ASK Salt Spring

ASK Salt Spring outlines key points of the just-released Local Community Commission (LCC) Staff Report

The just-released Local Community Commission (LCC) Staff Report agenda outlines the implementation details and next steps for introducing the LCC in our community. The information included in the Staff Report includes details about key components of the LCC: Election: The election of Local Commissioners has been targeted for May 27, 2023. This election will be conducted by CRD - as are other local elections - and will offer local polling places as well as a somewhat cumbersome mail-in option. Bylaw Approval: This report also clarified that the LCC Establishment Bylaw 4507 was approved by the province on August 12, 2022. This reading by the CRD Board is the final step required for the approval of this bylaw. Commissions: This report confirms the dissolution of certain Salt Spring Island commissions, more specifically PARC, Community Economic Sustainability, Liquid Waste, and Transportation. According to this report, final reports and transition materials will be prov…

ASK Salt Spring with Karen Johnson, Manager of Terminal Strategic Planning and Emma McWalter, Community Engagement Executive Director from BC Ferries

Twenty-five joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Karen Johnson and Emma McWalter from BC Ferries. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we learned a bit about Karen, Community Engagement Executive Director and Emma, Manager Terminal Strategic Planning, and what excites and delights them. They are both thrilled with the completion of the long-awaited Performance Term 6. As this is the time for public input, both Karen and Emma encouraged us to add our feedback before March 30, 2023 to help guide those important decisions for Salt Spring’s ferry service. Many of us were not surprised to learn that Salt Spring has been identified as a hot spot, indicating an area with capacity constraint issues. While Emma and Karen encouraged us all to read the voluminous document, Emma offered us a summary of its recommendations for Salt Spring: A two-ferry service for the Vesuvius-Crofton route (#6), with estimated implementation fall 2026, The addition of two round-trip…

ASK Salt Spring with CRD’s Gary Holman on our soon-to-be-established Local Community Commission (LCC)

Twenty Salt Springers joined us for all or part of this ASK Salt Spring conversation with CRD’s Gary Holman with a focus on our soon-to-be-established Local Community Commission (LCC). After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary spoke briefly about some news from the CRD Board. He noted that our recent local election had resulted in a great deal of turnover, resulting in many new faces around the CRD Board table. Concerning our proposed budget requisition, to be approved March 2023, in addition to those already announced, the CRD/Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) negotiations may result in additional requisition increases. Homeowner assessments could also impact SSI’s CRD tax requisition. Gary noted that in 2022, Salt Spring property assessments had outpaced other CRD communities, resulting in an increased tax requisition for shared regional costs. As property sales have slowed and prices also seem to have dropped slightly, we will have to wait until our final as…

ASK Salt Spring with MLA Adam Olsen, Constituent Advocate William Kelly and BC Green Caucus team member Federico Cerani

Fourteen gathered to welcome MLA Adam Olsen and his team, Constituent Advocate William Kelly, and BC Green Caucus team member Federico Cerani. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Adam told us that the Legislature was closed for two weeks, allowing him to focus on his constituent activities. We learned that Adam was not surprised by the outcome of the BC NDP leadership race, but he was not pleased by the process, resulting, in his opinion, in a confused and chaotic legislative session. With a limited time before the Fall legislative session adjourns, the BC NDP House Leader, Hon. Mike Farnworth, moved a motion to remove four days from the sitting calendar that would further limit the opportunity to question Premier Eby to better understand his plans. An ongoing concern affecting all the Southern Gulf Islands is the growing number of freight ships anchored for long periods in our ecologically-sensitive waters. He will be attending a meeting seeking public opinion conc…

ASK Salt Spring with CRD’s Transportation Manager, John Hicks on Ganges planning and more

Although it took a while for all to gather, 14 joined this ASK Salt Spring conversation welcoming CRD’s Transportation Manager, John Hicks. He came to tell us about the soon-to-be-released SSI Active Transportation Plan as well as listening to our concerns about cycling and pedestrian safety in our village. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we began to learn about this plan. John is the perfect one to help us to better understand it for a variety of reasons: He knows Salt Spring well and has worked here on CRD transportation issues for a number of years. Approximately five years ago, he managed a Ganges parking study He wrote the BC Infrastructure grant which awarded Salt Spring $30,000 (matched with Community Works money) to fund this study. He has supervised the consultant, Watt Consulting, throughout the year-long process of completing this study. We learned that the goal of this plan is to offer clear, actionable recommendations to improve the safety for pe…

ASK Salt Spring on recent local election results and hopes for the next four years

