February 7

Twenty-two joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Rob Botterell for his first time with us as our MLA. He was accompanied by his able and welcoming constituency assistant, Theresa Coles. (Don’t fret if you missed this opportunity: Rob plans to be with us the first Friday of each month, 11-1, SIMS classroom next to the Boardroom.)

After his Territorial Acknowledgement, Rob added how grateful he was to be with us today and to have the opportunity to carry on the great work of former MLA Adam Olsen. When asked what “excites and delights” him, he shared his pleasure that 2025 will bring us the opportunity to work on shared issues, commitment to successfully address issues, and joy with the melting snow – allowing him to be with us today without worrying about driving in treacherous snow.

The first question from a participant acknowledged appreciation of his first newsletter. (Want to receive this bi-weekly newsletter? https://mailchi.mp/leg/mla-rob-botterells-newsletter-sign-up?) She asked about the results of the meeting reported in the newsletter with Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship (https://news.gov.bc.ca/ministries/water-land-and-resource-stewardship/biography).

Rob told us briefly about two topics they discussed: Fallow deer on Mayne Island and issues regarding docks on our islands, with a current focus on regulation on Pender Islands that did not first enlist community engagement. Rob is seeking to get everyone together to further discuss the complex issue of docks. This approach of getting all to the table to identify solutions was a theme Rob reiterated during our time together. 

Rob was then asked to explain the partnership agreement (the Accord) the Greens and NDP have developed for their first year of working together. Determined to learn from a similar power balance and set of agreements in 2017, a huge portion of Rob’s time since he was elected has been focused on this agreement. For this year, the Greens will support the budget and will not vote to take down the government. In exchange, the Greens and NDP will work together on eleven areas of focus as well as legislative governance issues:(https://bcgreens2024.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Agreement-in-Principle.pdf).

Although we did not discuss all of the areas of focus, Rob highlighted his commitment to several top priorities:

• Improving access to primary care and increased numbers of team-based care models: Rob is committed to work with the Ministry of Health to open more nonprofit Community Health Centres, (https://www.policynote.ca/chcs-in-bc/) and Islands Health Primary Care Networks, (https://fpscbc.ca/what-we-do/system-change/primary-care-networks). He is also committed to developing accountability mechanisms to ensure they are delivering as expected. He spoke later in our time together that, while canvassing for the next election, he wants to be able to hear ”Yes, I have a doctor!” rather than hearing during the recent election from the overwhelming number of folks in his riding who do not have a physician. 
• Increasing non-market housing options: Painfully aware that too many live from paycheck to paycheck in insecure housing,Rob supports the BC commitment to build 30,000 units of non-market housing with a target of 7,500 units in 2025. On Salt Spring, Rob has already begun working to identify and support projects that are nearing shovel-ready status, preparing to apply for grants. He is committed to make sure they are the strongest possible applications. He is also committed to convincing the Ministry to recognize and address the unique and urgent housing challenges facing Salt Spring.
• The environment: Rob is convinced that what we have been doing with the environment is simply not working. Committed to shifting gears, he will begin by pursuing the agreed-upon review of Clean BC (https://cleanbc.gov.bc.ca/). Rob is concerned that we must not continue raw material extraction and export but, instead, develop new value-added strategies with a focus on innovation and the knowledge economy. He will begin with conversations with all involved to permanently protect Fairy Creek (https://oldgrowthforestecology.org/fairy-creek/). He will also push for mandated transparency regarding all incentives given to oil and gas companies. He is hopeful that, once MLAs see the hundreds of millions given to oil and gas companies each year, they will have the courage to make a change, shifting to use these dollars to address BC’s most important issues.
• Legislative efficacy: Rob recognizes that the near-win of the Conservative party has forced the NDP to seriously consider some of the reforms Sonia and Adam worked so hard to implement. Rob is pleased that Private Member’s Bills (https://www.leg.bc.ca/parliamentary-business/parliamentary-procedure/private-bills), formerly nearly impossible to present, will now at least have a reading. While many are not likely to pass, Rob sees these bills as a very good way to get issues the visibility they need. The Accord includes provision for a special committee on democratic and electoral reform. A top propriety for him will be electoral reform with proportional representation (https://www.fairvote.ca/what-is-proportional-representation/) high on his list.

