Welcome to the Friends of Island View Beach!
Our goal is to provide a voice for responsible stewardship and sound management of Island View Beach Regional Park, for the benefit of all people of the region. We send out emails from time to time as matters arise effecting Island View Beach. If you would like to be on our email list, please send us a note on the email link above. Click here to email the CRD Board of Directors
Fact check: We do our best to be factual. Please advise us if you see anything that is not factual so we may investigate and make whatever corrections are needed.
Fact check: We do our best to be factual. Please advise us if you see anything that is not factual so we may investigate and make whatever corrections are needed.
December 15, 2016 FOIVB update on the planning process see here
December 14, 2016 - the full CRD board rejects the proposed plan and sends it back to Committee. See video This will put the planning process into its 7th year
December 13, 2016
Letter from a member of FOIVB to the CRD Board about substantive problems with the CRD public consultation process and the proposed plan
See here
December 12, 2016
Friends of Island View Beach letter to the CRD Board about the proposed plan for Island View Beach
See here
PETITION NOW AT 5,300! - see below
*** New CRD draft plan November 16, 2016 ***
The CRD has released what they call their final plan for Island View Beach - see here
The CRD intend presenting this to the CRD Regional Parks Committee for approval on November 16, 2016
See our review of the plan here
Please Email the CRD Board with your comments Click here
And click here to sign the online petition to leave the park alone - now at 5,400 signatures!
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December 14, 2016 - the full CRD board rejects the proposed plan and sends it back to Committee. See video This will put the planning process into its 7th year
December 13, 2016
Letter from a member of FOIVB to the CRD Board about substantive problems with the CRD public consultation process and the proposed plan
See here
December 12, 2016
Friends of Island View Beach letter to the CRD Board about the proposed plan for Island View Beach
See here
PETITION NOW AT 5,300! - see below
*** New CRD draft plan November 16, 2016 ***
The CRD has released what they call their final plan for Island View Beach - see here
The CRD intend presenting this to the CRD Regional Parks Committee for approval on November 16, 2016
See our review of the plan here
Please Email the CRD Board with your comments Click here
And click here to sign the online petition to leave the park alone - now at 5,400 signatures!
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"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts."
Abraham Lincoln.
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A PETITION has been set up to tell the CRD
LEAVE THE PARK ALONE!
Please pass the word and encourage people to sign.
(please note: the online petition defaults to United States as the Country. You may need to set it manually to Canada )
See the online petition here
There is a parallel paper petition also - between the two, there are now more than 5,400 signatures!
Watch the videos below of the CRD Regional Parks meeting of February 17, 2016
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A PETITION has been set up to tell the CRD
LEAVE THE PARK ALONE!
Please pass the word and encourage people to sign.
(please note: the online petition defaults to United States as the Country. You may need to set it manually to Canada )
See the online petition here
There is a parallel paper petition also - between the two, there are now more than 5,400 signatures!
Watch the videos below of the CRD Regional Parks meeting of February 17, 2016
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The CRD draft plan February 2016
Why the Friends of Island View Beach oppose this see here
Our Guiding Principles for drafting a new plan see here
Our recommendations for improvement at the park see here
Have you signed the petition to leave the park alone? Look above!
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Why the Friends of Island View Beach oppose this see here
Our Guiding Principles for drafting a new plan see here
Our recommendations for improvement at the park see here
Have you signed the petition to leave the park alone? Look above!
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July 12, 2016 The Friends of Island View Beach letter to the Times Colonist See here
July 8, 2016 The Friends of Island View Beach stakeholder presentation to the CRD See here
May 28, 2016 CRD holding open house starting 12 noon, Saturday, at the Greek Community Hall by the Commonwealth Pool. You stand to lose access to much of the park if you don't come and speak up.
