September 7, 2018 Alanna Dixon Director, Economic & Corporate Initiatives Design, Coordination & Outreach Branch Technology, Innovation & Economic Development Division Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology By email: [email protected] Dear Ms. Dixon: Our municipal council recently became aware of a potential regulation change that may allow other communities to gain support for economic diversification, planning, and revitalization through the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET). We understand that Ministry staff have begun engaging with ICET to explore the inclusion of the CRD electoral areas of Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring Island, and the Southern Gulf Islands in the ICET service area. We are requesting that Bowen Island Municipality be considered a stakeholder in any discussion undertaken by your Ministry. As a rural island community, Bowen Island faces challenges for economic development, job creation, and infrastructure development that are similar to those of the Southern Gulf Islands. Attached is related correspondence that explains our situation more fully. As you will see, we have been actively attempting by a variety of means to gain recognition of Bowen Island’s rural status and to secure the funding support for infrastructure projects we require. I can be reached at 604-947-4255 or [email protected] . Sincerely, Mayor Murray Skeels Bowen Island Municipality Attachments (7) Letter from Acting Chair Susan Morrison, Islands Trust, to Premier John Horgan, “Designation of the Islands Trust Area for Rural Dividend Program and Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) Funding,” dated July 11, 2018. In reply: Letter from Assistant Deputy Minister Dave Peterson, FLNRORD, dated August 9, 2018. Letter from MLA Jordan Sturdy to Premier John Horgan, “Bowen Island Municipality Eligibility for Rural Dividend Program and Other Granting Programs,” dated July 4, 2018 . In reply: Letter from Minister Selina Robinson to MLA Jordan Sturdy, dated August 23, 2018. Letter from Chair Peter Luckham, Islands Trust, to the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science & Economi c Development, “Designate Islands Trust Area Eligible for Western Economic Diversification Funding,” dated July 13, 2018. In support: MP Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, dated July 12, 2018. Letter from Mayor Murray Skeels and Metro Director Maureen Nicholson to Metro Vancouver Chair Greg Moore, “Request for Formal Support of Islands Trust Resolutions,” dated June 25, 2018 Includes: Request for Decision from Trustees Peter Grove, Sue Ellen Fast, and Alison Morse, to the Islands Trust Council, “Rural Designation,” dated June 1, 2018. Letter from the Chair, Capital Regional District, to Premier John Horgan, “Re: Distribution of Federal and Provincial Funding Through Grant Programs to Support Rural Areas and Smaller Communities, ” dated January 4, 2013. Letter from MLA Adam Olsen to Minister Selina Robinson, “Urban Classification of the Islands,” dated November 22, 2017. Letter from Mayor Murray Skeels to Minister Doug Donaldson, “Reconsideration of the Rural Dividend Fund Eligibility Criteria, ” November 15, 2017. Letter from Minister Doug Donaldson to Mayor Murray Skeels, “Response to Reconsideration of the Rural Dividend Fund Eligibility Criteria," December 27, 2017. Letter from Mayor Murray Skeels to Minister Doug Donaldson, “Response Regarding Continuing Ineligibility for the Rural Dividend Fund,” January 15, 2018. 2 200-1627 Fort Street, Victoria BC V8R 1H8 Telephone (250) 405-5151 Fax (250) 405-5155 Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 660-2421. Elsewhere in BC 1.800.663.7867 Email [email protected] Web www.islandstrust.bc.ca July 11, 2018 File Number: 0400-30; 4700-20 via e -mail: [email protected] The Honourable John Horgan Premier of BC PO Box 9041 Stn Prov Govt Victoria BC V8W 9E1 Dear Premier Horgan: Re: Designate Islands Trust Area for Rural Dividend Program Funding On behalf of the Islands Trust Council I am writing to request that the Province designate all islands in the Islands Trust Area as permanently eligible for Rural Dividend Program funding and other granting programs for rural communities, including the Island Coastal Economic Trust. It has been a long-standing concern that the Salt Spring lsland and Southern Gulf lslands electoral areas and Bowen Island have been ineligible for economic development and infrastructure programs intended for rural communities due to their inclusion within the Capital Regional District (CRD) and Metro Vancouver Regional District. The decision to exclude these rural areas from rural programs and funding does not reflect the islands’ rural character, geography, land use or capacity to sustain services. Without access to these funding sources, rural