point, and even though I appreciate Sadly, the answer is that we did with our the thoughtful contributions of many islanders, I provincial taxes—but the decision-makers were Stand by for news about more guests experts at the am discouraged by what can clearly now be viewed Christy Clark and the BCLiberals. In the recent September 5th, 7th and 8th Open Houses as a process destined to lead to a referendum vote provincial election, SSIslanders resoundingly Event at Lions Hall, 103 Bonnet Ave on incorporation, no matter what the study found. rejected the economic politics of the BCLiberals— I’m alarmed too, how the process considered by a near 3 to 1 margin. And now we get another Wednesday, August 30 only one option—incorporate the entire island. opportunity to vote on BCLiberal-style economic The Three Officials Moderated Panel Discussion—former BC Where was consideration for a Ganges Village politics? Excuse me if I say ‘no’ a second time. Cabinet Minister George Abbott will moderate, High School, 7pm municipality only? What about the idea of This isn’t a vote about whether or not change Voting Days Information expanding CRD representation to a council rather will, or should, happen. It’s a vote about the rate of than a single representative, in order to gain more change, and who will benefit most from changes Wednesday, Aug 30, and Wednesday, Sept 6 leverage there? Are there not ways to make the that might emerge with a municipal government. Advance Voting: Salt Spring Public Library and Community Islands Trust more responsive to the needs of Salt We are a hard-working, cooperating Gospel Chapel = 8am–8pm both days Spring—such as increasing the number of Salt community. Thoughtful, measured change will Saturday, September 9 Spring trustees to compensate for our larger continue to happen. Voting Day: Voting Places: Fulford Elementary School, Gulf population? Who squashed that idea last time? I’m voting ‘no’. Islands Secondary School, and Community Gospel Chapel = Ironically, our own Local Trustees supported a David Denning is a local science educator, 8am–8pm Trust Council proposal to consider amendments naturalist and educational film-maker who is active to the Island Trust Actand successfully pushed for in local conservation and renewable energy issues. Positively ‘NO’ ThoseThose roads!roads! DoingDoing youryour homeworkhomework toto figurefigure outout Positively ‘NO’, August 2017, Page 5 thethe actualactual potentialpotential costscosts - Brenda Guiled ow accurate are Salt Spring Island road cost recommended percentage) and the average total rises to unknowable, the best figures given in the Incorporation Study Report, nearly $900,000 per year. estimate we can find of the prepared by Urban Systems? Though, BC’s The report added up the maintenance and other road actual potential road costs on HMinistry of Transportation & Infrastructure provided most works costs to yield $1,860,000 spent per year, on average, Salt Spring is Bowen Island’s figures, no traceable sources are noted. for all SSI road works since about 2000—about $7,000 per known costs. Their terrain The report says that an estimated $1,360,000 was spent km. It projects that this figure, adjusted for inflation, will and climate are similar, as is annually in routine maintenance in recent years, or $5,100 stay the same over the next 10 years. the condition of their road per km. This closely matches Ministry of Transportation & However, MOTI’s own, incomplete numbers show that network and planned upkeep, Brenda Infrastructure’s (MOTI) reported average maintenance an annual average of about $2,390,000, or $9,000/km, and the length of the road system (higher than Victoria). cost of $5,000 per km for all BC public roads. was spent since 2002. They’ve budgeted about $16,300 per km over the next The Trouble With Those Road The report notes that, in 2016, Salt Spring taxpayers five years. The SSI Incorporation Study Report does not Maintenance Figures contributed about $1,950,000 in Provincial Rural Tax, provide a Bowen Island “apples to apples” comparison, However, since maintenance services were primarily used for road works. However, this ignores the despite being pressed by some Incorporation Study privatized in 2001, MOTI can’t find out $320,000 the report notes was spent from SSI rural Committee members to do so. ‘Using what SSI road maintenance actually taxes on police services. So, no more than Which is it then? $7,000 per km on Salt Spring, or actual figures and cost, because road-contractor’s books $1,630,000 could have been spent on road works. $9,000 per km, or closer to Bowen’s $16,300? Whatever are closed to government and the realistic estimates of By the report’s own accounting, islanders got the actual road costs, if Salt Spring doesn’t incorporate, the public. In addition, SSI roads missing data, islanders at least $230,000 more in road works than taxes $268 paid per year in BC Rural Tax on a $480,000 maintenance contractor, Mainroad, got at least $440,000 paid. Using actual figures and realistic estimates residential property will remain steady. shuffles equipment and personnel more than they paid in of missing data, islanders got at least $440,000 If the island does incorporate, $16,300 per km will result within its South Coast contract area, BC rural property more than they paid in BC rural property taxes. in annual SSI property taxes for roads of $596, or $328 making an inseparable mix-up of taxes.’ Notwithstanding the report's internal more than at present. You can add another $148 per year monies spent. The only verifiable cost per inconsistency, it repeats, at least eight times, that Salt for every $1,000,000 extra spent annually to cover km that MOTI has is the regional or BC average. Spring taxpayers put $90,000 more per year into necessary rehabilitation, reconstruction, and emergency IncorporationStudy Roads Estimate the Provincial Rural Tax than they get back road works, including specialized expertise, property Flawed in road works. ‘Municipal purchases, legal, archaeology costs, and The report goes on to suggest that a taxes will end up contributions to a roads-reserve fund. The report says that MOTI spent, on road works beyond SSI municipality will spend $324,000 changing the island Who Can Afford It? regular maintenance, about $500,000 per year for “engineering staff to work demographic Some property owners on Salt Spring can annually over the last 15 or so years. This on transportation infrastructure, considerably, favouring afford any rise in property taxes. Some will number came from an unnamed stormwater, water systems, and ever-richer property ‘… the average have trouble covering those bills. Owners ministry contact. sewage”. This would replace owners, who will pass total rises to over with tenants will charge higher rents. Salt It wasn’t based on MOTI’s own, road-works expertise currently on ever-higher $900,000 per year, i.e. Spring has a significantly lower household incomplete financial figures— provided by MOTI. rents.’ $400,000 more per income than the BC average (2006 census—2011 which I obtained through thirteen That the report didn’t add a realistic year than the report and 2016 data not available). Incidentally Bowen’s Freedom of Information requests part of the $324,000 to the $1,860,000, estimates.’ mean income is significantly higher. made between 2013 and 2016—and rather left readers to figure this for themselves and Municipal taxes will end up changing the island which I immediately shared with the realize that the island must have gotten considerably more demographic considerably, favouring ever-richer property Incorporation Study Committee, and hence than $230,000 in road works than was paid in rural taxes with Urban Systems. owners, who will pass on ever-higher rents. in recent years. Many will vote according to the desirability, or not, of These partial figures add up to $630,000 average per Another Way To Get At The Truth — year (in 2016 dollars) since 2002. Add in low-balled Comparing To Bowen this shift. estimates of the missing data, plus unbilled MOTI’s Brenda is a researcher, illustrator, author, publisher, and expertise worth 30% of the total (Urban Systems’ Since MOTI’s own accounting is incomplete and parts are karate instructor.