Have you seen our new photos page? Look here
May 21, 2016 The CRD has a park visit today to promote their proposals. See our view of their draft plan here
March 22, 2016 A new facebook site has been set up for dog owners on the Peninsula. See here
February 17, 2016 - the CRD Regional Parks meeting
Regrettably the majority of the Parks Committee voted in favour of forwarding the draft plan out to the public for feedback, instead of sending it back to staff. There were, however, some very well informed comments from two of the CRD Directors:
CRD Parks Chair Mike Hicks - "Island View Beach should be free range." Watch here
Central Saanich Mayor, Ryan Windsor - "this plan is not balanced." Watch here
Presentations by members of the Friends of Island View Beach Watch here
Regrettably the majority of the Parks Committee voted in favour of forwarding the draft plan out to the public for feedback, instead of sending it back to staff. There were, however, some very well informed comments from two of the CRD Directors:
CRD Parks Chair Mike Hicks - "Island View Beach should be free range." Watch here
Central Saanich Mayor, Ryan Windsor - "this plan is not balanced." Watch here
Presentations by members of the Friends of Island View Beach Watch here
The CRD is proposing changes at Island View Beach that will effect everyone - you should become involved
If you are new to this web site, look to the background shown here
That was 2015 - an environmental assessment by the CRD to the public that was supposed to be factual, technical and scientific, yet we feel was incomplete, misleading, exaggerated, and fabricated, and which the CRD and the CRD Board refused to check before taking to the public.
On February 12, 2016 the CRD released a draft plan for the park. See here. Two features dominate this plan but had not been disclosed to the public during the consultation process in 2015:
The CRD proposes, in the name of environmental protection, but without giving proof:
The proposal has failed to make firm commitments to maintain the mosquito control ditches; the mosquito control program, and the sea berm. It speaks of all three but has weasel clauses about monitoring their effect on the environment (the mosquito control ditches have been in place for 80 years!) thereby leaving the door open in the future to walk away from these.
The Friends of Island View Beach support environmental conservation where it is proved necessary. All other areas of the park should be open to the public. Our inquiries show the great majority of the public want the park left alone.
Our "You be the Judge" series
There is so much information, that to put it in one document would overwhelm the reader, so we are putting together a series called "You be the Judge". In this series we will cover one or two topics at a time, and then you decide what is factual and scientific, and what is not.
Only an involved public can bring about change at the CRD.
The Friends of Island View Beach can present the facts as we know them, but it requires public involvement to bring change at the CRD. If you don't like what has been proposed, or if you are unhappy at the conduct of the CRD over the planning process for Island View Beach, then tell the CRD Board what you feel - and keep telling them, again, and again, and again. You can email the CRD here - that will go to every single CRD director, so make your voice heard. And keep emailing until there is change.
Following below in chronoligical order are some of the key events. You will also find detailed information in the other tabs. We hope you will find the site informative! We welcome your comments - you can reach us by clicking on the mail icon at the top right of this page. And also tell us if you would like to be on our email list to hear of developments as they arise.
The Friends of Island View Beach
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If you are new to this web site, look to the background shown here
That was 2015 - an environmental assessment by the CRD to the public that was supposed to be factual, technical and scientific, yet we feel was incomplete, misleading, exaggerated, and fabricated, and which the CRD and the CRD Board refused to check before taking to the public.
On February 12, 2016 the CRD released a draft plan for the park. See here. Two features dominate this plan but had not been disclosed to the public during the consultation process in 2015:
- a claim that 2/3rds of the park is so environmentally sensitive that it must be designated an Environmental Protection Zone and the public excluded; and
- that an area needs to be restored as a coastal sand dune ecosystem - no description is given where this area is; or why it needs to be "restored"; or what that restoration would entail; or what it would cost.
The CRD proposes, in the name of environmental protection, but without giving proof:
- To reduce the area for public recreation down to 1.6% of the park (They claim it is 6.6% but that includes the campground and parking areas where the general public cannot recreate.) See here
- To ban horses and cyclists
- Dogs will all be made to be on leash-on trail throughout the park, except for a fenced area where they can off leash
- To close the trail at the north end of the park
- To close off most of the grasslands
The proposal has failed to make firm commitments to maintain the mosquito control ditches; the mosquito control program, and the sea berm. It speaks of all three but has weasel clauses about monitoring their effect on the environment (the mosquito control ditches have been in place for 80 years!) thereby leaving the door open in the future to walk away from these.
