Salt Spring Community Alliance

2018 Elections – Candidates Perspectives on Rainwater for Housing

In the lead up to Election Day on October 20th, 2018, the Community Alliance will post answers from candidates to crucial questions. Today, we focus on rainwater for housing. Question: How would you address and support the creation of a process to ensure that safe potable rainwater systems are installed on Salt Spring (e.g., Trust zoning and application regulations)? Sabrina Ali (candidate for Islands Trustee): I would work with SWIPPA and I would investigate the possibility of off-season water collection. I would consult with all parties in the area, as well as the Provincial and Federal Government to explore funding opportunities and further a comprehensive water management strategy. I would also look at the good ideas within the citizens report to ensure that we all have access to safe drinking water year round. Peter Grove (candidate for Islands Trustee): Rainwater systems are already allowed for single family residences. Their installation is supervise…

2018 Elections – Candidates Perspectives on Affordable Housing

In the lead up to Election Day on October 20th, 2018, the Community Alliance will post answers from candidates to crucial questions. Today, we focus on impact of affordable housing. Question: Using the many valuable planning tools in the Islands Trust report, Options for Affordable Housing-New Solutions to the Housing Crisis, how would you address challenges to ensuring the affordability of housing in the short, medium, and long term? Sabrina Ali (candidate for Islands Trustee) In the short term, I would: a. Amend our Policy Statements and the OCP to ensure the importance of safe, affordable, and sustainable housing is strongly emphasized. b. I would continue to monitor the secondary suites pilot area for sustainability and possibility of alignment with the matching program. In the medium term, I would: i. draft temporary use permit changes to allow consideration of alternative housing solutions which are ecologically harmonious and sustainable. ii. I woul…

2018 Elections – Candidates Perspectives on Environmental Challenges

In the lead up to Election Day on October 20th, 2018, the Community Alliance will post answers from candidates to crucial questions. Today, we focus on impact of environmental challenges. Question: What are the top three challenges facing the natural environment of Salt Spring, and what steps would you take to address these challenges? Sabrina Ali (candidate for Islands Trustee): A. The impact of a seasonal occupancy. The stresses on water, sewage, traffic, land use, and our emotional well-being are dramatic due to our seasonal occupancy. This needs to be addressed in a cohesive manner, with all 6 silos adopting a comprehensive seasonal occupancy management strategy. B. The expanding population base. I would follow a best practices model. Education and monthly town hall meetings that include information about the capacity of the island in terms of water, sewage, conservation, and the emotional well being of residents, following a voluntary stewardship model. C.…

2018 Elections – Candidates Perspectives on Sustainable Transportation

In the lead up to Election Day on October 20th, 2018, the Community Alliance will post answers from candidates to crucial questions. Today, we focus on impact of sustainable transportation. Question: How would you promote environmentally sustainable transportation on Salt Spring? Sabrina Ali (candidate for Islands Trustee): I would like to see public transit extended north beyond Fernwood to North Beach Road. I would definitely give priority to those initiatives that leave green spaces and are accessible by walking, biking or public transit I would investigate the creation of separate bike paths, not on the road. I would encourage incorporating alternative transportation (walking, biking, public transit) into any proposals we consider. Kylie Coates (candidate for Islands Trustee): By promoting and expanding our bus service and by creating better bike lanes and more of a bike friendly environment also asking BC ferries to get rid of their two dollar charg…

2018 Elections – Candidates Perspectives on Impacts of New Projects

In the lead up to Election Day on October 20th, 2018, the Community Alliance will post answers from candidates to crucial questions. Today, we focus on impact of new projects. Question: (CRD Only question) When making a cost-benefit analysis for a capital project, how would you account for the environmental impacts of that project, and what priority would you place on minimizing these impacts? Gary Holman (candidate for CRD Director): Depends on the project. Some projects (eg, liquid and solid waste, cycling/pedestrian/EV charging infrastructure, expansion of public transit, waste water reclamation, water/energy conservation investments) are already primarily driven by environmental factors. For new buildings (eg, fire hall, library, pool, CRD main offices), typically the level of energy and environmental standard (e.g., such as various levels of LEED certification) is analyzed in terms of incremental capital costs versus future energy and water savings. The loc…

2018 Elections – Candidates Perspectives on Alternative Housing Options

In the lead up to Election Day on October 20th, 2018, the Community Alliance will post answers from candidates to crucial questions. Today, we focus on alternative housing options. Question: What would you do to bring the current Land Use Bylaws in line with the OCP’s support for alternative housing options to allow innovative projects that support our most vulnerable community members and farmers (i.e. tiny homes, mental health housing, land sharing, cooperative housing?) Sabrina Ali (candidate for Islands Trustee): Any bylaws that are not in line with the OCP are capable of amendment. I would encourage broad community consultation prior to amendment. I would particularly look at the bylaws affecting secondary suites to see how affordable, safe and ecologically harmonious living situations can be achieved. I would support the Salt Spring Island Watershed Protection Authority (SSIWPA) working with the North Salt Spring Waterworks District to find solutions to wat…