SaviourSaviour oror scapegoat?scapegoat? TheThe IslandsIslands TrustTrust andand incorporationincorporation - Elissa Poole he Islands Trust may seem both noble and early ’90s. Ironically, Adams notes that many of the topics of the values the community necessary to one side of the incorporation debate, being discussed as part of the governance review are most cherishes will be but it’s a scapegoat for all that ails us to the other. actually more relevant to an OCP review—whether we want endangered. If growth TPerhaps the Trust does say ‘no’ more often than it says to further densify villages, say, or encourage more doesn’t come, the community ‘yes’, but the average person probably doesn’t know how affordable housing: “These decisions could be made under will face big tax increases or many pressures there have been to develop our community our current system.” service cutbacks. Either way, in ways that would make it, essentially, a different island. When we asked six former trustees of the Islands Trust we lose.” Elissa We’ve talked to a number of people who understand (Nick Gilbert, Bev Byron, David Borrowman, Peter Lamb, Byron says, “Increased those pressures intimately because they’ve had to visualize, George Ehring, and Christine Torgrimson) why they’re taxes are a serious concern. We cannot afford to pay for in their minds’ eyes, exactly what these developments voting ‘no’ in the upcoming referendum, we knew what our roads will cost us, nor should we.” would have looked like. development would be a major factor: All agreed that Then there’s the other elephant in the room: water. “The Linda Adams, a former community planner in the forestalling the inevitable trade-off between development Trust should be at the forefront of resolving these issues,” 1990s, recalls these development proposals. “Before we got and tax revenue that comes with incorporation was says Borrowman. Increased development won’t help. our OCP into place in the late 1990s,” says Adams, “the paramount. All saw keeping the Islands Trust a vibrant, “Let’s not turn this beautiful, rural island into a pressure was so intense that the LTC limited new proposals potent institution as key. municipality, with its related urban values and pressures,” to ten a week. They were coming from everywhere, not just Not all six trustees started out pro-Trust. Bev Byron had pleads Torgrimson. “The Trust is a unique, visionary form across Canada. They included: a golf course and been encouraged to run by friends who found the Islands of government, sorely needed in light of climate change, condominium complex in the Ford Lake area; a golf course, Trust obstructive and hoped she could help. “I had no population growth, increasing materialism, and degrading hotel and small-lot subdivision on Beddis Road; a golf desire to become politically involved,” says Byron. “But environments. The notion that a municipal government course and condominium project in the Fulford Valley; a once on the job, I was impressed and inspired by all the will retain the values of the Trust is misguided. shopping mall, pub and recreation centre on community Trust was trying to accomplish. Slowly and surely I became Incorporating Salt Spring may spell its demise.” park land; an industrial development on Long Harbour a convert its mandate and the work it was doing.” “As the largest island, SSI is the foundation of the Trust. Road; a commercial and retail complex on the north end; Byron and David Borrowman initially ran against each If we incorporate,” warns Peter Lamb, “it leaves the smaller an industrial/residential complex in Ganges; three luxury other, representing different groups. “We worked so well islands with the mandate to protect but without the critcal condominium complexes in the Ganges core; an industrial together that in our second term we ran together,” says mass to do so. ” development on Isabella Point; a condominium project at Bryon. “We are caretakers, not owners,” cautions Ehring. “We Southey Point; a seniors housing and recreation complex Cooperation includes compromise. “It’s touchy making need to behave accordingly, as a community, and leave a in Ganges; and a stream of enquiries about subdividing decisions,” says Byron. “There are always winners and legacy that shows future generations that we’ve acted rural land into small parcels—a subdivision on Scott Road losers. I had to choose what I thought was best for everyone wisely. We’ve built a caring, welcoming, successful into quarter-acre parcels; a subdivision on St Mary Lake in the long run, sometimes despite pressure from friends community under the present form of governance, and into third-acre parcels; and subdivision of agricultural land and neighbours.” we’ve shown that we have the talent and capacity to deal into five-acre parcels.” This points to a crucial reason for keeping a Local Trust with issues that concern us. To risk that on incorporation, The pressure to develop hasn’t gone away. (Several Committee. “A municipality is the antithesis of the Trust,” from which there’s no turning back, seems very silly to me.” international developers reportedly have a keen eye on this says Borrowman. “Land-use planning and paying for Elissa Poole is a professional musician and music journalist referendum.) Development has occurred, but since the services are currently completely separate. Incorporation and teaches at University of Victoria. When she first moved to OCP was adopted, increased density in Ganges has been puts them back together.” the island you could bicycle to Ganges between ferries and not primarily limited to affordable housing projects, rather than “A new municipality absolutely depends on growth to meet a car. all the high-end condo projects that were proposed in the pay its bills,” reiterates Ehring. “If that growth comes, many Positively ‘NO’ Page 6, Positively ‘NO’, August 2017 Lots of Letters Already Local, Already Incorporated the fund since 2006. According to theDriftwood , already have. A slicker, more responsive/efficient Dear Islanders: another $408,000 was added last week. This puts the government development approval process? Would be Like others, I would like to see governance lie to ‘all those grants we can’t get because we are not nice, but what does Salt Spring lose to get it? We think, improvements. and the tools are available to us now, incorporated’. a whole way of life. Overstating the case? Maybe. without the high cost and prodigious risks of Folks on my side of the question champion our But what if we’re right? What have we done? And, incorporation. unique, appropriate and intensely local government. good Lord, it’s irrevocable. That’s very scary. I am dismayed to hear the Sure we groan at the inadequacies and want Sam Lightman argument that decisions affecting improvements. But we don’t want to foreclose on our Sam is a 40-year south-end resident and occasional member island life are made by people who future with an incorporation based on myths about of one or another local government committees, commissions, do not live here. This is of course local control and grants. Why would we give up our volunteer organizations, clubs, the SSI Conservancy, and Pizza the core message of the ‘YESS’ unique status in the province to join the queue of Nite. campaign, but it is entirely untrue. impoverished municipalities chasing the few Affordable Housing & Development Salt Spring is already remaining and largely nonexistent grants? If we got incorporated, at least in one, would it cover so much as the mayor’s salary? Dear Islanders: David the all-important David Borrowman Islands Trust planning has for many years aimed for realm of land use. The corporate ‘Local land David is a former diplomat and was accommodating a growing population while providing body is the Local Trust use innovations Islands Trustee, with Bev Byron, from it with affordable services. Such measures as density Committee. Bylaws are solely in developed here have 1996 to 2002, and served on Islands transfer and amenity zoning were pioneered by the Trust executive for three years. He the name of Salt Spring Island. been envied and copied Islands Trust and copied elsewhere. Rules for No local land use bylaw or remains a Salt Spring lover of some development in Ganges allow overheight buildings elsewhere in the Trust Area 30 years. community plan has ever where they provide for residential space. Murakami and in the province. In the been imposed by the 26 Will We Be More In Gardens was constructed in an area member council of the Islands last eleven years, the off- Control? which might plausibly have been Trust. Indeed they have no island chair has broken a coveted for commercial Dear Islanders: legal or practical capacity to do tie vote a whopping development. This provides 27 so. I think the actual vision for Salt Spring is three times.’ rental units of affordable and safe, Local land use innovations still best articulated in the Islands Trust long term housing for Salt Spring developed here have been envied and object: “to preserve and protect the copied elsewhere in the Trust area and in the environment and amenities of the Gulf Islands for all Island families. Province. In the last eleven years, the off-island chair British Columbians”. I haven’t heard any articulation Islands Trust planning also makes David,again has broken a tie vote a whopping three times. of another vision for us that was more promising. provision for protecting green space. The Trust Area No municipal government would have greater Those of us on the ‘NO’ side alone has unique provision under the Natural Area authority in the critical area of land use. simply do not believe that Protection Tax Exemption Program,legislation which On the CRD side, good elected directors have been incorporation supports that provides tax relief on land which is preserved from more than effective in meeting our local needs. The objective, in spite of the development. CRD Board has tended, if anything, to favour the little ‘YESS’ side’s protestations to The fly in the ointment of any good planning guy, perhaps not having the time to question our the contrary. My proposal is that land which might ideally be used one wishes—for a bus service, an arts centre, a swimming understanding from others way, is already owned by people (read you and me) pool, and so on. who have witnessed similar who seek highest and best use. Persuading the owner The idea that the regional board somehow transitions is that it only of a commercial property in Ganges that it should supplants local control could not be more misleading. Sam takes one or two election perhaps be used for low-cost housing is a difficult sell. The last time a CRD Board voted down a cycles for the development community to capture the It is also difficult to imagine any system which would recommendation from a Salt Spring Director was in local government, after which all bets are off on things see rural development on Salt Spring foregone, in 1994, when Dietrich Luth was in office. like the OCP and zoning variances and bylaws. Government has never been so close to home, and Asking who will step forward as future Trustee and favour of concentrated housing in the villages. so well crafted for an island dedicated to the preserve CRD Director candidates is like asking what the stock The ideals of planning often remain aspirations in and protect mandate. Incorporation introduces the market will do. Future trustees and CRD directors are the face of existing property rights and entrenched end-run around the Islands Trust to the Minister