A different gathering, we did not welcome any guests this week as our scheduled guest, Trustee Laura Patrick, was on a well-earned holiday. Despite missing Islands Trust input, this ASK Salt Spring gathering resulted in a rich conversation about the recent local election and our hopes for Salt Spring’s next four years. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we began by discussing the Islands Trust. While some were surprised by the election of Jamie Harris, others reminded us that he represents a very important segment of our island population, a voice that may not have been previously adequately represented. Participants saw the benefit of bringing the voices that Jamie represents into the Islands Trust conversations. We agreed that the voices of those candidates who prioritize environmental imperatives also need to participate in the discussions guiding Islands Trust decisions for the next four years. In simplistic terms, there appears to be three important segments of o…

ASK Salt Spring with MLA Adam Olsen on water, Speculation and Vacancy Tax, King's Lane housing and more

While 11:00 came with very few gathered in our new location - the Lobby of the Middle School - to welcome MLA Adam Olsen and his able staff, Laura Parker and Emily Bishop, soon 17 had arrived to ask Adam questions and discuss the issues most important to them. When we began by asking Adam to tell us what excites and delights him, we learned about the joy of his reconnection to the sea. He spoke with pleasure of his Day of Truth and Reconciliation spent with his father fishing and rekindling that long tradition of a deep connection to the Saanich Inlet. He told us that, unlike relatives in the Washington State area where 50% of the commercial salmon fishing is Indigenous, Canada’s history forced Indigenous peoples off the water by ignoring fishing rights and making it illegal. Adam has recognized his disconnection with the water has created an imbalance - a feeling of living backwards, losing that perspective only available from the water. Until recently Adam feared th…

ASK Salt Spring with MoTI Area Manager, Owen Page on all things Salt Spring roads

Fourteen gathered in the United Church Meadow (for the last time: see below for news of our new location!) to welcome our Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) Area Manager, Owen Page. Although he has only been our Area Manager since this spring, he offered us a wealth of information at this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we learned a bit about Owen’s scope of responsibility as our Roads Area Manager. While we all believe that Salt Spring should be his most important responsibility, we learned that he coordinates MoTI initiatives for a large area, including all the provincial roads in the expansive CRD. While normal road maintenance is the responsibility of the maintenance contractor, Emcon, Owen works closely with them to ensure conformance with their contractual obligations and assist them in identifying and prioritizing maintenance activities. He also works with them to plan, organize, and implement the delivery of vari…

ASK Salt Spring with five of the seven candidates for Salt Spring’s two Islands Trustee positions

Twenty-five, including five of the seven candidates for Salt Spring’s two Islands Trustee positions, gathered in the United Church Meadow to discuss the Islands Trust and candidates’ plans if they are elected. (Note: Election day is Saturday, October 15, but you also have two advanced polling opportunities on Wednesday, October 5 and 12, 8-8 at the Library, Community Gospel Chapel, and a Saanich location. Candidates Islands Trust for our local election are: Ben Corno, Gary Gagne, Jamie Harris, Donald Marcotte, Jenny McClean, Incumbent Laura Patrick, and Elissa Poole. If you would like to see the nomination documents and some biographies of our Islands Trust candidates, please see the Islands Trust site.(Note: While only five of the seven candidates were able to join this ASK Salt Spring gathering, all seven were invited to participate.) This gathering in the Meadow was a soft campaign launch for some. It was also one of many opportunities to learn about our…

ASK Salt Spring with CRD Director election candidates Kylie Coates and Gary Holman

Fifteen joined us for all or part of this ASK Salt Spring conversation with Kylie Coates and Gary Holman, two of the three candidates for CRD Director in our October 15 local election. (Jesse Brown had also just declared as a CRD candidate, but, due to a prior commitment, was unable to join us. All three candidates plan to be at ASK Salt Spring Friday, October 14, 11-1. We will gather in the United Church Meadow if weather permits. If a wet weather location is needed, see asksaltspring.com for location) After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we began our conversation by asking candidates why they would ever want to take on the complicated and challenging job as CRD Electoral Director. Kylie began by telling us about his upbringing on Salt Spring and his deep concern about the anger he saw expressed throughout our Island when arrived home during the Incorporation debate. He believes that our challenges are not being successfully addressed. Saddened by issues like housing, wat…

ASK Salt Spring with MLA, Adam Olsen on BC Ferries, doctor shortages, housing and more

