Lasqueti OCP text - Heritage, Archaeologic and Historic Matters & Community Stewardship

Objectives and Policies are more-or-less self-explanatory. Advocacy Policies are about matters that are outside the jurisdiction of the Islands Trust. Through Advocacy Policies, the community and the Lasqueti Trust Committee encourage others to take actions to further the objectives of our community and OCP.

3.3. Heritage, Archaeologic and Historic Matters

Objective 1 To ensure respectful treatment, fairness and equity to past, present and future generations that have shared and will share Lasqueti Island and the Trust Area.

Policy 1 The Lasqueti Island Local Trust Committee recognizes the cultural and historical significance the Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation has made in the Lasqueti Island Local Trust Area.

Policy 2 The Lasqueti Island Local Trust Committee respects all people who have and will contribute to the social fabric of Lasqueti Island’s past, present and future.

Policy 3 The Lasqueti Island Local Trust Committee wishes to support proactive and mutually respectful interests by consulting with the Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation.

Policy 4 The Local Trust Committee recognizes that past, present and future generations have shared and will share experiences on Lasqueti Island and the Trust Area; it is encouraged that fair and reasonable discussion and action occurs to preserve the natural and human-made sites

Policy 5 The Local Trust Committee will assist, when possible, the responsible Ministry in their efforts to establish and protect sites of archaeological or heritage significance or value.

Policy 6 The Local Trust Committee recognizes that treaty negotiations with First Nations continue to be unresolved and until the resolution of First Nation interests within the Lasqueti Planning Area relationship building and cooperation between the Local Trust Committee and other First Nations may be developed over time.

Advocacy Policy 1 The Local Trust Committee encourages and will assist the Tla’ amin (Sliammon) First Nation, the responsible Provincial and Federal agencies and the public generally, in their efforts to establish and protect sites designated or valued for heritage and historical significance. Advocacy Policy 2 The Lasqueti Island Local Trust Committee encourages both the Federal and Provincial Governments to assist the local community and the Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation with accurate and comprehensive First Nation assessments within the Lasqueti Island Local Trust Area

3.4. Community Stewardship

The small resident and visitor populations, significant areas of vacant Crown land, and the generally undeveloped nature of the Island provide for a variety of land and water-based recreation opportunities. Most recreational activities compatible with the Island's rural nature are not yet at levels of use where formal facilities are required or planning and regulatory management is needed to ensure retention of recreational quality that avoids user conflicts.

Objective 1 To discourage pervasive and excessive noise created by residential, commercial or industrial uses as well as noises originating off of the island, yet impacts island residents.

Objective 2 To preserve and support balanced control of the local feral/heritage sheep which are a valued part of the community and its history. Objective 3 To encourage and ensure that personal responsibility is exercised by owners of dogs and other domestic pets to keep them under direct control.

Objective 4 To support the creation of a public trail network throughout the Island. Objective 5 To ensure compatible parks and recreation areas on the island are designed and located appropriately. Objective 6 The Community aims to ensure that 12% of the land base of Lasqueti Island is preserved and protected with appropriate representation of all ecosystems in the area.

Policy 1 Provision of varied recreation use areas throughout the island that focus on the natural aspects of Lasqueti.

Policy 2 The development of a comprehensive recreation plan should be undertaken that indicates provincial, regional, and community parks as well as trails, public shellfish reserves, and marine and landbased recreation areas.

Policy 3 The Local Trust Committee supports the use of tax incentives that encourage landowners to dedicate trail and parks.

Policy 4 The Local Trust Committee support initiatives that benefit the community wellbeing, its safety, security and comfort.

Policy 5 Public accesses, required as dedication at time of subdivision, may be consolidated to make larger more usable areas and in some cases a trail may be sufficient access to a development. Public access to the foreshore is encouraged to be identified by signs located on the public roads. Policy 6 It is recognized that islands and islets within the Lasqueti Island Local Trust Area, excepting Lasqueti Island, do not have direct access to public roads or ferry service and that some waterfront parcels on Lasqueti Island were created without access to public roads. In these situations access from the water is needed and should be considered sufficient.

Advocacy Policy 1 The appropriate Provincial Ministries with responsibilities and programs for recreation should regulate and maintain recreational activities that are compatible with the Island's rural nature, and provide facilities and supervision where needed to protect from adverse effects. Advocacy Policy 2 The Local Trust Committee requests that the Regional District consider conducting regional park studies.

Advocacy Policy 3 The Local Trust Committee encourages the responsible Ministries to establish Class A parks on the following lands: the North East Quarter Section of Section 16 plus the fractional South Half of the North West Quarter of Section 10 and the fractional South West Quarter of Section 10 has the highest priority for the community; the North east Quarter Section 5; fractional South East Quarter of Section 9, North East and North West Quarters of Section 18 and the North half of the South West Quarter of Section 18, the South half of the North East Quarter of Section 19 and the South East and South West Quarters of Section 19 and the fractional South East Quarter of Section 1, the fractional North East Quarter of Section 2.

Advocacy Policy 4 The Local Trust Committee requests the Ministry of Transportation and the Powell River Regional District to support the establishment of public outhouses and picnic tables on a site specific basis on public accesses to the foreshore.

Advocacy Policy 5 The residents of the Lasqueti Island Planning Area prohibit the storage or generation of nuclear materials, nuclear weapons or nuclear energy in the Planning Area.

Advocacy Policy 6 The residents of the Lasqueti Island Planning Area oppose Genetically Modified Organisms in the Planning Area, including propagation, cultivation, and raising of genetically engineered plants and animals by persons, firms, or corporations.

Advocacy Policy 7 The establishment of broadcast and transmission towers and facilities within the Lasqueti Island Planning Area is not supported without consultation and accommodation of community interests by the Federal Government, through a rezoning process of lands in question. Advocacy Policy 8 Further to Transport Canada’s recognition that Lasqueti Island and its surrounding area have sensitive habitats for birds and other animals; the community asks that aircraft do not fly low over the Lasqueti Planning Area and the islands within it.

Advocacy Policy 9 Low Flying aircraft over residential areas of the island are considered intrusive and generate excessive noise that affect residents, the traveling public, and the environmentally sensitive areas of the island; air traffic should be kept at a reasonable height of no less than 610 metres (2000 feet).

Advocacy Policy 10 The Local Trust Committee encourages owners of dogs and other domestic pets to keep them under direct control.