of anybody’s guess. It is a tribute to the steadfastness of preferences of landowners. It is also hard to see how the day. the Islands Trust commitment to its object that, even the creative ideas of the Islands Trust could be And how would our democracy fare? We now vote with our current trustees and CRD Director, with their bettered by a municipal system, driven by the need to issue-by-issue on items like the fire hall, while a town demonstrably lukewarm dedication to the Trust, service any new development. That way leads to vast council could simply create new services, and borrow nothing seriously threatening to the fabric of the island new expenditure on public services. And where will all large sums on their own. has occurred. You will not be able to say the same for the water for that increased demand come from? So much for direct local control. an island municipal government. Difficult terrain at the end of long roads, remote YESS campaign advertising in this area is However, there is one important from public services, is expensive to develop and incoherent. Apparently, the seven-member council change that might make all the service, and disrupts green space. The Islands would be smaller than the current three-person difference—a new provincial ‘My Trust system has nonetheless had significant system, while strangely costing a lot more. government. Salt Spring understanding from successes, for example, with the Mountain ‘NO’ voters wonder how local a municipal representatives have others who have Meadows Development. Housing was government would really be, when its clients included repeatedly asked the witnessed similar transitions concentrated on the developable part of a more and more development interests, bearing those BCLiberal government large parcel, and the balance was left as all-important tax dollars to finance more lineal road for more options than the is that it only takes one or green space. Similarly, a large rural parcel mileage than the city of Victoria, to say nothing of the status quo or a two election cycles for the capable of development was recently new policing costs. municipality, to no avail. development community transformed into a combination of The essence of the 1974 Trust legislation was to de- Presumably, there is much to capture the local housing on a small parcel and farm on the couple the islands of the Trust Area from the develop- that could be done to larger part. While these developments and-tax treadmill. It was visionary legislation which improve governance on this government’ remain remote from public services like water originated in Social Credit plans to protect the islands island without throwing the and sewer, they are also on land large enough to and was later passed into law, by a Legislature with an baby out with the bathwater, but be self-sustaining in this regard, with no requirement NDP government, and unanimous support from the BCLiberals have never allowed us to for (some) services provided from the public purse. Social Credit and the, then, provincial Liberal party. entertain alternatives that might improve things. We Municipalities face the need to plan for population We believe that the potential for damage to the cost them a lot of money and they really want rid of us. growth. Their model would be densification of Islands Trust vision is vastly understated. There would The new government might well be more disposed to residential areas to make services efficient. This is be no Islands Trust office and planners. The only time allowing us to consider such alternatives. certainly the mode in large urban centres, where we we would hear of the Islands Trust would be when it My own feeling is, we need to know from the ‘Yes’ see that the next generation is advised to get used to opposed some local initiative from town council. The side what it is they want that we don’t already have. owning a balcony instead of a lawn. On Salt Spring, Islands Trust would be forever on the defensive. And not just the airy-fairy “control of our own destiny”. this would also include a shift from self-servicing rural Municipalities were not in the original Islands Trust Because as a municipality, our our entire destiny will lots to publicly paid-for water and septic services. legislation. They were introduced around 1989. The be controlled by those who sit on council (see above re But with the electric car revolution, improvements provision for municipalities was criticized at the time election cycles). in water catchment, and Elon Musk’s visions of solar- as likely to balkanize the Trust Area. With our current forms of governance, we have got independent houses, we have to wonder if the rural The YESS argument for better housing for the less ourselves a state-of-the-art library, a pool, a vision for Salt Spring may still have a lot of life in it. advantaged does not tell us that the Trust has always performance hall, multiple alternative schools, a David Borrowman supported the necessary rezonings. Since 2001, Salt skateboard park, tennis/pickleball courts, a MORE LETTERS ON PAGE 8 Spring has received over $14 million in senior remarkably successful school system, an enormous government grants for projects like Braehaven, and thriving arts community, a huge volunteer Murakami Gardens and Croftonbrook. This includes contingent, assisted living facilities, a hospital—have I grants from the CRD Housing Trust Fund that have forgotten anything? Probably. amounted to over three times our tax contributions to So really, what does YESS want that we don’t Positively ‘NO’ Warning to Salt Spring from Bowen Islanders who should knowPositively ‘NO’, August 2017, Page 7 Samantha Sanderson ecently I talked about incorporation with Nerys meetings but the general population remains unaware of manager, heads of Poole, a Bowen Island municipal councillor and what they do. During the “Developer Council” one of the department, superintendents trustee from 2008 to 2011 and with Gayle two Trustees was the island's long time primary developer. and the CAO. “We went Ferguson,R the contract minute-taker for the Bowen He abandoned his position as trustee and as councillor, a through three or four planners municipality from 2000 to 2013. At the top of Nerys’s few months before a crucial decision on development and the third one was paid to warnings for SS islanders is the loss of the protection of the needed to be made, claiming conflict with his own business leave and replaced with an Islands Trust ‘preserve and protect’ mandate. On the top interests. inexperienced person who Samantha of Gayle’s list is the huge cost of municipal staffing. Both In her opinion the Islands Trust has become very didn’t live on Bowen. Over her 13 years there were three speak of the “nightmare of roads” (see also p. 5). cautious of interfering in Bowen affairs, deferring always to Directors of Finance. Islands Trust Abandoned the elected municipal council and rarely stepping in with “It is important to understand that the only job fo council an opinion about issues that may arise on Bowen. I got the sense of an island that had almost completely is to make policy. Everything else—to do with development, The philosophy of governance and of preserving and public roads, water, etc. is prepared by staff. The councillors’ abandoned the Islands Trust—an island which could protecting Bowen has suffered from the lack of active only role is to say yes or no. If staff are not experienced with afford little other than to maintain its roads. An island membership in the Islands Trust. Much more pressure how things are done in government, it is problematic and, where most of the goals identified at the time for development has resulted. combined with councillor inexperience, very expensive to of the referendum have not materialized Roads the taxpayer. due to lack of money. Bowen: ‘I “People think that having a municipal council will make I asked Nerys what she would got the sense of an Nerys said a very high percentage of budget island that had almost goes into roads. The money provided by the things go faster. While it may be that the development say to Salt Springers about our process works faster, which is why developers favour upcoming referendum. Here’s completely abandoned Province only lasted for three or four years. the Islands Trust—an The municipality still hasn’t been able to incorporation, most other things don’t get attended to or some of what she said. “If you take a very long time.” She gives two examples. People believe in the Islands Trust Act island which could afford afford a community centre or to address the other issues that were the reason Bowen voted for incorporation to solve the difficulties of the Snug preserve and protect mandate you little other than to Cove village being the ferry loading zone—similar to Fulford do not want to become a maintain it’s people voted to incorporate. Nor have they been able to afford a municipal hall and so Harbour. “There was study after study, one council would municipality because you lose the roads.’ be in favour and the next one would not.” It is now 17 years overall protective umbrella.” She continue to pay $100,000 a year in rent. The later and little has changed in Snug Cove. The other major explained that, after 17 years, most people on Gayle talked about the “nightmare of roads”. cost projected by the incorporation study report at least reason for incorporation was the desire for a community Bowen have completely forgotten that Bowen is still doubled and performing art centre. For this purpose, the council within the Islands Trust. The ideas of preservation and because of what they found once they dug up the surface. She estimated the roads budget took up a good 1/3 took out a loan and bought land from the GVRD during the protection are seldom heard. to 1/2 of the budget so there was little money left to do any early years of incorporation. Seventeen years later, they are Years ago, a sign when one drove off the ferry of the things they thought they would be able to do. still paying interest on the loan and Bowen is still waiting. announced that Bowen was an island in the Islands Trust Grants Volunteerism Area. That was removed during the years of the “Developer Another of Gayle's fears for Salt Spring is the likelihood of Council” (2011-2014 when all the councillors were pro- Nerys said grants for key municipal infrastructure are hard diminishing our amazing culture of volunteerism. Living development). In spite of requests to re-introduce the sign, to come by. Grants for cultural buildings are available. here now, she sees how much has been achieved by that has not happened because it's not something the Thus, the current council has decided to include municipal volunteers and believes that there are two very real dangers. business community seems to care about. offices in the plans for a community centre and performing One is that volunteers become discouraged both by an She said that because the Islands Trust isn’t on the radar arts centre in order to benefit from possible cultural grants unsupportive bureaucracy and decisions made for political people feel that they are not getting their money’s worth while creating a municipal hall at the same time. They soon not community reasons. from financial contributions to the Trust, they no longer see will be asking the community to approve a $3 million loan The other is that people develop expectations that the the overall value of a federation of islands. to build a fire hall for which grants are not available. municipality