The Islands Trust Council is seeking public input to help set strategic priorities for the 2011-2014 term of office. Trust Council will review all the submissions and consider adopting its strategic plan at its September 11-13 public meeting on Bowen Island.

Sheila Malcolmson, Chair of Islands Trust Council announced the consultation phase by explaining that “Trust Council needs to focus its work this term on a few important priorities, and we want to know what really matters to islanders. Which of the ten proposed objectives are best for the next few years? Is there anything missing?”

Malcolmson added that the draft now circulating is based on what trustees have already heard from islanders and from discussions at committee meetings over the last six months. “To make the best use of our budget and staff time, we need to set specific and realistic objectives to focus on during our term. We are asking British Columbians to get formally involved in offering advice”.

The ten objectives are based on the three primary goals in the Islands Trust Policy Statement: 1) ecosystem preservation and protection; 2) stewardship of island resources; 3) sustain island character and healthy communities; and the overarching goal 4) to do this work in cooperation with others.

The ten objectives proposed by Council for discussion are:
• Protect the natural environment of islands
• Protect coastal and marine ecosystems
• Reduce the impacts of climate change
• Protect the quality and quantity of water resources
• Protect and restore community and socio-economic diversity
• Increase local food production
• Enhance community economic sustainability and security
• Strengthen relations with First Nations
• Improve organisational cost and operational effectiveness
• Enhance community engagement and participation

Islanders can have their say in four ways: 1) write via fax, mail (see pg 96 Gabriola Directory), or e-mail: strategicplan@islandstrust.bc.ca, 2) address Trust Council in person; 3) complete a survey; and 4) participate in an online discussion. The latter two options are hosted at a new online consultation tool called PlaceSpeak.com.

Chair Malcolmson said that, “All written input received by the end of July will be considered by Trust Council’s committees in August, so I hope we will get broad participation in the survey this month. Input received after that will go to the Trust Council meeting in September and be considered before Council finalises the strategic plan”.

Details are available on the Islands Trust website at www.islandstrust.bc.ca/strategicplan.cfm.