When a participant asked Rob how Salt Spring could get more Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MoTT) money spent on our roads, Rob replied with an answer similar to the one concerning non-market housing: Give him the information he needs to convince the Ministry that Salt Spring’s needs should be addressed. 

A constituent was concerned about the payment part-time workers received for statutory holidays, which is based on a number of days worked, rather than the number of hours worked. To be paid for a statutory holiday, an employee must have worked 15 out of the past 30 days. She pointed out that many on Salt Spring work traditional jobs to be able to spend part of their time doing what they love: art, music, crafts, body work, etc. These folks tend to work longer but fewer days to be able to have some days doing what they love. If the law required a certain number of hours before being paid for a stat holiday rather than a number of days, part-time employees would be better served. Rob promised to consider this, asking her to contact Theresa Coles.

This participant added that one of the reasons that it is so difficult to get below-market rental housing is that taxes and insurance for homeowners have skyrocketed. This brought up the comment from another participant that Salt Spring is challenged because property tax is the major source of local government funding. While there are other sources of funding like Community Works (“gas tax”) allocations and grants, it is the taxes landowners pay that fuel the Island. Understandably, the higher the property taxes, the more difficult it is for landlords to offer affordable rental units. 

We were also reminded by a participant that some landowners do not feel adequately protected by the current Residential Tenancy Act (https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02078_01), many choosing short term options like AirB&B or not to rent at all. 

When asked whether Rob would work to get a constitution for BC, he stated that, although he did not see a clear path in that direction, it was possible that the legislative reform to which he is committed may provide an opportunity to make a presentation on this issue.

When several participants mentioned concerns about Baker Beach, Rob replied that he was happy to sit with all involved to endeavour to facilitate a  solution that everyone can support. Gayle reminded us that the Restorative Justice volunteers are amazing and might be the perfect facilitators for this conversation. She also reminded us that they are our special guests next Friday, February 14, (and every second Friday) to help Salt Springers have those difficult conversations with safety and respect.

A participant reminded Rob that an important Salt Spring issue is the review and update of portions of our Official Community Plan (https://islandstrust.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/SS-BL-434_2020-10_OCP_Vol1-2.pdf) by our Local Island Trustees. Rob replied that a community plan review is not something in which he would participate, but that he would be pleased to support a review of the Islands Trust Act now that it has been requested by the Islands Trust. A strong supporter of the Islands Trust, Rob said he understands why the province appears to have refused to review the 1974 Islands Trust Act (https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96239_01). Rob committed to follow up on this important work. 

A representative of the Farmland Trust shared her enthusiasm about an amazing program in partnership with our Emergency Services, Neighbours Feeding Neighbours. Funded by the Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF) under the Ministry of Agriculture, she also shared her deep disappointment that this funding stream is no longer available to sustain this promising program. Needing $40,000-$50,0000 to continue its development plus far more for infrastructure initiatives, she asked where they could get the needed funding. Rob expressed his strong support for food security, made even more pressing due to the Trump tariffs, committing to speak to the Lana Popham, the Minister of Agriculture and Food to better understand the issue and develop suggestions. 

As our time together was drawing to a close, Gayle reminded us that our islands are meant to be “preserved and protected” for all British Columbians, not just residents. She asked why visitors who enjoy Salt Spring do not contribute directly to sustaining our services. Instead, increasing costs, especially transit, are the responsibility of Salt Spring taxpayers. What about a $1 BC Ferries charge for non-residents visiting Salt Spring to help defray escalating taxes? 

While clearly a long shot, Rob replied that everything is on the table and that there is every reason to tenaciously pursue good ideas. He repeated his philosophy: “Never take NO for an answer; Keep asking until the answer is YES.”

On this optimistic note, we all bid a grateful farewell to Rob and Theresa, delighted that Rob is committed to collaborative action; determined to be successful addressing our issues; intrigued and delighted by the challenges; and promising to come back to ASK Salt Spring the first Friday of each month. (A heartfelt thanks to Rob and Theresa!)

Want to learn more? Rob was interviewed by CHiR.fm‘s Damian Inwood after our ASK Salt Spring gathering. Listen to this interview as well as many more at ASK Salt Spring Answered (https://open.spotify.com/show/14aIItcouBw3unc5ZtgPDL).  

Just in case you are interested. . . .This report has been written by Gayle Baker, founder of ASK Salt Spring, currently also a Salt Spring Local Community Commissioner. This report has also been reviewed by Rob.