Islands Trust Act

In 1974, the Government of British Columbia enacted the Islands Trust Act in order to protect the unique character and environment of the islands of the Georgia Strait.  The Trust Area includes the 12 major islands (Denman, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, Mayne, North Pender, South Pender, Saltspring, Saturna and Thetis) and more than 450 smaller Gulf Islands.  The Islands Trust Area does not include lands and waters within adjacent municipal boundaries or Indian Reserves.

The Islands Trust Act creates a unique form of local government for the Islands, establishing an Islands Trust Council and local trust committees to conduct land use planning for the trust area.  Each of the twelve largest Gulf Islands have a three member local trust committees composed of two locally elected trustees, and one Executive Committee member from the Council.  Each committee is responsible for land use planning and regulation for its area of jurisdiction.  For these purposes, they have all the powers and responsibilities of regional districts in relation to:

·          official community plans;

·          zoning and rural land use bylaws;

·          subdivision bylaws,

·          development permits,

·          regulation of soil removal and deposit,

·          regulation of buildings and

·          imposition of development cost charges to pay for parks and other services.

When carrying out their land planning duties, the trustees act for both the residents of the Trust Area and the province generally, due to the conservation mandate established by the Act.  Local committee bylaws must be approved by the Trust Council.

There is also Council made up of all the trustees.  The Trust Council establishes general policies for carrying out the object of the Trust, such as the Islands Trust Policy Statement.  The policy statement provides a framework for land use planning in the Trust Area, and guarantees compatibility between plans for the various local areas. 

All local trust committee bylaws and all Official Community Plans and amendments must comply with the Policy Statement, which promotes:

·         preservation and protection of ecosystems,

·         stewardship of resources, and

·         sustainable communities.

The Islands Trust Fund, established by the Islands Trust Act, administers and manages the real and personal property assets of the trust fund.  The Fund acquires and holds land and interests in land for the protection of special areas and features of the islands and waters of the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound.

Related Guide Pages:

·          Local Government Act.

·          Local Government.

For more information about the Islands Trust Act:

·          Electronic copy of the Islands Trust Act.

·          Islands Trust Homepage.