Twenty joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MLA Rob Botterell and his Constituency Assistant Patricia Pearson. During his Territorial Acknowledgement, he expressed his gratitude that we can live and work on this beautiful land. He acknowledged his pleasure that we can do this work in partnership First Nations, learning from their wisdom, values, and culture. 

When asked what “excited and delighted” him, he did not hesitate: He is pleased that the Legislature is in session, particularly enjoying his regular opportunity to publicly question our government during the question period d: https://www.mlabotterell.ca/legislative-archive. A rookie now, he looks forward to his progression to being our moderately experienced MLA and, eventually, to becoming our “long in the tooth” MLA. 

Before beginning to answer our questions, he offered us all the opportunity to sign up for his regular newsletter. You, too, can sign up by emailing: https://mailchi.mp/leg/mla-rob-botterells-newsletter-sign-up rob.botterell.mla@leg.bc.ca.  Newsletter not enough? Want to learn more? See his website: e: https://www.mlabotterell.ca/(. He assured us that this site will offer plenty of information, even offering some of that boring reading one needs to fall asleep :). 

Rob’s first question was about our 30 km/h speed limit in Ganges. Some years ago, this individual had circulated a petition to lower our speed limits, signed by over 300 Salt Springers as well as being read in the Legislature by former MLA Adam Olsen. While our reduced Ganges speed limit is the result of the advocacy of many individuals and groups, this participant’s initiative launched this successful request. 

Unfortunately, she is deeply disappointed by the short distance included in the reduced speed zone. Envisioning this 30 km/h speed limit extending to Atkins, she is angered that the area of Lower Ganges Road heavily populated by our senior citizens still allows cars to whiz by at 50 km/h. She pleaded with Rob to extend the 30 km/h limit to better protect our seniors – even suggesting a designated Senior Zone there. 

Rob promised to get this issue on his long list of items to discuss with Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MoTT) Minister, Mike Farnworth. (Among those items are questions about BC Ferries community engagement in light of the recent – and unexpected – dissolution of all Ferry Advisory Committees.) Luckily, he meets with him regularly as House Leader, so he expects answers to his questions soon. 

The two Local Commissioners at this gathering (Gary and Gayle) added that the Local Community Commission (LCC) had been in conversations with MoTT concerning speed limits, both along Lower Ganges as well as on Fulford Ganges Road. They reminded us of the recent Salt Spring Safety Cycling Review (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving-and-transportation/reports-and-reference/reports-and-studies/vancouver-island-south-coast/2023-04-21_salt_spring_island_cycling_safety_review.pdf). Among other recommendations, this study suggested reviewing speed limits along Fulford-Ganges Road, suspicious that road conditions do not warrant an 80 km/h speed limit. Later in the conversation, a participant suggested more educational signage for drivers and cyclists at heavily-cycled areas like the route to Ruckle Park. Such signage and education was also suggested by this study. This participant was asked to write up a signage proposal and share it with both Rob and the LCC.

In continuing conversations with MoTT about these speed limits as well as other safety concerns, staff from MoTT will join the LCC at one of its April meetings, likely the one scheduled for Thursday, April 17, 9:00 am in the SIMS Boardroom. Want to know more? You can see the agenda that will be posted four days before the meeting at: (https://www.crd.ca/government-administration/boards-committees/meeting-schedule/salt-spring-island-local-community-commission-march-13-2025). 

Rob was asked to find ways to improve our transit system. This participant was most distressed by the rough and dangerous ride as our buses clatter and bang over our bumpy roads. BC Transit will be attending the next LCC meeting, Thursday, March 13, 5:00, in the SIMS Boardroom. While the discussion is expected to focus on expansion of the Fulford route, these concerns can also be discussed. 

A cyclist asked why bike lanes from Fulford to Vesuvius seemed to be so difficult to create. Isn’t it time this one gap in the amazing Vancouver Island cycling loop be completed (https://islandpathways.ca/salish-sea-trail/)? Cognizant of the multiple values of active transportation for our environment, our health, and attracting the visitors we want, Rob is very supportive of this effort. 

Spearheaded by former MLA Adam Olsen, a Salish Sea Trail Working Group met for years to determine how to best advocate for this important – but very expensive – cycling trail. Rob has committed to continue this work of Adam by convening and supporting this tenacious Working Group. The Ganges Hill Project is, of course, a big step in the right direction. Additionally, CRD Regional Parks has made a future commitment for the Vesuvius Bay Road portion of this trail, with design and engineering work already budgeted and expected to begin soon. 

A participant asked Rob for his thoughts about the suggested revisions to the Islands Trust Policy Statement (https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/islands-trust-policy-statement-consolidated-2023/). While a long and complex document, much of the controversy centres on the definition the “unique amenities” that the Islands Trust is charged with preserving and protecting. The Trust Council recently defined these amenities to include, but not be limited to, housing, infrastructure, livelihoods, and tourism. This definition generated concern among some who felt strongly that protecting infrastructure, for example, was not the intent of the creators of the Islands Trust:(https://gulfislandsdriftwood.com/former-trustees-press-islands-trust-over-unique-amenities-decision/). 