will somehow do the all work that up to now Another example she gave of the invisibility of the Trust, Staffing has been done for free without increasing taxes. during the recent logging issue on Bowen, is that not one Gayle warns that the cost to the taxpayer of experienced I think these warnings are important. Bowen is a smaller of the letters to the editor or the editor of the local staff wasn’t considered in the incorporation reports but it island than Salt Spring and may be a distance from other newspaper mentions anywhere that Bowen is a island in played a very big role because it was difficult to find Islands in Trust but it is the best comparison we have. the Islands Trust. experienced staff with knowledge of Bowen Island and While two members of the council continue to be elected Samantha, who now lives on Salt Spring, lived on Bowen difficult to keep what staff they did hire. Turnover was a Island from 1991 to 2006, before during and after as trustees, reports from trustees are seldom reported in major problem. incorporation (Bowen incorporated in Year 2000). the local paper. The trustees present reports at council These were major staff positions like public works OneOne badbad councilcouncil isis allall itit takestakes - Ronald Wright efore moving to Salt Spring fifteen years ago, I lived Quickly yet quietly, farms around Port Hope were benefit and control. The retail in the small town of Port Hope on Lake Ontario, bought up by numbered companies. Most of these turned value on completion (at 2001 about an hour east of Toronto. The population was out to belong to an aggressive developer named AON prices) would be more than a Bthe same size as Salt Spring’s, and it had a similar mix of (believed to stand for “All Or Nothing”). When I asked town billion dollars. The Community farmers, business owners, artists and writers (among them officials what was going on, they told me not to worry; yes, Plan’s density limit was Farley Mowat). an application had been received, but Council had not yet ignored, and the nearest its Ronald Through unusual circumstances we needn't go into, Port discussed it, and likely nothing would happen for years. “Waterfront TraiL” would Hope had kept its heritage charm while neighbouring Things moved fast. The council's first “public come to any water was at AON's sewage pumping station. towns were encircled by car lots, big-box malls, and information meeting” (required by The developer attacked his critics as “defamatory”, and was sprawling bedroom suburbs. ‘ Developers provincial law) was held on the Friday heard boasting that small towns are push-overs. Ever since Victorian times, the town had demand exemptions evening of a long weekend. Even The citizens group, to which I belonged, was not trying been run on the municipal system now being from things they don't so, hundreds showed up, about to stop the project altogether. We wanted it to abide by the mooted for Salt Spring: a mayor and six like or don't want to pay nine in ten wanting Council to Community Plan, and seek approval in phases instead of councillors with near-total authority over for. And the sad truth is reject or rethink the proposal. all at once. But neither the developer nor his friends on land use, planning, and many other that misguided The councillors were a mix Council would back down. Over two years we ran up a legal matters. Like national and provincial municipalities, often in like you might find anywhere: bill of some $80,000 (it would have been twice that if so governments, councils can change radically debt and desperate for idealists, axe-grinders, and folk many lawyers and experts hadn't volunteered their help). at election time. Some are good, most are growth, cave in.’ with little else to do. Most had been Our only victory was delay. When I revisited Port Hope ten middling, and a few are disastrously bad. It is kept in the dark by Town Hall insiders years later, the scheme had stalled after the 2008 crash. Yet never easy for a small community to find seven bent on following AON's wishes. The most of the damage was done. The completed section was smart and trustworthy people to run for office every few latter group, which included the mayor and a cramped, cheaply-built commuter suburb amid years, especially when developers fund candidates they seemed to have a majority of one, insisted that their “hands bulldozed farms and mounds of weeds. There was no hope will do their bidding. It takes only one bad council to were tied”; they had to rubber-stamp the project, since the seniors’ residence in sight. spoil a place forever. developer was poised to sue the town at great expense if his As for me, I’d moved to Salt Spring, one of whose major Port Hope’s undoing began when the town enlarged its right to do what he wanted with his land was thwarted. attractions was the unique protection of the Islands Trust. boundary to allow for future growth under a new Over a two-year political and legal fight, concerned By uniting our islands in a structure akin to a federation, community plan. In theory, a community’s plan is the citizens unearthed the scheme’s alarming details. It would the Trust makes us far stronger than a row of dominoes template all development must follow. But in practice, the nearly double Port Hope’s population at a stroke, yet make that big money can knock over, one by one. Salt Spring's devil is lurking in his usual spot—among the details. no provision for schools, clinics, sports grounds, incorporation would cripple the Islands Trust. Please vote Developers demand exemptions from things they don’t like workplaces, or parkland. The developer claimed he didn’t ‘No’ to a mayor and council. or don’t want to pay for. And the sad truth is that misguided need such amenities because this would be an “aging-in- Ronald Wright’s ten books include the 2004 CBC Massey municipalities, often in debt and desperate for growth, cave place community” for seniors only. Objectors saw that as a Lectures ‘A Short History of Progress’ and his recent novel in. ruse, crafted for maximum profit with minimum public ‘The Gold Eaters’. Positively ‘NO’ Page 8, Positively ‘NO’, August 2017 Letters, from page 6 What Missing Funding? proved to be a seductive argument and fees (all of which the developers pass on This could significantly compromise the Dear Islanders: it won the day, but the moment that the to the client) raise additional money. As equal representation of environmental The argument referendum passed even its advocates the recent incorporation study notes, a concerns when they are in conflict with were forced to admit that the real municipality would have the ability to that Salt Spring development. The municipal council— picture was not so rosy. impose and collect development cost will not get its with its ever present need to secure tax It turns out that collaboration and charges (DCCs) to assist in funding revenue—would have ultimate authority fair share of being part of a larger collective is growth-related infrastructure and parks. for land use decisions. infrastructure preferable to isolation and dislocation, These are not currently charged on Salt One of the principal statutes under funding unless but there is no turning back and there is Spring. which a Salt Spring municipality would we incorporate trouble ahead. You see where I’m going How reliant municipalities can operate is the Community Charter (see is erroneous. Gary with this. become on fee revenue like DCCs is page 12). Environmental protection is Yes, in regards to the Strategic The loudest, most persistent voices illustrated by the City of Vancouver. Projects Fund (SPF) that is part of far from the top of its priorities. While federal gas tax funding, in 2015 Salt on Salt Spring’s pro-incorporation argue According to the information on its the charter requires a municipality to Spring only received $60,000 planning the the same alluring “bring it home” website, only half of Vancouver’s take the Trust’s mandate to preserve grant from the fund but no other line without honestly addressing the revenue comes from property taxes. The and protect into consideration, the individual municipality in the CRD consequences or balancing the rest comes from fees and utility charges, municipality does not have to give received SPF funding either, except for benefits against the burdens. which means that continuous primary consideration to those crucial Yes! We can go it Saanich which also received a planning ‘Yes! We can development is an integral concerns. grant. alone! We can pay our part of its operating budget. Developers know the benefits that go it alone! We can All the other SPF funding within the own bills! We can Salt Spring Island’s municipal politicians—whatever their CRD was for joint projects of regional make our own pay our own bills! We can current governing political stripe—gain from increased significance involving several decisions! How can make our own decisions! structure insulates us development. They regularly lobby municipalities. we not like that? How can we not like that? from this. Under the municipal councils. They are Salt Spring has received millions in Except it’s simplistic Except it’s simplistic Islands Trust Act, the consistently the largest contributors to Community Works gas tax funding over nonsense. nonsense.’ responsibility for land use municipal political campaigns. And the past decade, that has helped finance Under the current decisions is separate from the those contributions work for them. a number of water, pedestrian/cycling governance structure, our responsibility for delivering I don’t suggest that all development is infrastructure projects on the property taxes—the overwhelming services and raising the tax revenue that undesirable or that developers and island. Community Works funding, source of revenue for any municipality— pays for them. Land use planning rests politicians are corrupt or self-serving. currently at roughly $400,000/year, is go into a provincial pot that widely with the Island Trust, whose specific But there is a mutual interest there that directly allocated annually, on a per distributes both the burdens and the mandate, under the Islands Trust Act, is takes its natural course. Those who fear capita basis (it requires no application). benefits of those funds. It’s very “to preserve and protect the trust area that incorporation will lead to Salt Spring has also been successful analogous to our health care system, and its unique amenities and increased—and less well-considered— in attracting several million dollars in into which we all pay regardless of our environment for the benefit of the development are right to worry. federal-provincial infrastructure health or wealth. The healthy help pay residents of the trust area and of British Ashley Hilliard funding for a half-dozen water districts for the sick, the young help pay for the Columbia generally”. This provincial Ashley Hilliard is a retired real estate lawyer. that agreed to become CRD entities, as elderly, and we recognize our obligation statute, custom-made for the Gulf In his practice, he acted mainly for well as for sewage treatment upgrades. to each other in society. It’s an insurance Islands, is unique among local Vancouver-based developers. Salt Spring has also received millions scheme against catastrophe. government acts in that it establishes Incorporation Will Be A more in other grants and subsidies for a Shifting rural property taxes from the the planning authority for Salt Spring Disaster For Local Farms, whole range of projects, including our enormous provincial pot which is a form and the other Trust Area islands as a say 42 Farmers of collective insurance into a tiny trust whose first priority is to protect the award-winning transit system, the Dear Islanders: library, pool and affordable housing. In municipal pot, puts the burden on qualities that make Salt Spring special— 10,000 people rather than millions. its rural spaces, its forests and parks, its David Borrowman—a former local fact, when funding for land protection trustee for the Islands Trust—wrote: and upgrades to Lady Minto are If the incorporation referendum quiet, natural beauty. Tax revenue does passes, there is no turning back. There is not even enter the picture in ‘Once the rhetoric has settled, I expect included, Salt Spring has received about that incorporation would mean $60 million in grants and transfers from no escape clause, no “what if we made a decisions about mistake?” option. The burden of local development. ‘Once the moving from an under- various levels of government since rhetoric has settled, I serviced rural area to an 2001. government will rest with you and me, Moreover, the expect that incorporation impoverished municipality.” This is a record that any community and our property taxes. We will pay delivery of services would mean moving from If Salt Spring wants to of Salt Spring’s size, whether whether or not we can afford it, even if on Salt Spring is an under-serviced rural area remain a rural area, it incorporated or not, would envy. we are not healthy and wealthy. currently divided to an impoverished makes sense to look at what Any discussion about the financial George Ehring among a variety of entities, such as the municipality.’