Signatures 1130 total
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Name: Larry Pierce on Jun 3, 2010Comments: I am in favour of taking a fresh look at the Preserve and Protect mandate, and balancing that with our right to live on our land, and have jobs within our communities.Flag
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Name: Reg Tupper on Jun 3, 2010Comments: Our family has a summer place in south Howe Sound area; we are under the aegis of the Gambier Island Trust. We have just seen the passage of an OCP for the area that is draconian in its sweping changes and was put together with hardly a token nod to the rights of property owners, the input from affected citizens and the facts on the ground, The committee members were "elected" by a minority of people who live in the area full-time, but their diktats fall on many more people - people who pay 30% of the taxes in the area but are "only" seasonal residents. Our rights and interests are no less important than others, but we have no way to influence whom is put in authority over us. This is a clear abuse of power and certainly not democratic proceedure as most of us understand it: i.e. "responsible government". These people acted as if they were responsible to no one and, in a way, that is the reality.Flag
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Name: Bruce Pendergast on Jun 3, 2010Comments: Glad to see this. The Trust policy has been inconsistent and sometimes contradictory over the sixteen years I have had property on Pender Island. They no longer bother to reply to letters ( The last two letters in 2008) from our association PIVAA (Pender Islands Vacation Accommodations Association)Flag
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Name: Bruce Pendergast on Jun 3, 2010Comments: Glad to see this. The Trust policy has been inconsistent and sometimes contradictory over the sixteen years I have had property on Pender Island. They no longer bother to reply to letters ( The last two letters in 2008) from our association PIVAA (Pender Islands Vacation Accommodations Association)Flag
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Name: Stepan Vanicek on Jun 3, 2010Comments: Bylaw enforcement appears to be arbitrary and based on nepotism. Local Trustees appear to run a fiefdom. The Trust Council appears to be populated by ideologues. Voting is made impossible for a large section of the population, as elections are held in November and mail-in ballots are not allowed. These citizens left out of the voting process have a much higher property tax rate.Flag
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Name: Diane Logan on Jun 3, 2010Comments: In retrospect it is difficult to determine the actual result of Islands Trust for the amount of money being spent. We have excessive bureaucracy, (when one tree on 1 piece of property becomes centre of discussion at a local trust meeting and it isn't even old growth or endangered, in review of a property owners possible right to build a home. Enough is enough) Many developments have occurred that people are still not happy with. Density has not been affected by the increase to 84 page bylaws. While lot minimums have held thedensity in check without Islands Trust. The calm stable citizens refuse to attend meetings because they are not listened to, they don't like the behaviours and all they want to do is enjoy this beautiful place they live in. People don't even want to look at or discuss issues because the personal opinions of trustees run rough shot over decisions and they can't even be recalled (1 example: turning down a roof on an outbuilding in an area that did not affect neighbours views, would be lower than the adjacent building and would accomodate the equipment required for the shop)Flag
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Name: Sidney Tupper on Jun 3, 2010Comments: My family has owned Hermit Island (123.4753W, 49.3698N) since 1926.Flag
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Name: Margit Lieder on Jun 3, 2010Comments: I have lived in many places in Canada, but I have never experienced such a divided, backstabbing and self righteous community as on Hornby. I believe this mindset is directly linked to the selective bylaw enforcement which gives Trustees and their friends the power to bully whoever doesn't fit into their narrow eco-fascist world view.Flag
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Name: Roberr Gee on Jun 3, 2010Comments: I have been a resident and property owner on Hornby Island since 1979. Since that time held positions with the local Ratepayers Association (HIRRA) was an Islands Trustee for Hornby (HITC) for a term, and sat several terms on the Local Planning Commission (APC), the latter at a time when we on Hornby voted in the APC rather then had it appointed directly by the Trustees (though the HITC has always been allowed to appoint) In the past 15 years I have gone from concern to alarm over the activities, process and vision of the Islands Trust (IT) and the HITC in relation to their mandate to Preserve and Protect the Islands. There is an institutional failure to follow a forward looking adherence to the Trust Mandate , the Community Plan and the subsequent Regulations there from, met with continually more complex amendments to those By laws which the community initially approved. It is such that the original intentions of these Bylaws have changed from an environmental perspective to a people focus. Additionally there has been a structural collapse of the Trust to adequately supervise adherence to the original community supported Bylaws, and to maintain parallel matching regulations with other Provincial jurisdictions. Granted, an increasing population, and their perspectives have changed rapidly – but that which drew others and myself to this islands- is no longer here- nor the focus of the Trust. Therefore I agree that the Trust requires a re think, to continue it’s original intention, or be provided the tools to do so. And as such I gladly provide approval of this petitionFlag
