Official Community Plan and Bylaws
Sometime education and awareness only takes you so far. Actual practices may steer around regulations with a wink of the eye, reflecting the “alternative” culture of the island. Most bylaws rely on a complaint-driven system, but many people are reluctant to put in complaints for fear of disagreeable relationships with neighbours. Some inspection does take place – electrical – on new homes, but beyond that, very little.
Land-use zoning reflects decisions both from the past – prior to the creation of the Islands Trust – and also from ongoing updates to reflect current desires and concerns of the population.
Given the desirability of Hornby Island, both as a summer destination for both part-time owners as well as visitors generally, there is a high level of occupancy when water is in shortest supply.
Given the central role of the OCP (Official Community Plan), there are ongoing reasons to review it and strengthen implementation of its objectives based on changing population trends, ecosystem based conservation plans, and effects of climate change.
Islands Trust maintain a website that includes these Hornby documents.
Islands Trust
Islands Trust’s mandate is to preserve and protect the unique amenities and environment of the Islands Trust Area. Among these unique amenities is freshwater, which is inherently vulnerable on the islands. As development pressures continue, population grows, and the impacts of a changing climate intensify, freshwater vulnerabilities for communities, economies, Indigenous heritage, and ecological systems increase.
Government of British Columbia
The provincial government plays a major role in water management, including:
Government of Canada
Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality are established by Health Canada in collaboration with the provinces, territories and other federal departments.