An Islands Trustee for Bowen Island in the 1980s, Rob shared his opinion that this expanded definition of the unique amenities the Islands Trust must protect surprises and concerns him. He hopes that the Trust Council can build consensus across the current divide to define an Islands Trust definition of unique amenities that can be supported by all. 

Rob is a strong supporter of the Islands Trust with great respect for its Trustees. While campaigning, concerns shared by future constituents included high costs, an unfair funding structure, and surprising regulations – like allowing the Trustee from Pender to live on Salt Spring, for example – as issues that reduce the effectiveness of this important governing body. As a result, he has concluded that structural issues are interfering with the effectiveness of the Islands Trust.

He reminded us that the Trust Council had recently asked the province to review the Islands Trust Act, over half a century old. While this request has gone nowhere to date, Rob believes he has a solution: Instead of asking the province to take on the complex review, the Trust Council should identify suggested changes to the act. With this initial hard work by Trustees, Rob is optimistic that the province can be convinced to address their recommendations. A consistent message from him, also suggesting this at the February 7 ASK Salt Spring gathering (https://asksaltspring.com/2025/02/07/welcoming-mla-rob-botterell/), Rob hopes the Trust Council will do this needed work to spur the province toward review and possible legislative changes. 

A participant asked about the controversy surrounding Bill 36 (https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/bills/billsprevious/3rd42nd:gov36-3). She voiced her concerns about the inability of patients to appeal as well as other concerns. Some of these concerns are expressed in this article: https://circleintegrative.com/blog-posts/bill-36. Rob promised to follow-up, noting that it is not uncommon for important and well-intentioned legislation to inadvertently create an overreach without needed checks and balances. 

He went on to speak briefly of his support for important BC legislation to protect us from the Trump Tariffs but also his recognition of the need for evaluation of these quickly implemented projects. Without this evaluation, he believes that we run the risk of harmful unintended consequences, both environmental and on the most vulnerable in our communities.

As the 2025 budget was essentially completed before Rob took office, he understands that he will have more impact with the 2026 budget. He looks forward to this: As the former Comptroller of TD Bank, he enjoys and excels at budget analysis. 

The majority of the 2025 provincial budget is allocated to managing ongoing initiatives, especially healthcare, social services, and education. There is also funding for 7,500 new non-market housing units each year for four years as well a $4 billion contingency and a $2 billion innovation fund. From Rob’s perspective, this year’s $11 billion deficit is not overly concerning in light of our healthy GDP (Gross Domestic Product). 

What is worrisome, however, is that this 2025 budget is largely maintenance, not addressing the need for significant change and innovation in our economy. Rob is concerned that BC will continue to follow its outdated economic strategy rather than creating new environmental wealth by diversifying our economy and shifting the focus to on green energy. Not happy with outdated forest practices and projects funding increased dependence on fossil fuels, he is committed to steadily throwing out the “same old same old” practices and replacing them with profitable environmental policies. He believes that, slowly but surely, the enormous ship of our BC economy can change directions. 

Rob is anxious to be front and centre in the development of this stronger, environmental and innovative economy. While it will take time, the complete overhaul of Clean BC. (https://cleanbc.gov.bc.ca/) is an important step in the right direction. Rob believes that, if we are to achieve our climate targets, significant change is needed. This includes:

1. Reassessing and developing reasonable, achievable targets,
2. Implementing and evaluating change, and
3. Maintaining the will to do what is needed in the face of conflicting pressures.  

With a twinkle in his eye, he said that he had read the ASK Salt Spring manual and that he, as well, was allowed to ask questions :). What, he asked our group, would we like to see the province fund to increase our local food security? The ideas flew about and included: 

• Support the great work of the Farmland Trust, especially reinstatement of the recently-cancelled funding for the successful Neighbours Feeding Neighbours Project. 
• A rebate for greenhouses.
• Allocate more to the Community Services voucher program through which those with low incomes get weekly vouchers to buy local vegetables at the Tuesday Market, helping residents and local farmers alike: (https://saltspringcommunityservices.ca/food-security/farmers-market-nutrition-coupons/).
• Fund the renovation for the Ganges Firehall to offer a year-‘round, central venue for our local farmers to sell their products. 
• And? 

As our time together was drawing to a close, we were all asked to keep thinking about innovative ways to support our local food production. Ideas? Please send them to rob.botterell.mla@leg.bc.ca. 

Our time with Rob was over until his next visit with us, April 4, 11-1, we applauded him, grateful for his wisdom, wit, tenacity, optimism, and generosity to make time in his busy schedule each month to be with us. (Thank-you, Rob and Patricia!) 

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).