The Friends of Island View Beach support environmental conservation where it is proved necessary. All other areas of the park should be open to the public. Our inquiries show the great majority of the public want the park left alone.
Our "You be the Judge" series
There is so much information, that to put it in one document would overwhelm the reader, so we are putting together a series called "You be the Judge". In this series we will cover one or two topics at a time, and then you decide what is factual and scientific, and what is not.
Only an involved public can bring about change at the CRD.
The Friends of Island View Beach can present the facts as we know them, but it requires public involvement to bring change at the CRD. If you don't like what has been proposed, or if you are unhappy at the conduct of the CRD over the planning process for Island View Beach, then tell the CRD Board what you feel - and keep telling them, again, and again, and again. You can email the CRD here - that will go to every single CRD director, so make your voice heard. And keep emailing until there is change.
Following below in chronoligical order are some of the key events. You will also find detailed information in the other tabs. We hope you will find the site informative! We welcome your comments - you can reach us by clicking on the mail icon at the top right of this page. And also tell us if you would like to be on our email list to hear of developments as they arise.
The Friends of Island View Beach
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February 17, 2016 CRD Parks meeting and CBC Radio
Report on the CRD Regional Parks Committee meeting and the CBC Radio interview with Parks Chair Mike Hicks and FOIVB Board member Bren Axon See here
February 16, 2016 Complaint filed with the Information & Privacy Commissioner
A complaint has been filed by one of our members with the Information & Privacy Commissioner, that the CRD has not released information about the environmental claims it made to the public during 2015 about Island View Beach Regional Park.
Freedom of Information requests were made to the CRD asking them to provide
Note: On February 12, 2016, the CRD came out with a draft plan claiming special environmental conditions exist in over 2/3's of the park. These had not been disclosed during the 2015 public consultations. Based on those undisclosed environmental claims the CRD are now proposing to restrict public access to a large part of the park. Another information request will be made asking for the data used to make these latest environmental claims.
Report on the CRD Regional Parks Committee meeting and the CBC Radio interview with Parks Chair Mike Hicks and FOIVB Board member Bren Axon See here
February 16, 2016 Complaint filed with the Information & Privacy Commissioner
A complaint has been filed by one of our members with the Information & Privacy Commissioner, that the CRD has not released information about the environmental claims it made to the public during 2015 about Island View Beach Regional Park.
Freedom of Information requests were made to the CRD asking them to provide
- the information they used to make the claim that certain species were "confirmed resident" in Island View Beach Regional Park.
- information on where species at risk were located in the park; if they were at risk; what protection they required, etc.
Note: On February 12, 2016, the CRD came out with a draft plan claiming special environmental conditions exist in over 2/3's of the park. These had not been disclosed during the 2015 public consultations. Based on those undisclosed environmental claims the CRD are now proposing to restrict public access to a large part of the park. Another information request will be made asking for the data used to make these latest environmental claims.
February 12 2016
CRD propose big changes at Island View
See the CRD proposal here
We are reviewing this now and will report our findings.
CRD propose big changes at Island View
- public recreation area reduced to 1.6% of the park (0.8 ha)
- major restrictions on dogs
- horses banned
- bikes banned
- camp ground to be reduced
- disavowing responsibility for the boat ramp that the current park bylaw says they are to maintain
- questionable commitment to maintaining the mosquito drainage ditches and the mosquito control program
See the CRD proposal here
We are reviewing this now and will report our findings.