After our Territorial Acknowledgement, a circle of 16 who stayed for all or part of the conversation welcomed our MLA, Adam Olsen, and his staff, Constituent Advocates William Kelly, and Laura Parker, to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. When asked what was on his mind, Adam began by telling us about the mountain of complaints he has received about BC Ferries. After several pandemic-challenged summers when BC Ferries ran below capacity, this summer has overwhelmed the system. Unable to maintain needed staffing levels, this summer was marked by the chaos caused by late and canceled sailings across the Southern Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island. While some of these challenges to BC Ferries were not within their control, Adam is concerned that we are now seeing the impacts of the changes made to the business model by the previous government which shifted the governance perspective from that of a vital component of our public infrastructure to a bottom-line business model. A qu…

ASK Salt Spring explores housing with the team from Dragon Fly Commons not-for-profit housing project

Sixteen joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering for fascinating discussion of Workforce Housing led by special guests Tami and Fernando dos Santos and Rhonan Heitzmann. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, they began by speaking about their challenges and successes addressing Salt Spring’s dearth of worker housing. Fernando and Tami have established the not-for-profit Dragonfly Commons to provide home ownership for 30 families. On their ten acres, they will build 30 small homes, approximately 400 square feet for a one bedroom, 600 square feet for a two bedroom, and 800 square feet for a three bedroom, with selling prices estimated at between $300,000 - $500,000. Begun years ago, it had been the dos Santos’ hope to build less expensive homes that could be purchased by those with an income of $20-30 an hour; now, those qualifying to purchase homes at Dragonfly Commons will need an income (combined if there are two working adults) of a daunting $60-100 an hour. Sadly, this…

ASK Salt Spring with Islands Trust Trustee Laura Patrick on reconciliation, watershed protection and more

Only eight joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming Laura Patrick, one of our Salt Spring Island Local Trustees for the Islands Trust. While the circle was small, the low numbers allowed a casual, but very rich, conversation. During her Territorial Acknowledgment, Laura spoke of the journey of Reconciliation, reminding us that Reconciliation begins with a personal journey. The conversation about personal journeys prompted a participant to admit with sadness of long-held stereotypes and deep-seated racism, which unconsciously colours so many of our perceptions. Laura knows there is much work to be done to build trusting relationships and to make space for First Nations within our decision-making processes. While this is easy to say, it is harder to do within a system that, when designed, did not consider Indigenous rights and title. Laura discussed the Development Permit approval process as an example. The Trust must cite a specific guideline that is not being met i…

ASK Salt Spring with 2022 declared election candidates for CRD Director Gary Holman and Kylie Coates

A total of 16 came for all or part of this ASK Salt Spring gathering that welcomed our two declared candidates in the October 15, 2022 local election for CRD Electoral Director, current Director, Gary Holman, and Kylie Coates. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, each candidate began by telling us a bit about themselves. We learned that Kylie is a fourth generation Gulf Islander and third generation Salt Springer, with great-grandparents who arrived on Mayne Island in 1919. While his roots are deep on Salt Spring, he also continues to have family connections throughout the Gulf Islands and, when speaking of our challenges, he told us that he often brings an all-island perspective to the conversation. Born at Lady Minto Hospital, he spent many years in other communities as well as overseas before returning to live on Salt Spring permanently several years ago. Employed for a decade as an independent contractor for the Department of Defense with high security clearance, he…

ASK Salt Spring conversations about mental health

While we began with a very small circle of participants, during our time together, a total of 15 joined our conversation about mental health in our community. Always seeking to attract youth and young families to these ASK Salt Spring gatherings, we hit the jackpot with our 16th - and youngest yet guest - infant Benjamin brought smiles to all of us. After our Territorial Acknowledgement we welcomed our special guests, David Norget, Willie MacPherson, and Sherman I. Sherwood .ksc to discuss mental health in our community. They were joined by Shae Houston, a Community Services caseworker focused on youth and family addiction issues, eager to contribute to the mental health conversation on Salt Spring. Willie, with experience as a full-time Community Services peer counselor, began by speaking about the incredible value of lived experience when supporting those facing trauma. While he understood the value of education as well, he spoke with passion about the empathy and under…

ASK Salt Spring with Emcon Operations Manager on Salt Spring Roads and responsibilities

Only 11 joined our conversation about roads maintenance at this ASK Salt Spring gathering in the United Church Meadow. A rich and interesting conversation, the low number of participants might lead one to believe that Salt Springers are quite content with the maintenance of our roads. And, listening to this ASK Salt Spring conversation, this supposition was supported: Despite some difficult questions, our time together in the Meadow on this lovely summer Friday was clearly marked by acknowledgement for the good job our road maintenance contractor, Emcon, is doing. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Emcon Operations Manager, Andrew Gaetz, began by telling us a bit about Emcon. Emcon has a Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) contract of approximately $13.5 million a year to maintain all provincial (not municipal) roads in a large area. This area includes the Southern Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island south from Crofton and west including Point Renfrew and …