—David could happen to the farming implications of governance for Salt Incorporation, economy if we were to vote to Spring should include the fact that Development & Tax Base Province (Ministry of Borrowman Transportation and incorporate. incorporation also comes with some Dear Islanders: Infrastructure, for We know that farmers will be significant financial burdens, such as Opponents of incorporation often say instance), the Capital Regional hardest hit by property tax increases. assuming full responsibility for 265kms increased development is inevitable if District, the RCMP, water improvement The provincial Farm Tax Exemption for of already poorly maintained Salt Spring districts, and a number of societies, farmers’ homes and buildings will be roads. This liability will only grow with becomes a including ArtSpring and the library. phased out over five years. climate change impacts and should not municipality. Each of these service providers has its The Urban Systems’ incorporation be dismissed with the notion that “we’ll Here’s why own dedicated revenue stream. report estimates that farm property get a grant for that”. their concerns taxes would increase by $194/year on Gary Holman If Salt Spring becomes a are valid. municipality, all this would change. average, a 10% increase. Increases Gary has served as MLA for Saanich North Developers Land use planning services would be applied to all residential property would and the Islands, CRD Director for Salt Spring and provided by planning staff employed by raise taxes even further. and Chair of the Island Trust's Advisory politicians, the municipality and reporting to the The district of West Kelowna Planning Commission Ashley particularly mayor and municipal council. incorporated in 2008. Five years Governance Is Already municipal ones, go hand in glove. A Development decisions later, after the transition period, ‘Home’ municipality’s business is to provide would thus be made by ‘The district of farmers faced property tax increases of up to 240%, Dear Islanders: services to its inhabitants, and the same entity West Kelowna municipal politicians run for election on whereas the average For more than a generation, we have responsible for incorporated in 2008. the promise of providing ever more and homeowner had increases been subject to neo-liberal propaganda providing and paying Five years later, after the better services to the electorate. of only 17.5%. Small farms that has given us the insidious sense for municipal services Improved services generally require transition period, farmers cannot afford large tax that the solutions (such as road additional revenue, leaving political faced property tax hikes. to social and maintenance, fire candidates only two options: Either they increases of up to The biggest impact on economic protection, and raise taxes—not a popular strategy for farming may come from problems are policing), and intimately 240%…’ winning an election—or they expand the increased development personal, rather linked to taxation. municipality’s tax base. pressure. Farming on Salt Spring is than collective. The Islands Trust would still The quickest and surest way of often a labour of love and not very We saw the exist, but it would lose about 20% of its expanding a municipality’s tax base is to lucrative. A cash-strapped municipal neo-liberal hand land use planning capacity and over half facilitate land development by re- government, facing big bills for road at play in Britain’s a million dollars from its budget. Two zoning, up-zoning, increasing allowable repairs, policing, water system George Brexit debate, one municipal councillors would be elected densities on a given parcel, and fast- upgrades, and a new fire hall, would be that originally (or appointed!) to sit on the Trust tracking subdivision approvals. The challenged to find extra funds to cover centred on shedding the troublesome Council as Islands Trust trustees, but various fees charged to developers and costs, many of which are currently paid rules and regulations of the European they would have only a minority vote on builders, including development cost by the province. Our island’s small and Union, and keeping money at home. It the municipal council, and the Local charges, demolition and building permit mostly residential tax base would not Trust Committee would be dissolved. LETTERS, continued on next page Positively ‘NO’ Positively ‘NO’, August 2017, Page 9 Letters, from page 8 42 FARMERS’ LETTER continued residents and throngs of visitors, esteemed around the Foundation reported “widespread agreement that take kindly to big property tax increases. It’s easy to world as a truly unique place. What a gift those clear municipalities do not have sufficient revenue raising imagine that it would make financial sense to thinkers bequeathed us over 40 years ago. They saved tools to meet their expenditure responsibilities amidst homeowners and municipal councillors to support us from ourselves and the narrow parameters of self- the broadening of their service commitments” new development to bring in more revenue. Land in interest—a small miracle when you look at the It is estimated that municipalities are responsible the Agricultural Land Reserve could not be converted megacities that have arisen around us, and the for about 60% of Canada’s infrastructure yet only to other uses without approval from the provincial neighbouring communities that are receive about 8% of federal grants. Agricultural Land Commission, but all the farms not in now bedroom suburbs, complete As a rural community, Salt Spring’s aging road the ALR would be attractive to developers if land use with urban woes. infrastructure is underwritten by the Province. They decisions were made by a municipality and not by the ‘municipalities The upcoming referendum are responsible for too have under-maintained our roads but the cost Islands Trust. More development will bring more of replacing them is spread across all BC rural will be the biggest choice of about 60% of competition for scarce water supplies, and water for taxpayers; not Salt Springers alone. Unlike most summer irrigation is already a big concern for island our voting lives. If we Canada’s infrastructure municipalities, Salt Spring's incorporation would farmers. incorporate, it’s forever. yet only receive about be required to include all of the island not just the Farmers have many reasons to oppose Sooner or later, the clumsy 8% of federal usual denser “town” area, so the financial incorporation, not the least of which is that our current municipal system so well- grants.’ responsibility for our huge network of rural roads system is the only “green” local governance model in described by others will force us would fall on far too few shoulders. Canada, and recognizes the importance of agriculture into over-development and we’ll and our small island farms. It has evolved over the lose this wonderful, cohesive community. In January 2017 CBC reported that “the years and could easily be modified to better meet Is it worth taking a chance on a municipal fantasy that resignations of over a dozen mayors and councillors in current and future challenges. Incorporation cannot be doesn’t work very well anyway, and inevitably favours British Columbia over the past two years is 'a rolled back. development? disturbing trend’, according to Jerry Berry, who spent As farmers, we are very concerned that We can continue to better our community, and to 22 years as City Manager for Nanaimo.” incorporation will damage the local farm economy. develop it, without incorporating. There’s still land for The reasons suggested for this trend are the huge Many thanks to all those who support local farms by sale, and there are smaller, less impactful ways to contribution of time required; the meagre pay that buying local food. Your support is invaluable for provide affordable housing and amenities. The comes with these positions; and the complexity of the helping us to stay afloat. Please help Salt Spring’s farm Community Plan can be adjusted to allow for new job. Berry said the job of being a local government community again by voting ‘NO’ on September 9th. projects that accommodate the changes we see in our leader has become increasingly complex as cities and Caroline and Andy Hickman of Ganders Hatch Farm, society, without the irreversible dangers of towns pick up more and more responsibilities that Michael Ableman of Foxglove Farm, Dave and Kathy incorporation. used to belong to senior governments. Chief among Thomas, Harry Burton of Apple Luscious Organic Orchard, Dear friends and neighbours, take a good look those challenges is dealing with aging infrastructure Ron Puhky & Kim Hanson of Grandview Farm, Brian around at what we have here, and what's out there. but Berry said “soft issues” like low-income housing Swanson and Mary Laucks of Laughing Apple Farm, Gavin This is a place of tremendous creativity, respectful of are increasingly being downloaded as well. Johnston of Night Owl Farm, Gay Alkoff, Mark Stevens, the environment and its natural beauty, an island of “North American communities haven’t really paid George "Kanu" Bowie of Neptune Farm, Julia & Susan gardeners, small farmers, and talented, generous their way since World War II in terms of keeping up Grace, of Moonstruck Cheese, Nick Jones, Rob Burns, Daria with infrastructure demands. They’re doing a whole Zovi, Jane Squier of The Garden, Tony Threlfall, Marsha people—a unique place to raise children. What we Goldberg and Jane Schweitzer of Eagleridge Greenhouse need are more communities like ours! gamut of services that they weren’t designed to do, nor Gardens, Carlos Grooms of The Paradise Within Farm, We already have a working model for the good life is the property tax system designed to pay for [them]. The system is set