January 19, 2016
We have completed the bulk of our review of the CRD Parks presentations to the public in 2015. See here
We have completed the bulk of our review of the CRD Parks presentations to the public in 2015. See here
January 19, 2016
We have called on the CRD again to make reasonable inquiry into the CRD Parks presentations made to the public during 2015. See here
" .... we say again to the CRD Board, that the public was mislead throughout this whole process during 2015 and also crucial information was withheld. Our review is ongoing, but you can see our analysis of the CRD presentation here: http://www.friendsofislandviewbeach.com/examining-the-crd-2015-environmental-assessment.html
You must make reasonable inquiry before proceeding further. Look to your duty here: http://www.friendsofislandviewbeach.com/bc-court-of-appeal.html
We have heard it said that the process can’t be paused because it has taken so long already. With respect, that is really weak. The CRD Board was told of the problem one year ago, in January 2015, and should have acted then – you cannot point to your failure to act a year ago as reason for not acting now.
We have called on the CRD again to make reasonable inquiry into the CRD Parks presentations made to the public during 2015. See here
" .... we say again to the CRD Board, that the public was mislead throughout this whole process during 2015 and also crucial information was withheld. Our review is ongoing, but you can see our analysis of the CRD presentation here: http://www.friendsofislandviewbeach.com/examining-the-crd-2015-environmental-assessment.html
You must make reasonable inquiry before proceeding further. Look to your duty here: http://www.friendsofislandviewbeach.com/bc-court-of-appeal.html
We have heard it said that the process can’t be paused because it has taken so long already. With respect, that is really weak. The CRD Board was told of the problem one year ago, in January 2015, and should have acted then – you cannot point to your failure to act a year ago as reason for not acting now.
December 7, 2015
We have added a page on the potential for breach of the sea wall during the 2015-16 winter storms See here
We have added a page on the potential for breach of the sea wall during the 2015-16 winter storms See here
We have added a "rising sea level" report to our web site See here
We have added BC Court of Appeal decisions to our web site See here
November 23, 2015
Letter to Central Saanich Council, copied to the CRD Board, giving a history of the mosquito drainage ditches at Island View Beach Regional Park See here
Letter to Central Saanich Council, copied to the CRD Board, giving a history of the mosquito drainage ditches at Island View Beach Regional Park See here
November 20 2015
Letter to CRD Chief Administrative Officer
As thousands of park visitors may be effected, they have the right to know and question the underlying evidence behind claims made by CRD Parks in their environmental assessment. This includes the evidence that has been requested from CRD Parks over the last 9 months and which CRD Parks has refused to provide. http://www.friendsofislandviewbeach.com/letters-to-the-crd-in-2015.html
Although the CRD was not required to hold the public forum scheduled as Step 3, the fact they have chosen to do so means it must be conducted in a manner that is procedurally fair, and the public have a legitimate expectation to see and examine all material before the hearing date.
In order to provide the opportunity for informed, thoughtful, and rational presentations in the Step 3 public forum, it is necessary that interested members of the public have the opportunity to examine in advance, not only of the CRD environmental assessment, but also reports, other documents and evidence that went into creating the CRD environmental assessment in order to determine what reliance can be placed on it.
Anything less than full disclosure of the relevant information restricts the scope of the analysis and the consequent representation a member of the public might otherwise make to that public forum.
The failure to make this requested background material available to the public prior to the public forum amounts to a breach of the duty of procedural fairness. Accordingly we request the public forum be postponed until the background materials have been provided.
If you continue with the public forum, this breach of procedural fairness – the refusal to make available the requested background materials – will taint not only the public forum in Step 3 but anything that flows from it.
Finally, we draw to your attention that the CRD environmental assessment failed to consider the effect of climate change on Island View Beach Regional Park, despite having been advised to do so by the BC Ministry of the Environment in 2009. Another branch of the CRD has now released a sea level rise report that indicates the whole of Island View Beach will be inundated with sea water within 35 years, and therefore the likelihood exists the park will be routinely flooded and the environment damaged years before then if there is no intervention. See http://www.friendsofislandviewbeach.com/sea-level-rise-2050.html This is obviously an essential element that must be addressed in a new park plan, and is another reason to postpone the public forum so this can be incorporated in to a new environmental assessment. See here
Letter to CRD Chief Administrative Officer
As thousands of park visitors may be effected, they have the right to know and question the underlying evidence behind claims made by CRD Parks in their environmental assessment. This includes the evidence that has been requested from CRD Parks over the last 9 months and which CRD Parks has refused to provide. http://www.friendsofislandviewbeach.com/letters-to-the-crd-in-2015.html
Although the CRD was not required to hold the public forum scheduled as Step 3, the fact they have chosen to do so means it must be conducted in a manner that is procedurally fair, and the public have a legitimate expectation to see and examine all material before the hearing date.
