Trustee Steeves on OCP’s and importance of island public input

Issue Date: 2010-01-22

Laurie Kay

Though it would seem they are just
getting in gear with developing a plan
to align with BC’s new Bill, according
to North Pender Island Trustee Gary
Steeves, the Islands Trust has been
complying with the incorporation of
the Local Government (Green
Communities) Statutes Amendment
Act (more compactly known as Bill
27) since its introduction early in
2008. At that point local governments
including the Islands Trust asked for a
technical package that would assist
them in developing a strategy to lay
out a framework for bringing the
demands of the Act into place.
Steeves says the impetus to
incorporate strategies to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions is based
on studies by an International Panel
on Climate Change, international
government bodies, national
governments, scientific institutes,
and universities, looking at the issue.
During an interview with The Islands
Independent last week he added:
“Regardless of the national and
international examinations of the
issue, local governments in BC must
comply with Bill 27.
“To do so, we must set a target for
GHG (Green House Gas) emission
reduction. The target can be a fixed
specific amount or it can be a general
target. Pursuing a specific fixed
amount is the first problem given the
complexities of measuring current
GHG emissions on an island.
“The second difficulty is making Bill
27 compliance a practical process
rather than a policy adjustment
exercise. The legislation requires

Local Trust Councils to make OCP
amendments, but OCP’s are policy
bylaws and not regulatory bylaws such
as Land Use Bylaws.
“The government has given a very
short period for the Islands Trust to
come into compliance with the Local
Government Act.”
Steeves says the “time squeeze” is
particularly perplexing for most of the
Local Trust Councils (LTC) in the
southern Gulf Islands as it shifts the
regular “to do lists” of each island’s
council such that other very important
work regarding the needs of residents
get “bumped down.” First elected to
the North Pender Islands Trust
November 2004, he is now also Chair
of the South Pender, Mayne, Galiano,
and Thetis Islands’ Trust, and Vice
Chair for the entire Trust area.
He said there are a variety of opinions
around the table regarding how much
Bill 27 will affect each LTC depending
on how busy they are. Some tend to
have a heavier workload than others
due to density and bylaw requests.
Therefore: “There is a real possibility
that because of the limited time frame,
and the requirement to amend only the
OCP Bylaw, LTC’s may only be able to
engage in a policy setting exercise.”
Though the meeting for Saturna
already occurred on January 16th this
fact should encourage island residents
to participate in local OCP meetings
that are scheduled on their respective
Gulf Islands. Committees only have
until May 31st, 2010 to set policies or
regulations but there is still an
opportunity for public suggestions to be
taken seriously

into consideration. Speaking of participation Steeves stated: “It is
possible for the community to identify some real practical steps that take
us in a more sustainable direction. We’re genuinely looking to the public
for ideas and suggestions on what the wise things to do are. People will
be surprised by the range of different things that are possible.” He hopes
for good turnouts for all the meetings.

When asked about his and the opinions of other LTC members regarding a
personal stance on GHG omissions there was strong resolve to Steeve’s
response.
“Some argue climate change is a hoax while others argue climate change is
a disaster just around the corner. My analysis and conclusions on this matter
are based on the precautionary principle and on what are the real down sides
if one point of view or the other is wrong.
“ If governments and communities act to reduce GHG’s, reduce pollution,
become more energy efficient and live more sustainably and it tuns out that
climate change was not such a huge threat after all, what have we lost?
Nothing. We live cleaner and wiser.

OCP Meetings for Your Island

· Mayne Island - January 30th starting at 1:00pm at the Mayne
Community Centre, 493 Felix Jack Road
· North Pender Island - January 23rd starting at 1:00pm at the
Pender Island Community Hall, 4418 Bedwell Harbour Road
· Saturna Island - January 16th starting at 1:00pm at the
Saturna Recreation and Cultural Centre, 104 Harris Road
· South Pender Island - February 6th starting at 1:00pm at the
South Pender Fire Hall, 8961 Gowland Point Road