Twenty-four joined this ASK Salt Spring conversation to welcome MLA Rob Botterell. He offered our Land Acknowledgement, noting how moved he was that acknowledgements had become the beginning of so many meetings throughout the province. He expressed his privilege that we are able to live, eat, and work on these lands, benefitting from thousands of years of First Nations’ stewardship, wisdom, and knowledge. In closing, we learned that the Indigenous name he was gifted by Huu-ay-aht Nation, Naacałuk, means “Always Watching”.
When participants were given the opportunity to introduce themselves, they were also asked to share what it would take for them to be as happy as Finlanders, recognized as the happiest people in the world. Answers included:
- Solving the housing crisis with innovative solutions, affordable housing options for all, and homelessness a thing of the past,
- A connected community with none in distress, our elderly and most vulnerable supported,
- Civilized road safety standards, mobility for all, reinstate the carbon tax, and community electric vans,
- A medical system that serves all,
- An educational system that focuses on the joy of learning,
- A willing, engaged community supporting our land and First Nations projects,
- A summer of rainy evenings and sunny days, and
- A community sauna!
When Rob was asked what “excites and delights” him, he shared his joy with the recent unveiling of the panels at the Japanese Garden, the Japanese-Canadian Memorial Story Project, https://saltspringjapanesegarden.com/. He deeply appreciated the community-based hard work and collaboration required to create these panels telling the stories of Japanese Canadian families on Salt Spring and the Southern Gulf Islands both before and after their forced relocation during World War II.
As a follow-up from last week’s ASK Salt Spring conversation with our transportation experts about creating a 30 km/h Senior Zone near senior housing (, https://asksaltspring.com/2026/05/29/roads-101-all-you-ever-wanted-tp-know-about-our-roads/), Rob was asked what it would take to create such a speed zone. He replied that lowering speed limits on provincial roads below the standard 50 km/h was a desire shared by our neighboring islands. While it would ultimately be the decision of our Minister of Transportation and Transit Mike Farnworth, Rob committed to work with NDP MLA’s to make it happen. While it was generally agreed that simply lowering the speed limit was not the entire answer, also requiring enforcement by the RCMP as well as driver cooperation, Rob agreed that reducing the speed limit in areas with many seniors was logical. He also told us that it was an easy legislative change, one that he was committed to accomplishing, saying, “Give me six months to have this fixed.”
We learned that there may be significant funding changes that could negatively impact families with autistic children. Rob is communicating with the Minister of Children and Family Development, Jodie Wickens, to share his deep concern about the looming changes. He is convinced that BC does not give enough recognition of unique family circumstances and needs, including, but not limited to, the fact that care needs often make it impossible for a parent to work and that travel to services on Vancouver Island is both time-consuming and expensive.
Rob, already sharing information about these concerns with the Minister, believes that his best action is to connect Salt Spring parents to the Ministry so that they can participate in direct conversations about needs and possible funding cuts. He asked Salt Spring neurodiverse families to help him create that connection with decision-makers by reaching out to his office at: Rob.Botterell.MLA@leg.bc.ca.
Rob was asked for more information about how he defines a Community Health Centre (https://ladymintofoundation.com/news/community-health-centre/). He described it as a team-based clinic offering a readily-available range of services defined by the community, a single place to go for all of one’s healthcare needs. A popular choice of many younger doctors, it is hoped that this team-based approach will help us attract more doctors, addressing the serious reality that too many Salt Springers have no primary care physician. With no doctor assigned to them, many locals are forced to use Lady Minto Hospital emergency room for their primary care needs.
Essential for both preventative health as well as urgent care, assigning more and more Salt Springers to a primary care physician is a critical first step. If you need a physician, register with Health Connect (https://southislanddivision.ca/resources/health-connect-registry/). With more doctors coming to Salt Spring, this registry is linking more and more locals with doctors. It is also important that you sign up if you need a primary care physician as this data is used to guide funding for more doctors.
Rob shared his impressions of the recently-recessed chaotic legislative session under the cloud of a $13 billion dollar deficit despite painful funding cuts. He personally sees the path forwards as tax reform that could include a wealth tax for the wealthiest .5 percent, potentially allowing for a balanced budget and a guaranteed annual income without cutting services.
Rob spoke with optimism about the work on balcony solar (https://solarunitedneighbors.org/resources/what-to-know-about-plug-in-solar/) being spearheaded by amazing Salt Springers Jonathan and Monica Maile. He also lauded the work of Regenerock (https://pacificports.org/grt-regenerock-provides-sustainable-remediation-solution/) recycling excavation materials.