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Name: Robert Gee on Jun 3, 2010Comments: I have been a resident and property owner on Hornby Island since 1979. Since that time held positions with the local Ratepayers Association (HIRRA) was an Islands Trustee for Hornby (HITC) for a term, and sat several terms on the Local Planning Commission (APC), the latter at a time when we on Hornby voted in the APC rather then had it appointed directly by the Trustees (though the HITC has always been allowed to appoint) In the past 15 years I have gone from concern to alarm over the activities, process and vision of the Islands Trust (IT) and the HITC in relation to their mandate to Preserve and Protect the Islands. There is an institutional failure to follow a forward looking adherence to the Trust Mandate , the Community Plan and the subsequent Regulations there from, met with continually more complex amendments to those By laws which the community initially approved. It is such that the original intentions of these Bylaws have changed from an environmental perspective to a people focus. Additionally there has been a structural collapse of the Trust to adequately supervise adherence to the original community supported Bylaws, and to maintain parallel matching regulations with other Provincial jurisdictions. Granted, an increasing population, and their perspectives have changed rapidly – but that which drew others and myself to this islands- is no longer here- nor the focus of the Trust. Therefore I agree that the Trust requires a re think, to continue it’s original intention, or be provided the tools to do so. And as such I gladly provide approval of this petitionFlag
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Name: Robert Gee on Jun 3, 2010Comments: I have been a resident and property owner on Hornby Island since 1979. Since that time held positions with the local Ratepayers Association (HIRRA) was an Islands Trustee for Hornby (HITC) for a term, and sat several terms on the Local Planning Commission (APC), the latter at a time when we on Hornby voted in the APC rather then had it appointed directly by the Trustees ( HITC has always had the powers to appoint) In the past 15 years I have gone from concern to alarm over the activities, process and vision of the Islands Trust (IT) and the HITC in relation to their mandate to Preserve and Protect the Islands. There is an institutional failure to follow a forward looking adherence to the Trust Mandate , the Community Plan and the subsequent Regulations there from, met with continually more complex amendments to those By laws which the community initially approved. It is such that the original intentions of these Bylaws have changed from an environmental perspective to a people focus. Additionally there has been a structural collapse of the Trust to adequately supervise adherence to the original community supported Bylaws, and to maintain parallel matching regulations with other Provincial jurisdictions. Granted, an increasing population, and their perspectives have changed rapidly – but that which drew others and myself to these islands- is no longer here- nor the focus of the Trust. Therefore I agree that the Trust requires a re think, to continue it’s original intention, or be provided the tools to do so. And as such I gladly provide approval of this petitionFlag
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Name: Frank Colbourne on Jun 3, 2010Comments: I live on Keats Island and have done so for 15 years. Never a problem politically for me. However the recent proposals for the Associated Islands, which do not affect me, are in my opinion both unfair to those who have lived many years with the by-laws of the Sunshine Coast Regional District and defy reason. Essentially the down-sizing by-laws. If this does not affect me then what is my concern? As any psychologistwill tell you, 'What someone does to another is what that person will do to you. I'm wary. Mostly I'm baffled as to why there is such obduracy on the part of the Islands Trust to explain what they are doing. Draw-bridge mentality cant be it. Look at the go-ahead to huge development in some areas. Frank ColbourneFlag
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Name: Randall Eckert on Jun 3, 2010Comments: Islands Trust is self serving, unresponsive and ideolocally driven. As an organization, the staff are totally in control of the elected officials and are running the show - to the detriment of democratic principals. The real issue here is the fact that they want even more control over the residents, they encourage vigilantees to spy on neighbors and they want to grow their budget in an environment that can ill afford ever more government. I feel the islands would be much better served by the regional districts who do most of the work anyway. No body will be able to afford to live in their utopia. TIKI ISLANDFlag