up to fail.” Conrad Pilon, Jan Steinman of EcoReality Co-op, Jim and for sustainability: it’s us. Ron Puhky Erickson, Rollie Cook of Redwing Farm, Cathy Valentine, The spectre of failing municipalities in BC is by no Gene Drzymala & Sharon Hawke, Edward Dodds, Margaret Dr Ron Puhky has lived on the island for 43 years. He farms means my only reason for voting ‘No’ to the and practices Integrative Medicine. & Alan Thomson of Windrush Farm, Kevin Kunzler, Cathy referendum but it is enough. Why would we take on Valentine, Delaine Faulkner, Janet Simpson of Innisfree Funding Failing such a risky proposition as incorporation when we Farm, Mark Whittear, Mike & Marjorie Lane of Ruckle Municipalities have so much going for us now and a whole variety of Farm, Elisa Rathje, Belinda Schroeder ways to address some growing pains that are being How The Island Got To Stay So Good Dear Islanders: used as the reason for creating a developers pot of In thinking about how to vote in the gold? Dear Islanders: upcoming referendum, one of the Samantha Sanderson I arrived on Salt Spring when a GP colleague who Samantha again things we have to ask ourselves is wanted to return to Victoria with his family offered whether we want to go from being a slightly under- MORE LETTERS ON PAGE10 me his practice. As he greeted me and my partner serviced rural area to an Wendy he handed me his obstetrical forceps and impoverished municipality? /ŶĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƟŽŶсŵŽƌĞĨĂƌŵƚĂdžсĨĞǁĞƌĨĂƌŵĞƌƐ said, "You’ll need these." BC municipalities have major financial challenges, Surprised, I asked why, both now and in the years since the maternity room at ahead, as they address the Lady Minto was fully urgent needs of repairing and equipped. "Well, about a third replacing roads, water and of my practice are hippies, sewage treatment plants and draft dodgers and back-to- other public facilities. Salt the-landers,” he said. “They Spring has aging want home births. And a lot of infrastructure too, which a those will be in teepees". Ron municipality would inherit. He was right. I had become BC municipalities are heir to these new arrivals, along with people who had primarily reliant on property been on the island for generations and a few mainland taxes for revenue. Property retirees. The island population was then about 2300; taxes are not seen as being there were approximately the same number of sheep. responsive to economic The people of Salt Spring welcomed all of us into growth and they tend to place island life. We soon knew pretty well everyone on the a disproportionate tax share island and felt completely at home in this amazing on lower income groups. ͞/ŚĂǀĞŵĂĚĞƚŚĞĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶƚŽǀŽƚĞEKŽŶ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌϵƚŚ͘ place. The Union of BC tĞŶĞĞĚƚŽǁŽƌŬŽŶŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐǁŚĂƚǁĞŚĂǀĞĂŶĚ/͛ŵ That year the Islands Trust Act was formulated by Municipalities (UBCM) has ƵŶǁŝůůŝŶŐƚŽĐŚĂŶĐĞƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐƚŚĂƚŚĂƐƐƵĐŚĂƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů the Social Credit Government and was passed into been advocating, without ĨŽƌĐŚĂŶŐŝŶŐƚŚĞǀĞƌLJĨĂďƌŝĐŽĨůŝĨĞŽŶŽƵƌŝƐůĂŶĚ͘͟ law quickly by the new NDP government, which also success, for a different DŝĐŚĂĞůďůĞŵĂŶ introduced the Agricultural Land Reserve Act. Wise financial arrangement. “In actions by both the Right and the Left—unique, from 2015, a resolution put before the UBCM annual meeting a provincial, national, and even an international noted “local governments level—and almost universally welcomed by Islanders. depend almost wholly on The following year we bought a farm in the Fulford property taxation to fund Valley, and I began to incorporate the new field of municipal services and are holistic medicine into my practice. Our neighbour, currently facing infrastructure Bob Akerman, the patriarch of the Akerman families deficits of enormous in the valley, soon invited me for a glass of his proportions”. blackberry wine. He told me stories from his Salish Municipalities are dealing grandmother about the indigenous history of the with an increasingly complex valley and my new farm. He also said, after I array of issues due to described what holistic medicine was, that it was downloading from senior 3RVLWLYHO\ exactly the way they had lived on the island, working governments and new social hard physically, growing their own food, helping one &ĂƌŵĞƌƐĨŽƌ^Ăůƚ^ƉƌŝŶŐʹ difficulties such as $XWKRUL]HGE\3RVLWLYHO\12UHJLVWHUHGVSRQVRU another out in hard times and celebrating together the homelessness, affordable XQGHU/(&)$WKHPDQ\LVODQGHUV#JPDLOFRP tĞ͛ƌĞǀŽƟŶŐ͘͘͘ good. housing and drug addiction. Well, here we are now, with 10,700 permanent In 2013, the Canada West Positively ‘NO’ Page 10, Positively ‘NO’, August 2017 Letters, from page 9 It’s Now Or Never For Alternative Governance Options A Bit of Islands’ History Dear Islanders: island decisions; or Dear Islanders: As time passed, and The sheer size of Salt Spring increasing the number of Back in 1974, Denman, where populations grew and is its “achilles heel” in any Local Trustees from two to I live, was one of more than pressed their elected plan to incorporate and four. Both options allow for 400 islands in the Salish representatives for more grow as a municipality— greater efficiency and Sea identified by the human-centred especially with rural-type greater representation in provincial government of the interpretations of land- density. Large size, for a our local governance day as being worthy of use policies, a gulf municpality means a large structure, while still ‘preservation and protection’. between the original road network, which means Sam retaining the provincial Imagine that… a part of the purpose of the Islands high annual road costs, government’s support for planet that our elected Graham Trust and the demands which means much higher taxes for all Salt Spring’s roads. A win/win situation. representatives recognized was in need of residents opened up. For some, the residents if Salt Spring incorporated as a Unfortunately, the government and a of ‘preservation and protection’! Not trust has become too willing to municipality. In short, we simply well organised pro-incorporation only that, they actually followed through compromise ecological principles of do not have the population lobby have been successful in and the NDP government of Dave preservation and protection in order to size and/or tax base to side-stepping these options Barrett created the Islands Trust, which accommodate population growth and afford this on our own. ‘A ‘Yes’ vote in favour of a single pre- it directed, in no uncertain terms, to human needs. For others, the trust is Paramount to a on September 9th empted choice of: carry out this challenging task. In fact, seen to be an unreasonable obstacle to decision on how best would slam the door “Municipality? Yes or preservation and protection of the personal freedom and economic to govern ourselves No?” Meanwhile down- islands in the Trust Area was development as it seeks to carry out the in the future, is the shut on considering playing the fact that as a its only task—its only reason for only task it was given: that is to preserve right to be informed any other governance municipality Salt Spring existence. Furthermore, it was made and protect the islands. on all options options in the would lose its rural status clear that the Islands Trust, by In a couple of instances this polarity available; and to and provincial financial preserving and protecting the islands in has led to movements to incorporate. choose a form of future.’ support for roads. the Salish Sea, was not only acting in the Bowen Island became an “Island governance best suited to All this happened because best interests of island residents but Municipality” in 1999. Though token this unique place. Something there was no effective push-back also in the long-term best interests of membership in the Islands Trust other than being just a “standard against the ‘pro’ lobby and the all British Columbians. continues, Bowen Island is no longer municipality” on the route to government’s wish to get Salt Spring off As people lived on only a small constrained by the Object of the Trust. urbanisation. There is a definite need its books. Or perhaps, after the 2013 number of those dry islands (Denman, Nowaadays it “must [only] consider the and desire by many islanders for the referendum came out with 70% against Hornby and Lasqueti in the north, provincial object of the Islands Trust in opportunity to examine such options. incorporation, maybe voters felt that Gabriola in the centre, Bowen, Gambier adopting bylaws or issuing permits or But first, at this stage there is one very that was a clear enough message for a and Keats in the east, Thetis, Galiano, licences”. important condition, or caution, to while. Salt Spring, Mayne, North and South Salt Spring residents voted to reject consider. Namely, we must vote ‘no’ in Fortunately, things are different now Pender, Saturna and a few others in the incorporation in 2002 but you now face the upcoming referendum to avoid a with the recent formation of a well south) and people were acknowledged that question once again. Inexplicably, possible trap—a ‘yes’ vote on September organised and well supported group, as the major threats to what it was that your trustees— though bound to preserve 9th would slam the door shuton ‘Positively NO’ against incorporation. needed preserving and protecting it and protect the Trust Area—have taken considering any other governance Next, we can go on to consider other narrowed the focus of the Islands Trust an oath of silence on the vote which could options in the future. There is simply too forms of governance better suited to the considerably. well remove the largest island from its much to lose to let this happen. unique character and needs of Salt The Trust Area became a zone where unique protective embrace—just as It turns out there are alternative the rules of land development were Spring. So please ’Vote No’ this time and Bowen Island was removed. models of governance already out there save this precious island from the different from those of the rest of the It would also be the death of the and available under existing provincial senseless forces of urbanisation. province. Small-lot subdivision, widely mandate on the largest island in the Trust legislation. Several attempts have been Sam Sydneysmith seen as the catalyst for the formation of Area. Residents on any of the trust made in the past to consider these Sam is an conomist, retired, SFU professor the Islands Trust, was soon prohibited, alternatives, such as electing an LCC and private consultant, and a Salt Spring largely on the grounds that the supply of islands and all British Columbians have (Local Community Commission) of 4-6 resident for 28 years. groundwater was not adequate to a stake in the outcome of this vote. members empowered to make on- support large numbers of families Perhaps we, on Denman Island, can clustered close together. all urge our friends on Salt Spring to keep This all made good ecological sense the ‘preserve and protect’ mandate alive for small islands adjacent to large on behalf of all British Columbians when metropolitan populations and the they vote. Graham Brazier Islands Trust was widely seen as the Graham lives on Denman Island where he body responsible for the containment of gardens and reflects on BC history.0 development.