In order to provide the opportunity for informed, thoughtful, and rational presentations in the Step 3 public forum, it is necessary that interested members of the public have the opportunity to examine in advance, not only of the CRD environmental assessment, but also reports, other documents and evidence that went into creating the CRD environmental assessment in order to determine what reliance can be placed on it.
Anything less than full disclosure of the relevant information restricts the scope of the analysis and the consequent representation a member of the public might otherwise make to that public forum.
The failure to make this requested background material available to the public prior to the public forum amounts to a breach of the duty of procedural fairness. Accordingly we request the public forum be postponed until the background materials have been provided.
If you continue with the public forum, this breach of procedural fairness – the refusal to make available the requested background materials – will taint not only the public forum in Step 3 but anything that flows from it.
Finally, we draw to your attention that the CRD environmental assessment failed to consider the effect of climate change on Island View Beach Regional Park, despite having been advised to do so by the BC Ministry of the Environment in 2009. Another branch of the CRD has now released a sea level rise report that indicates the whole of Island View Beach will be inundated with sea water within 35 years, and therefore the likelihood exists the park will be routinely flooded and the environment damaged years before then if there is no intervention. See http://www.friendsofislandviewbeach.com/sea-level-rise-2050.html This is obviously an essential element that must be addressed in a new park plan, and is another reason to postpone the public forum so this can be incorporated in to a new environmental assessment. See here
November 16, 2016
Letter to the CRD Board informing them the environmental presentation prepared by the CRD is incomplete, misleading and plain wrong, and that no reasonable person will be able to come to an informed opinion from it. .......
"It is too late now to rectify the process. Even if the CRD produced the missing information, and came up with a climate study this week, there is no way to get that to the public and for them to absorb it before Saturday.
Good governance requires that you postpone the public meeting on Saturday. To proceed would be a train wreck, even by CRD standards.
Restart the environmental process with an independent environmental professional such as Matt Fairbarns; have the environmental research done thoroughly and objectively, and that will lead logically to a new park plan that will be understood and supported by the public. That is your duty to the people of the region."
See the full letter here
We have added an environmental page to our web site. See here
November 2, 2015
Letter to Central Saanich Council in support of the call to fix the public boat ramp at island View Beach.
The public boat ramp at Island View Beach was built in the 1970's by local residents under a Federal Government L.I.P. grant. It was used extensively by the Central Saanich Boat Rescue; by barges to and from James Island; and fishermen and recreational boaters. Over the years the ramp has deteriorated. See that letter here
Letter to Central Saanich Council in support of the call to fix the public boat ramp at island View Beach.
The public boat ramp at Island View Beach was built in the 1970's by local residents under a Federal Government L.I.P. grant. It was used extensively by the Central Saanich Boat Rescue; by barges to and from James Island; and fishermen and recreational boaters. Over the years the ramp has deteriorated. See that letter here
October 26, 2015
Letter to Central Saanich Council asking their help to get environmental data from the CRD.
The CRD have refused to provide references to backup the environmental claims they made about species in island View Beach Regional Park. See that letter here
Letter to Central Saanich Council asking their help to get environmental data from the CRD.
The CRD have refused to provide references to backup the environmental claims they made about species in island View Beach Regional Park. See that letter here
October 19, 2015
The recent report of a "Super" El Nino identifies Island View Beach as being especially vulnerable to erosion and flooding during this coming winter and spring.