ASK Salt Spring with Trustee Laura Patrick on proposed housing bylaws and more

A total of 14 joined all or part of the conversation with Trustee Laura Patrick at this rainy ASK Salt Spring gathering in the United Church Meadow. Laura offered a Territorial Acknowledgement in which she reminded us of the personal learning opportunity reconciliation offers each of us. Laura began by highlighting important recent decisions made by the larger Trust Council at its June 2022 meeting: A new standing committee was formed to further explore Trust governance. She was one of the seven Trustees from across the islands elected to serve on this committee. Trust Council also voted (21-2) to formally request that the Province of British Columbia conduct a review of the Islands Trust's mandate, governance, and structure. Chair Luckham has already sent a letter to the Minister with this request. Laura then spoke about two recent proposed bylaws addressing housing that were presented to the the Local Salt Spring Trust Committee for a decision. Both are amendments to th…

ASK Salt Spring with CRD Director Gary Holman Local Community Commission, Waterworks District report, Seabreeze relocation and more

Twenty-two gathered to welcome CRD’s Gary Holman to this ASK Salt Spring gathering on a lovely summer day in the United Church Meadow. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we began our conversation, almost totally about the proposed Local Community Commission (LCC). The timing of Gary’s visit to ASK Salt Spring was serendipitous as the CRD bylaws laying the foundation of this proposed new governance model for CRD services had just been released, and Gary distributed copies of them at the meeting. (For a paper copy for the proposed LCC bylaws, go to the local CRD office; for a digital copy, click here). Gary began by noting the good news about the successful referendum for the new firehall. He also announced the promising news of the acquisition of the 75-acre property adjacent to Mount Maxwell. The landowners donated roughly half the value of the property, for which they will be receiving a tax receipt. CRD has also contributed $300,000 toward the purchase ($50,000 for app…

ASK Salt Spring with RCMP Sergeant Clive Seabrook on Community Policing, Speed Watch program and more

Fifteen gathered in the lovely United Church Meadow to welcome our RCMP Sergeant Clive Seabrook. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we asked Clive what was on his mind. He responded with his characteristic graciousness by responding that he was with us to listen and learn and that our comments would help him navigate some of our most important issues. The first question asked Clive to tell us about his stance on Community Policing, characterized by positive interaction, partnerships, and problem solving with the community. (It is often most noticeable when officers intermingle with the community rather than patrolling from their vehicles.) We learned that our RCMP officers were conducting foot patrols before he arrived and that Clive is committed to continuing these patrols as a valuable way of connecting with our community. A typical month records approximately 100 foot patrols, with Clive himself patrolling to interact with Salt Springers four-to-five times each month.…

ASK Salt Spring with CRD Director Gary Holman on firehall referendum, community use of the existing hall and more

Only seven joined us for this Zoom gathering to welcome CRD’s Gary Holman. (In hindsight, weather would have permitted us to gather in the United Church Meadow... hopefully next Friday! While offering us a Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary spoke briefly about the recent Provincial denial of a subdivision on James Island. Gary sees this as a very positive provincial reconciliation decision, reminding us that BC is leading the nation in supporting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People as well as taking additional legislative actions to implement it. Gary believes that this James Island decision is a signal of a provincial action-based commitment to reconciliation. Before beginning, the group discussed how ASK Salt Spring should proceed as the election nears. It was agreed that the second Friday of the month should continue to focus on CRD issues and that all who declare their intention to run for Electoral Director will be invited to participate…

ASK Salt Spring with MLA Adam Olsen on the BC Museum rebuild, BC Ferries, the Islands Trust Policy Statement and more

Eighteen joined this ASK Salt Spring Zoom gathering welcoming our MLA, Adam Olsen. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Adam began by telling us about some of the things on his mind. He spoke briefly about the adjournment of the Spring legislative session and his transition to focusing undivided attention on constituent advocacy. He is looking forward to spending time on each of the islands in his riding. He is also looking forward to some travel in British Columbia to better understand some of the larger provincial issues. Adam also spoke of his grave concern about the almost $800 million being spent by the province to rebuild the BC Museum, a concern he also expressed in our May 20 gathering. Differing from the commonly-held western view of museums, Adam brings a perspective of conflict and sadness concerning museum collections. While many see museums as a way to celebrate our histories, Adam sees the placement of important Indigenous ceremonial items behind glass as sad…