2018 Elections – Candidates Perspectives on Health

In the lead up to Election Day on October 20th, 2018, the Community Alliance will post answers from candidates to crucial questions. Today, we focus on health. Question: How would you support the proposed Salt Spring Community Health Centre so that it is completed in a timely and effective manner? Sabrina Ali (candidate for Islands Trustee): The Salt Spring Community Health Center is a worthy initiative. I would do whatever I could to promote community wide access to primary health care services. I would be pleased to continue to work with Community Services on Salt Spring Island and the Community Health Center under their Intermediary Agreement. I support any initiative that will provide holistic health care to our community, particularly to vulnerable populations, especially bearing in mind that statistically 2500-3500 residents of our island are without a family doctor. This initiative would take pressure off emergency room doctors and staff. It is vital to …

2018 Elections – Candidates Perspectives on Water

In the lead up to Election Day on October 20th, 2018, the Community Alliance will post answers from candidates to crucial questions. Today, we focus on water. Question: How will you use the numerous reports and knowledge currently available on Salt Spring’s water stresses and vulnerabilities to resolve concerns and deliver safer, more sustainable, water to our residents? Sabrina Ali (candidate for Islands Trustee): I enthusiastically support the development of a comprehensive Water Management Strategy, specifically to address rainwater catchment, gray water and irrigation. It seems to be a consensus that the development of ‘measureables’, against which we can chart our progress would be advisable. This would include monitoring and management of species at risk, invasive species and ecological restoration. Clear goal setting includes the development of checkpoints. I would like to investigate what opportunities exist or can be created to encourage voluntary stewar…

2018 Elections – Candidates Perspectives on Bylaw Enforcement

In the lead up to Election Day on October 20th, 2018, the Community Alliance will post answers from candidates to crucial questions. Today, we focus on Bylaw Enforcement. Question: Do you have interest in finding alternatives to complaint-driven enforcement of bylaws? If yes, what alternatives would you suggest? Sabrina Ali (candidate for Islands Trustee): Yes, the complaint driven system does not seem to be working well, as it results in a patchwork of bylaw enforcement and can result in neighborhood discord. A restorative justice model is the best practice where there will be a continuing relationship between the parties. As the purpose of our bylaws is to enable us to live in harmony, it seems sensible to transform an adversarial process into a consensus building one. This could be done at the monthly town hall meetings or as an associated procedure. I would also encourage voluntary stewardship of the natural environment (per the Islands Trust Strategic Plan.)…

2018 Elections – Candidates Perspectives on Coordination of Services

In the lead up to Election Day on October 20th, 2018, the Community Alliance will post answers from candidates to crucial questions. Today, we focus on Coordination of Services issues. Question: What is your opinion of the proposed establishment of an Inter-Agency Working Group (described in the Governance Working Group Discussion Paper) to improve coordination of local services, and what skills would you contribute to making it a success? Sabrina Ali (candidate for Islands Trustee): The Interagency working group is very close to the town hall meeting that I am advancing. I recognize and agree that greater co-ordination between decision-making authorities with exclusive jurisdiction in their area is the best way to accomplish mindful community building. Where I differ in approach is that I prefer a direct democratic model contained within the monthly town hall meeting. The IAWG could be characterized as simply another level of bureaucracy, but one without bindin…

2018 Elections - Candidates Perspectives on First Nations

In the lead up to Election Day on October 20th, 2018, the Community Alliance will post answers from candidates to crucial questions. Today, we focus on First Nations issues. Questions about First Nations What would you do to recognize the rights of Indigenous peoples concerning the use, access and protection of un-ceded lands and resources, especially with archaeological, cultural, and historical sites? Sabrina Ali (candidate for Islands Trustee): I would establish the firm protocol of beginning every meeting with recognition of the traditional territory upon which the meeting is taking place. Further, I would like to have regular consultation with the First Peoples, particularly the nations traditionally around Salt Spring. Because the mandate of the Islands Trust is to “preserve and protect”, it seems appropriate to seek input from the first guardians of the land. Kylie Coates (candidate for Islands Trustee): The federal and provincial government are…

Community Alliance Releases Governance Recommendations

The Governance Working Group, one of six working groups of the Salt Spring Community Alliance, includes volunteers who supported both sides in the 2017 incorporation referendum and some who remained neutral. We came together believing there were ways we could enhance how local government works within our current unincorporated system. We believe it is important to enhance democratic participation and decision-making on Salt Spring and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery. In February 2018, we began researching and analyzing governance options in hopes of spurring an island-wide discussion of Salt Spring’s future. We identified a range of options for improvement and developed criteria to assess them. We discussed each option in depth, first testing it against three “screening criteria” to identify which options were feasible. Options that passed these criteria were scored using 17 evaluation criteria. The highest-scoring option was a Local Community…

Alliance Organization Hosts Events to Explore Vision for Island Future

Over the past year, an enthusiastic group of Salt Springers have met on the fourth Monday of each month at Lions Hall to share their hopes and visions for the island they so love. Building on the community engagement inspired by the referendum, as well as the need for healing the divisions it created, Salt Springers come together once a month to speak their mind, learn what is happening, and work together to find solutions in a respectful, collaborative conversation. The strong desire to address key issues while retaining treasured values was immediately apparent as overflow crowds gathered to share their opinions. Six major themes soon emerged: housing, economics, infrastructure, health, environment, and governance. For the past six months, Working Groups for each of these themes have been identifying and prioritizing complex issues as well as seeking solutions. Recent monthly meetings have focused on the work of these groups, with Infrastructure next…

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