island communities find it difficult to sustain community resiliency in the face of social and economic changes and to execute projects that improve community infrastructure. ln 2016, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities passed a resolution asking the Province to officially recognize and classify the three CRD electoral areas as rural communities. The three CRD electoral areas are now eligible for the Rural Dividend Program and I understand Bowen Island has been granted temporary eligibility. However, they remain ineligible for grants from the Island Coastal Economic Trust. We are requesting that the Province of BC make all islands in the Islands Trust Area permanently eligible for the Rural Dividend Program and the Island Coastal Economic Trust, and any other existing or future granting programs intended for rural communities. The object of the Islands Trust as set out in the lslands Trust Act is to preserve and protect the Trust Area and its unique amenities and environment for the benefit of the residents of the trust area and of British Columbia generally, in cooperation with municipalities, regional districts, improvement districts, other persons and organizations and the government of British Columbia. …/2 Bowen Denman Hornby Gabriola Galiano Gambier Lasqueti Mayne North Pender Salt Spring Saturna South Pender Thetis The Honourable John Horgan July 11, 2018 Page 2 We appreciate your consideration of this request. There are many First Nations who have asserted Aboriginal interests in the Trust Area and many who have established harvesting rights. Although we copy First Nations on all correspondence such as this, we have not directly heard their positions on rural funding programs. Given our commitment to establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship with First Nations, we offer the Islands Trust position while being ready to respectfully consider their positions. Yours sincerely, Susan Morrison Acting Chair, Islands Trust Council [email protected] cc: The Honourable Selina Robinson, Minister of Qualicum First Nation Municipal Affairs and Housing Scia’new (Beecher Bay) First Nation Islands Trust Area MLAs Semiahmoo First Nation Island Coastal Economic Trust Board of Directors Shíshálh (Sechelt) First Nation Union of British Columbia Municipalities Executive Snaw -naw-as (Nanoose) First Nation Capital Regional District Board Snuneymuxw (Nanaimo) First Nation Bowen Island Municipal Council Songhees First Natio n Cowichan Tribes Squamish First Nation Esquimalt First Nation Stz’uminus (Chemainus) First Nation Halalt First Nation Te’mexw Treaty Association Homalco First Nation Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group T’Sou -ke (Sooke) First Nation K’omoks First Nation Tsartlip First Nation Klahoose First Nation Tsawout First Nation Laich -kwil-tach Treaty Society Tsawwassen First Nation Lake Cowichan First Nation Tseil -Waututh (Burrard Inlet) First Nation Lyackson First Nation Tseycum First Nation Malahat Nation We Wai Kai (Cape Mudge First Nation) Musqueam First Nation Wei Wai Kum (Campbell River First Nation Nanwa kolas Council Islands Trust Council Pauquachin First Nation Islands Trust website Penelakut Tribe Reference: 240752 $XJXVW Susan Morrison Acting Chair, Islands Trust Council 200-1627 Fort Street Victoria, British Columbia V8R 1H8 Dear Susan Morrison: Thank you for your letter of July 11, 2018, to Premier John Horgan, regarding the designation of the Islands Trust area for Rural Dividend Program and Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) funding. The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development is the provincial government’s lead on rural development for British Columbia. As the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Rural Development, Lands and Innovation Division (RDLI), I have been asked to respond to your letter. This ministry is committed to helping rural and Indigenous communities build their capacity to develop sustainable and resilient futures. A key component of the ministry’s rural development mandate is the Rural Dividend Program, which is administered by RDLI. The program provides $25 million a year to assist rural communities with a population of 25,000 or less (located outside the Capital Regional District and Metro Vancouver) to reinvigorate and diversify their local economies. As you note in your letter, permanent exceptions to the eligibility criteria have been provided to the Salt Spring Island and Southern Gulf Island Electoral Areas. An exception to the eligibility criteria was also provided to Bowen Island for the fifth intake, which took place June 1 – July 31, 2018. I am excited to hear that the program received applications from Island Trust communities in the recent intake. As part of our commitment to continuous improvement we will be completing