When Rob was asked about forestry replanting, it is his opinion that these reforesting decisions are often best made by the community impacted. He strongly supports collaborative forestry decisions made by First Nations, businesses, environmental groups and community members sitting around a table together listening to needs, learning about options, and deciding the best course of action for their community.
When Rob was asked if broom could be designated as a noxious invasive, requiring homeowners to remove it, he promised to look into options.
A participant spoke of recycling challenges at our schools. While the Earth Club is working with the school district and CRD for more ecological solutions, currently there is only recycling at our schools for paper and drink containers. The rest is transported to. . .Washington State!!! Students also discovered through a study that 90% of the water used at the high school could be recycled.
While Rob reminded us that recycling solutions are the responsibility of the district, it was agreed that we should do more to support our youth in their recycling desires. While they could take it home, it was also agreed that this is an unlikely solution. Rob agreed to bring back information about solutions in other communities.
Some participants suggested that a more proactive local approach concerning recycling would be helpful. CRD does fund our Recycling Centre, operated by Community Services (https://gulfislandsdriftwood.com/viewpoint-crd-partnerships-valued/), and the LCC has given several Grants-in-Aid for invasive chipping and piloting curbside pickup of green waste. Despite these efforts, it was agreed that there is far more that needs to be done. That said, our Burgoyne Valley Composter (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/salt-spring-island-commercial-composter-1.7612076) is big news and offers hope for ever-increasing impact on Salt Spring recycling efforts.
Rob was asked for some good affordable housing news, despite the provincial pause in funding and cancellation of important projects. Acknowledging that many Salt Spring housing proponents and providers are doing awesome work, he told us that he was trying to get a meeting between Housing Minister Christine Boyle or her senior officials and the housing groups seriously impacted by the cessation of the BC Community Housing Fund (https://futureofgood.co/six-figure-costs-and-stalled-projects-bcs-non-profit-housing-sector-expresses-sorrow-at-rescinded-provincial-funding/), including GISRA’s proposed Kings Lane Project (https://saltspringexchange.com/gisras-kings-lane-project-update-affordable-housing-medical-clinic-expansion/).
Rob is also working to explore a system which would resolve Residential Tenancy Branch issues quickly. The current lengthy resolution times are believed to be an important factor in the reluctance of Salt Spring landlords and renters to enter into lease agreements. It was theorized that if we have a community solution giving landlords and renter assurance that issues would be resolved fairly and quickly, more rentals may become available.
Our time together nearly over for this week, Rob was asked what the Green Party can do to further strengthen democracy, especially considering the new changes to Freedom of Information regulations. Rob would like to see significant changes, including:
- Amend the Freedom of Information Act,
- Create a system bringing youth into the process,
- Present a vision for a system that brings a more representative balance of voters to the polls, and
- Accomplish this by instituting Proportional Representation.
If you want to learn more, he suggested you check out the BC Special Committee Report for Democratic and Electoral Reform as a good beginning: https://lims.leg.bc.ca/pcms/file/19976/Report_DEM_43-1_1.pdf.
Our time together over for this gathering, participants wished Rob a great summer, rich with sailing as well as his important work, acknowledging him for his tenacity, courage taking on difficult issues, optimism, and deep care for the well-being of Salt Springers. (Thanks, Rob!)
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. It has also been reviewed by Rob and his team.
Holiday June 12.. . No ASK Salt Spring this Friday!
Please join us Friday, June 19, 11-1, in the SIMS classroom next to the Boardroom to welcome The Circle Education Society (https://thecircleeducation.org/), creating healthy relationships in our schools free of violence, bullying, discrimination, assault, and abuse.
Did you know that The Circle offers innovative, evidence-based, social-emotional educational programs for our children, youth and adults? And, by inspiring and training others – like us! – the positive impact in our community of The Circle is growing and growing.
We hope to see you Friday, June 19, 11-1, in the SIMS classroom next to the Boardroom to learn about The Circle.
Did You Know. . . ?
ASK Salt Spring first gathered October 4, 2019, and is now in its 7th year of offering weekly discussions? Please join us in celebrating you who have joined these conversations week after week!
Check our new website at asksaltspring.com.
Want to help? We welcome volunteers to join the team. Please join us making ASK Salt Spring ever better!
Is there a special guest we should invite? Would you like to be our special guest? Suggestions welcome: ask@asksaltspring.com.
Big News:
ASK Salt Spring has ongoing funding! We receive a check for $1,000 each year to pay our annual rent of $800 with a little bit left over for other expenses – like cookies :).
Of course, you could also donate as well by simply transferring funds to ask@asksaltspring.com.
The answer to the security question is “Salt.”