Housing is our Most Important Election Issue
I'm not a politician. So when I drafted my platform to run for Islands Trustee I built my platform on four core things that were valuable to me.
- An Islands Trust that works for us, not against us
- Not just housing but homes for our workers
- Environmental protection of our beautiful islands
- Ensuring our farmers can grow and thrive
I hoped these things would resonate with the community, and I am so thankful for the conversations I've had. From Fall Fair to potlucks with friends, from community Q&As to kitchen table chats, people have responded, and responded positively.
When I talk about the importance of bringing greater accessibility and transparency to the Trust, when I talk about the value of our environment, when I talk about the importance of farms and farmers, people are into it. People want a local government that works for them. They want to live in a well protected rural community. They want local food grown by local farmers.
However, housing is what gets the big reactions. People say things like "finally, more housing", "let's build some friggen housing already", and "more housing is a no brainer". Young workers share stories of being born and raised on Salt Spring, but feeling pushed out by a lack of housing. Relative newcomers to the island wonder why their skills and labour aren't valued by our community. Youth worry they won't be able to live here after school. Seniors worry they won't be able to age in place without local workers. One person shared with me that they feel betrayed by the elders in our community for not working on the housing crisis a decade ago. An elder shared a concern that "none of us will be comfortable on Salt Spring if there are no staff at Country Grocer." And too many more stories to share.
Good governance, environmental protection, and the agriculture that actually brought me to Salt Spring are all vitally important. We need Trustees with balanced platforms who are willing to take on all the jobs of Trustee: rezonings, permits, budgets, policies, and so much more. However a Trustee without a strong housing platform shouldn't be running.
While it is true that the Trust can't build housing, Trustees have plenty they can do to help. They can use their powers of land use planning to make sure housing is built in areas it makes sense, set up affordability covenants and workforce housing zoning. Trustees set our Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaws, both currently well past their best before date, meaning they can emphasize what we want our community to look like. A Trustee who is keen to work with the community, applicants, staff, and other levels of governance collaboratively could do a lot.
Salt Spring Island is not the only community with a tourist economy that values the environment, struggles with workforce housing, an affordability crisis, has a lack of water, and limited room to build. Jasper, Banff, Whistler, Ucluelet, and Tonfino, to name just a few, share some or all of our struggles. What makes Salt Spring unique is our lack of action. Regardless of where you stand on what counts as a "unique amenity" and what doesn't, I think we can all agree that inaction on workforce housing, both rental and ownership, should not be one of the "unique amenities" the Islands Trust preserves and protects.
It's time for change, not more of the same governance we already have, and change starts with Eric G March becoming one of your next two Island Trustees. I'm not a politician. I'm a guy who puts his Carhartts on and gets to work. If I'm elected I'll get to work for you, bringing governance that works, homes for islanders, protection of the environment and our rural community, and a care for agriculture.
So get out and vote for me and one other person for Salt Spring Island Trustee. October 14th from 8am-8pm at the Legion or the Library and October 17th from 8am-8pm at the Legion, the Library, or Fulford Hall.