Commentary by Arthur Black View on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV-5TyCvd38&feature=youtu.be

Positively ‘NO’ IncorporationIncorporation andand affordableaffordable housinghousing -- Elizabeth White Positively ‘NO’, August 2017, Page 11 t’s not easy to find a place to live on Salt Spring. Like Brackett Spring on Rainbow Road. In fact, the quickest and least everywhere in Southern BC, housing on Salt Spring, Non-profit housing on Salt Spring is typically funded by expensive way to create more whether for rent or for purchase, is expensive and in the CRD, BC Housing and CMHC and delivered through affordable housing is something we shortI supply, especially for average wage earners. There’s non-profit societies. can easily do under our current some talk that this situation would improve While the NSSWD moratorium on new water governance—that is to encourage under incorporation; the evidence connections has delayed at least one of these island homeowners to provide long- Elizabeth suggests otherwise. ‘…the quickest projects, this is not necessarily something term rental units. So far, few More high-end development— and least expensive way incorporation could change. A municipality homeowners have so far have taken advantage of this, but a likely result of incorporation— to create more affordable (which would now have responsibility for the Islands Trust has legalized secondary suites in many will make the Salt Spring housing is something we can the water districts and commissions) parts of SSI and could easily expand the area. housing situation worse, not could lift the moratorium only if the However, for this to work, there must be adequate bylaw better. easily do under our current increased draw would not cause Salt enforcement of illegal short-term vacation rentals (STVRs). Purpose-built affordable governance…encourage island Spring to exceed the provisions of its Otherwise, too many homes and rental suites will be used housing is one solution. Salt homeowners to provide long-term current provincial water licenses. for vacation rentals during the summer months. (This also Spring affordable housing rental units. Islands Trust has Required referrals to outside fuels the housing-as-investment market and raises house consultant Janis Gauthier says legalized secondary suites in agencies would still limit what the prices even further.) As former Islands Trust CAO Linda that incorporation would not many parts of SSI and municipality could do, even if aspects of Adams points out, “Rigorous enforcement of our existing affect funding for affordable the regulatory approvals process were no-STVR bylaw has been done by LTCs in previous terms housing because Salt Spring could easily expand streamlined. Vancouver Island developers and has had a positive effect on the availability of rental housing providers already receive the area.’ also complain that their local municipalities can units.” Incorporation would not change this. grants from federal, provincial and regional take two to five years to approve new projects. Those Push-back from STVR owners and from those who gain agencies. An example is the $4.5 million recently constraints wouldn’t go away simply because we’d financially from the “hot” real estate market that announced by the province to add units at Croftonbrook. incorporated, and for good reason—we all need water. It is incorporation is likely to fuel needs to be countered by Salt Spring already has several successful affordable to our benefit to have these constraints if the rationing we’ve islanders who understand that a stable, sustainable housing projects: Pioneer Village, Croftonbrook, experienced in past summers isn’t to become even more community depends upon adequate and affordable Meadowbrook, Dean Road, Murakami Gardens, severe. housing. Political will, not form of governance, is the issue. Grandma’s House, the Cedars, and at least five projects in Another solution to the housing shortage is for local Elizabeth is a solar homes and green building pioneer; she process, including three in the Drake Road area—Salt governments—including the Islands Trust—to partner with helped form Canadian Organic Growers; and she is active Spring Commons, Dragonfly Commons, and the School developers, requiring a percentage of units in new with Salt Spring Agricultural Alliance’s Produce Centre, District property— plus the Croftonbrook expansion, and developments to be affordable. and with affordable housing projects. How well can a municipality assume climate change costs? BigBig policingpolicing increasesincreases Ruth Waldick Richard Kerr evere weather has far-reaching consequences for Salt Spring of already having the regional body ideally suited lmost $2 million in additional policing communities, whether as a result of drought (read: to tackle climate change adaptation on the appropriate costs could be added to the large crop failures, high feed prices, forest scale—Islands Trust. All the legislation we need increases already projected in the Salt fires),S unseasonably heavy rainfall (think of to engage in cross-jurisdictional strategic ASpring Incorporation Study, if trends in RCMP last Spring), and temperature extremes— planning is already in place. contract costs are taken into account. These whether hot or cold. What Do Gulf Islanders Need To additional municipal expenses for policing would have Those dealing with emergencies resulting Be Thinking About? to be covered by increased taxes, cuts to other services, from severe weather tell us that it is now The number one priority identified by Salt Spring or by using reserve funds. pretty much impossible to anticipate future residents, according to the 2013 Urban Systems Urban Systems estimated that Salt Spring’s annual weather based on past experience. Governance Study, was protecting our water policing costs would jump by $871,000 under Consequences are most acutely felt at the resources. The Final Incorporation Study Report, incorporation—from the $407,000 per year in police municipal level, whose mandates are to deal unfortunately, failed to consider water in the with immediate concerns, including tax Salt Spring is paying now to $1,278,000 per year Ruth context of land use planning or the trends in safeguarding current and future water supplies, protecting after an initial transition period. They then assumed that extreme weather-related risk and infrastructure damage. We infrastructure and addressing public health issues. expenditures would remain at that level in inflation- must consider more than sanitation, storm water flows, Municipalities domestically, and internationally, are not adjusted dollars. How realistic is that assumption? utilities, docks and harbours . Where is the analysis of what equipped—nor jurisdictionally able—to cope with the scope A 2009 Union of BC Municipalities report found that road washouts, shoreline erosion, warming lake of risk analysis needed. Nor are they able to engage in the “policing cost increases have been double the rate of temperatures (read: cyanobacterial blooms), and increased strategic land use planning necessary to contend with the increase in property taxes and that the increasing police run-off and sedimentation mean to a municipal budget? unpredictability of our evolving weather systems. expenses put pressure on other needed services as there If we incorporate, what would a new municipal Unpredictable weather events affect our built is limited overall tax tolerance.” government be taking on in terms of and natural systems in complex ways. So, it is What has happened to policing costs since 2009? ‘Municipalities responsibilities and costs to contend with perhaps not surprising that—globally— RCMP contract costs in the nearby Town of Sidney domestically, and emerging extreme weather? What community resilience planning is provide a guide. Because RCMP contract costs per happening at a regional level. internationally, are not should we be thinking about before we officer are standard across the province, Sidney’s By contrast, here in Canada, equipped—nor jurisdictionally commit ourselves to reducing the role experience likely reflects province-wide trends in municipal governments are struggling able—to cope with the needed of The Island Trust and taking on the municipal RCMP policing costs. Sidney’s police contract with inadequate budgets to manage scope of risk analysis nor are they costs of climate adaptation locally? able to engage in the strategic costs increased by 52% from 2009 to 2017—more than basic infrastructure upgrades and day- Yes, the Final Incorporation Report land use planning necessary to four times the rate of inflation. After removing the effect to-day services within their jurisdictions indicates a zero net increase/decrease contend with the of inflation, Sidney’s police contract costs still increased due to increased downloading of in cost through taxation, but, having unpredictability of our 38%: 30% from increases in the cost per RCMP officer responsibilities by the provinces; failed to address the above issues does not emergencies, such as fires or water evolving weather and 8% due to a one officer increase in detachment size. equate to there being no cost involved. shortages, are placing demands far beyond systems.’ Similarly, the report is completely silent on Sidney’s 2017 budget shows that from 2013 to 2017, their available resources. the costs associated with planning against climate Sidney property taxes increased by more than twice the The trend of increasing extreme weather events is and weather risk, damages to infrastructure caused by rate of inflation! The Sidney budget noted that non- already forcing choices between maintaining existing extreme weather, or the potential increase in public health discretionary increases in RCMP contract costs, over infrastructure and crisis management. We are told by needs and other emergencies. Even in its limited reference which municipalities have no control, were a notable Canada’s Public Health Agency to expect more crises: water to ‘Climate Action Services’ (Service Summary #21) their contributor to these increases. levels of most closed-basin lakes have declined through the lack of understanding is evident around adaptive planning; Increases in future RCMP contract costs for a Salt 20th century, as have average stream flows; land clearing, first, groups other than municipal governments need to take population growth, and the expansion of paved urban Spring municipality can be estimated by applying leading roles in climate adaptation planning, and, secondly, centres has also increased the risks we face due to severe Sidney’s average rate of increase in inflation-adjusted municipal governments across Canada cannot address weather events. cost per RCMP officer to the Salt Spring police contract adaptive planning without cross-jurisdictional planning. Unfortunately, the short tenure of federal, provincial and base. Over Urban Systems’ 10-year projection period, In my opinion, a municipality is not the proper municipal governments means that each is accountable there would be a total of $1.9 million in additional governance model to deal with large infrastructure impacts financially to deliver on short term priorities only. Without policing costs added to Urban System’s already large on this island; a regional and collective approach is more of the mandate or the capacity to consider and prepare for a guarantee that the small population on our beloved island projected increase in policing costs. emerging risks, strategic climate change adaptation will not have to bear the costs of such expenditures without The experience of Sidney and other BC planning in Canada lags well behind other western nations. assistance from the region or province. Voting for a municipalities shows Urban Systems’ policing costs Rural communities—even incorporated municipalities— municipality opens us up to great financial risks and assumptions to be completely unrealistic. Based on are struggling to get access not just to financial resources, undermines the strength of the Trust, which we will need to trends in policing costs and the possibility of future but also to climate data and expertise required to predict rely on to deal with weather-related challenges to come.0 increases in detachment size, Urban Systems’ risk. From Salt Spring’s point of view, what happens on each projections almost certainly underestimate post- of our neighbouring islands, in coastal communities on Ruth is PhD research scientist and adjunct professor at Carleton Vancouver Island and the Salish Sea as a whole will affect University. She currently works with municipal governments incorporation policing costs and their future property all of us. and conservation authorities analysing climate change impacts tax impacts. In its Salt Spring policing cost projections, Fortunately, we are in a uniquely enviable position on and adaptation—including policy and land use planning. Urban Systems has simply assumed away a major problem facing BC municipalities. Positively ‘NO’ Page 12, Positively ‘NO’, August 2017 WithdrawingWithdrawing fromfrom aa uniqueunique aa successfulsuccessful federationfederation—for—for what?what?- David J Rapport and Luisa Maffi here is a widespread concern on Salt Broader Issues and not enough jobs to keep the younger Spring Island about the security of The point is that, with the referendum, population “on-island”. our water supply—particularly with there is a much broader issue at stake than The primary question one must address theT prospect of ever-drier weather in water or any other single issue at hand: is: in dealing with these very real and major summer, the very season when the namely, whether Salt Spring Islanders wish issues, with very real and major population of our island swells up with to “go it alone”, breaking away from our consequences for our quality of life, are we tourists. How does that concern bear on our neighbours in the Salish Sea—the bioregion better off with Salt Spring fending for itself, vote on incorporation? If we were to of which we are luckily part—or whether we or as part of a united front? incorporate, people ask, would the new recognize that our ecological, economic, Those who favor incorporation often mayor and council have the power and and social wellbeing is intimately tied to that decry the fact that the Local Trust David & Luisa authority to set down and enforce of our neighbours on other islands. Committee (LTC) includes someone from regulations and laws to safeguard our water The 13 major Gulf Islands, spanning another island, with authority to vote on need is a governance structure that, while supply? And would they have the will to do from Denman Island in the north to Salt issues that impact our island. That objection looking after the immediate interests of the so? Spring, Saturna and South Pender in the only has validity if one thinks of Salt Spring’s local level, takes into full account the issues Who Will Be In Charge? south, and Gambier and Bowen in the east, wellbeing as independent of the conditions at the regional and global levels. To “act and the hundred of associated islands and that apply within our bioregion. That is locally and think globally” is best served by Of course, only a clairvoyant could know, at islets attached to them, are all embedded in clearly not the case: none of the major issues locating ourselves within our bioregion, and the time of voting in the referendum, who the same bioregion—one that has become we mentioned, and many more, stop at Salt by working together with neighboring the key actors might be in a hypothetical seriously impacted by human activities. It Spring’s coastline. The so-called “outsider” municipal government—let alone whether communities to address the challenges would most likely have been even more on the LTC really is not an “outsider” at all, cooperatively rather than selfishly and self- or not those actors would have the will to but rather a voice that reflects a bioregional impacted if it were not for the Islands Trust defeatingly by pitting ourselves against address our concerns about water. And focus—one extending the notion of “preserve and protect” mandate . others. when it comes to having the power and All Islands Trust Area islands face “community” to all the trust’s islands. David is an economist and ecologist who authority to tackle water issues, that too is similar challenges: climate change; Isolationism and protectionism are spearheaded the notion of ecosystem not knowable ahead of time, as it depends dwindling water supplies during the dry visibly on the rise in North America and health—the thriving of ecosystems upon on what kinds of regulations and laws such months; deforestation; increasing air throughout the world. In our view, a municipality might bring into effect once pollution; ever more polluted local marine however, although rooted in very real social which our lives and wellbeing depend. it were elected. It would presumably have environment; threats to the marine and economic unease, such attitudes are Luisa is an anthropologist and linguist the power to enact regulations and laws environment from growing freighter and ultimately self-defeating. We Salt Spring who co-founded Terralingua, a non-profit within its jurisdiction, provided such laws tanker traffic and proposed oil pipelines and Islanders are not a closed-off local that works to sustain biocultural and regulations do not conflict with those LNG plants; ever higher costs of living, community. We are inextricably also a diversity—the diversity of life in both of provincial or federal jurisdictions. unaffordable housing, higher ferry rates, regional and a global community. What we nature and culture.

WillWill thethe CommunityCommunity CharterCharter workwork forfor oror againstagainst us?us? -- Ruth Tarasoff ordon Campbell, when he was The relatively slow process of increased market engaged community of Salt Spring that recognize its worth Mayor of Vancouver, was value in real estate is all that may be expected and are willing and able to make the changes that it will take responsible for the creation of what to keep municipal coffers topped up. That or to make it even better—for all of us. Vancouver Charter Gbecame known as the , increase the tax base by building more homes, Ruth was born in Scotland and she has two children. to satisfy a need for more control over the increasing density—all fine aspirations until She is a retired RN, with CMB from Royal Infirmary city’s own affairs. one comes up against the island issues of water Edinburgh. She was involved in amateur theatre in On becoming Premier in 2003, he supply and demand on finite topography. three provinces before coming to SSI in 1989 from created a similar body, the Community Canadians taxes on sales, income, property Vancouver. Charter, ostensibly to give other BC transfers, gas tax, corporate tax among others. Ruth municipalities more autonomy. This charter This is how it is distributed:50¢ of every tax does give municipalities more autonomy and more dollar goes to the federal government; 42¢ of every tax authority to manage their own affairs but it therefore gives dollar goes to the provincial government; and 8¢ of every them many more responsibilities. tax dollar goes to municipal government. This so-called “autonomy” has since become widely Did you know that municipal governments have recognized as a way that the Province off-loads costs from become responsible for building and maintaining over half provincial government’s coffers onto municipalities. The of the country’s infrastructure? Nearly 60%. question is, ‘Will the Community Charter work for Salt On Salt Spring, some claim that all our problems will be Spring? solved by becoming a municipality. Grant money will pour The chorus of complaints from municipalities large and in. Maybe, maybe not. small (but especially small) is on public record. Applying for grants while competing with They need more money to provide the ‘We have every other municipality also desperate for services expected of them. Apart from the funds, has poor prospect of success, often very real problems of aging and broken accomplished depending on a requirement of infrastructure they are financially more than most matching funds. burdened with managing homelessness, municipalities without We have accomplished more than lack of affordable housing, water woes, the Community most municipalities without the poor road conditions, shortage of mental Charter [and Community Charter. There is still much health services, shortage of doctors, and incorporation].’ we can do but not if we end up in the same aging sewer systems. situation of many other municipalities that It bears repeating that municipalities’ only are struggling. source of income is through local property taxes. I say, Long Live the Islands Trust and long live the Positively ‘NO’ in Print ositively ‘NO’ in Print’ reaches your mailbox, or your hands, courtesy of all the supporters and volunteers working for the Positvely ‘NO’ campaign in Salt Spring’s municipal incorporation referendum on September 9th. The‘P Referendum Question is: ‘Are you in favour of the incorporation of a Salt Spring Island Municipality? YES or NO?’ We ask you to consider all the facts in ‘Positively ‘NO’ in Print’, what you learn at events, and what you hear from friends and neighbours —and ‘Vote ‘NO’ on Saturday, September 9. PS: Read and talk it all up, and pass on your copy, please! Ask us how you can help deliver copies.

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