Policy Statement information

Here is some background information about the Islands Trust Policy Statement process to date.

-By legislation, Trust Council is required to adopt a Policy Statement.

-When considering Local Trust Committee bylaws, Executive Committee considers whether a bylaw is “contrary to, or at variance with, the Islands Trust Policy Statement.”

-If a bylaw is deemed to be “contrary to, or at variance”, Executive Committee is obligated to return the bylaw to the Local Trust Committee, with rationale for rejection. An amended version can be resubmitted.

-A Local Trust Committee can appeal to Trust Council to reverse the decision of Executive Committee.

About the current draft:

-Last term, Trust Council considered an earlier draft, but did not give it First Reading. Instead, 32 resolutions to amend were made. Those resolutions were carried forward and the draft amended for the current term.

-Early engagement with First Nations was conducted between September 2023 and  Spring 2024.

-Committee of the Whole (consists of all 26 trustees) met multiple times to consider and amend the draft:

- May 30, 2024

- September 25, 2024

- October 3, 2024

- November 6, 2024

- December 12, 2024

- January 8, 2025

- January 30, 2025

- February 6, 2025

- February 21, 2025

- March 6, 2025

- July 9, 2025 First Reading

In addition, Trust Programs Committee worked on the draft both before Committee of the Whole consideration, and between March and July, 2025.

Direction from the Province:

On April 28, 2025, Trust Council received a letter from the Minister, stating, in part:

“Over the balance of their term of office, I will need the Trust Council to take particular care to ensure that engagement with the public and First Nations on the bylaws put before me for approval, including amendments to Official Community Plans and the Trust Policy Statement, are undertaken in a manner that demonstrates mutual respect and builds towards consensus.”

The entire letter is a matter of public record.

The Province provides the Islands Trust with a database of First Nations with which it is expected to engage on Land Use Bylaws, Official Community Plans, and the Policy Statement. This is the current list.

First Nations in the Trust Area:

BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin) First Nation

Cowichan Tribes

K’ómoks (Comox) First Nation

Lummi Nation

Lyackson First Nation

Mamalilikulla First Nation

MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) Nation

Qualicum First Nation

scəẃaθən (Tsawwassen) First Nation

səl̓ilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation

SEMYOME (Semiahmoo) First Nation

shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation

Snaw-naw-as (Nanoose) First Nation

Snuneymuxw (Nanaimo) First Nation

Songhees Nation

Spune’luxutth’ (Penelakut Tribe)

SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout) First Nation

Stz’uminus (Chemainus) First Nation

ɬaʔəmen (Tla’amin/Sliammon) Nation

Tlowitsis Nation

Ts’uubaa-asatx (Lake Cowichan) First Nation

Wei Wai Kum (Campbell River) First Nation

We Wai Kai (Cape Mudge) First Nation

W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip) First Nation

W̱SIḴEM (Tseycum) First Nation

Xeláltxw (Halalt) First Nation

Xwémalhkwu (Homalco) First Nation

Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nation

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nation