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Name: Susan Russell on Jun 3, 2010Comments: With more than 1,000 signing up for the Salt Spring group Islanders for Self-Governance, there is a tide of opinion on the largest of the Gulf Islands that it is time to have a look at our governance.Flag
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Name: Kevin Vavra on Jun 3, 2010Comments: South Trail Island - We are now in the position, in this very depressed economy, to proceed with applying for a building permit we are not financially ready to use in order that we may get our papers in order before the change of the LUB. This is creating a hard ship for us. - Trustees and the Planner Sonja seem to offer conflicting information continually - Trustees and Planners should be better educatedFlag
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Name: Kimberly Lineger on Jun 4, 2010Comments: Salt Spring Island Former SSI Trustee (with Eric Booth)Flag
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Name: Malcolm Burke on Jun 4, 2010Comments: This petition is a critical step toward a long overdue, proctology level re-examination of an increasingly bloated and non responsive body of government. I urge everybody who has an interest in the trust area to sign this petition. This is non partisan appeal to common sense.Flag
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Name: Subash Chandel on Jun 4, 2010Comments: i am paying too much tax already cant afford to pay extra 6%Flag
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Name: Gina-Rae Horvath on Jun 4, 2010Comments: I believe a review would be wise.Much has changed in the world in 35 years.Our Trust needs to keep in step with the times.Flag
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Name: Eric Booth on Jun 4, 2010Comments: My grandparents moved to Salt Spring in 1948, and my parents the year after. Born and raised on Salt Spring I’ve watched the rural community I grew up in slowly degrade as a consequence of the implementation of the Islands Trust Act in 1974. It is my opinion the creation of the Trust was to preserve and protect our social, economic and natural environment – rather poorly stated in the Object of the Trust as “the unique amenities and environment.” Unfortunately, the preserve and protect mandate has been slowly narrowed down, year by year, by a well meaning, but extreme environmental movement, to its current interpretative state, which is - preserve the “natural environment” at all costs. Combined with the low/no supply of affordable land, our communities are crumbling under the weight of rising real estate prices and rents, brought about by the inevitability of the law of supply and demand, which anyone, possessing even a modicum of understanding of basic economics, is well aware. Lip service does not solve the housing crisis, and, in my experience and view, the current Trust Council is oblivious to not only the complexity of the issue, but, is unprepared to face the fact that the only solution lies in increasing density, something the suggestion of which has become akin to uttering blasphemy amongst the primarily left-wing, extreme green, retirees who, for the most part, have convinced enough people that their vision of life on the islands is morally supportable using slogans of “save the planet” and “development is evil,” while trying to turn as much property into virtual parkland as possible. The problem is all of this is done in a vacuum without consideration of a whole world view…without a clear understanding of the unintended consequences of such ideology, including creating everything from potential deadly fire storms, to the erosion of local economies, to the destruction of the communities’ diversity of income levels, social richness and character. As a former Islands Trustee, I believe it is time to revisit, review and renew the Islands Trust Act. While all Islanders care about the protection and preservation of our entire environment, without immediate action, our communities will continue on the current path towards entropy. I urge all Islanders to sign the Petition in the hope that the Province will listen and acknowledge the core review (which it was originally considering conducting around 2002) is long overdue, and, will be an opportunity to improve on the idealism of the original mandate…..BUT…..this time, with a more realistic vision for the future of future generations of islanders, my children and grandchildren included.Flag
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Name: Arvid Chalmers, Salt Spring Island, B.c. on Jun 4, 2010Comments: long overdue. even the Trusts own investigation of 2008, said the Trust was never intended to be the local government. this unique form of governance was created by the Province and can only be changed by the province.Flag
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Name: Barbara Mathews on Jun 4, 2010Comments: Own New Island (Silver Island) which is near Pasley IslandFlag
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Name: Anonymous on Jun 5, 2010Comments: The Trust has +-44 employees and 3 offices and collects over $5.3 million in taxes. The Trust has become an entity which is more about "preserving and protecting" itself rather than the Gulf Islands.Flag
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Name: Edwin S. Banfield on Jun 5, 2010Comments: Authority without accountability And liability is dictatorship. Unless you're trying to hide something there is no reason that video records should not be kept for meetings.Flag