The Friends of Island View Beach have written to Central Saanich Council recommending that emergency contingency plans be put in place now to deal with any breach of the sea wall or natural berms. See that letter here
The recent report of a "Super" El Nino identifies Island View Beach as being especially vulnerable to erosion and flooding during this coming winter and spring.
The Friends of Island View Beach have written to Central Saanich Council recommending that emergency contingency plans be put in place now to deal with any breach of the sea wall or natural berms. See that letter here
September 15, 2015
Letter to the CRD Board pointing to the deficiencies in the CRD environmental assessment of January 2015, and recommending the planning process be paused until a study has been done of the impact of rising sea levels on Island View Regional Park
"This process is now in its 5th year and all you have is public input based on an irretrievably flawed environmental assessment. The most glaring deficiency was the failure to include a review of rising sea levels because the bulk of the park is at sea level and is only protected by a low berm. The CRD has already identified Island View Beach as the first to be inundated in rising sea level. See http://www.friendsofislandviewbeach.com/climate-change.html
If the berm is breached then the park is gone, so to proceed without a study of the impact of rising sea levels on the park would be a waste of time and tax payer money.
We recommend you pause the planning process for Island View Beach Regional Park until a study has been made of the potential impact of rising sea level, and then decide how to proceed."
See the full letter to the CRD here
Letter to the CRD Board pointing to the deficiencies in the CRD environmental assessment of January 2015, and recommending the planning process be paused until a study has been done of the impact of rising sea levels on Island View Regional Park
"This process is now in its 5th year and all you have is public input based on an irretrievably flawed environmental assessment. The most glaring deficiency was the failure to include a review of rising sea levels because the bulk of the park is at sea level and is only protected by a low berm. The CRD has already identified Island View Beach as the first to be inundated in rising sea level. See http://www.friendsofislandviewbeach.com/climate-change.html
If the berm is breached then the park is gone, so to proceed without a study of the impact of rising sea levels on the park would be a waste of time and tax payer money.
We recommend you pause the planning process for Island View Beach Regional Park until a study has been made of the potential impact of rising sea level, and then decide how to proceed."
See the full letter to the CRD here
September 14, 2015
CRD refuses to provide data to support claims about species at risk at island View Beach - complaint filed with Information & Privacy Commissioner
This is now the fifth year that the CRD has been working to present a new management plan for Island View Beach Regional Park. Previous efforts were mired in exaggerations and misstatements by the CRD about the natural environment at the park. In May 2014 the CRD approved a new approach intended to regain public confidence, where the first step was to:
Provide factual technical and scientific information about the natural environment found in the park
The CRD published a new environmental report in January this year.
Despite requests by ourselves and Central Saanich Council, the CRD has not provided verification for claims made by them that certain species at risk are confirmed resident in the park. We were told to find this information ourselves, and even told that if we wished to challenge the CRD claims we should hire an expert at our expense.
Eventually one of our members filed a Freedom of Information Request asking for data to verify the CRD claims, and the CRD have attempted to block that by proposing to charge $1,165 for this information that should have been made public in the first place.
This is a matter of public interest - this is a public park, and the claims of species at risk being in that park could effect the park management plan. It is the CRD who has made these claims, and they should provide the verification for them.
A complaint has been filed with the Information and Privacy Commissioner. If you share our belief that this is a matter of the public interest, and that the CRD should provide verification for the claims it has made about the environment, we encourage you to write to the Commissioner and tell her so. Her email address is:
The Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia
4th Floor, 947 Fort Street
Victoria, BC
By email to info@oipc.bc.ca
Complaint against the Capital Regional District
Their FOI # 0580.20/15-042
This FOI complaint deals only with one small issue. For a broader look at the information not made available by the CRD, see the email attached dated July 10, 2015. None of the information requested there has been provided by the CRD.
The purpose of the environmental assessment was to allow the public to come to informed opinions about Island View Beach Regional Park that would evolve into a new park management plan. If the environmental assessment is wrong or incomplete, then everything built on that is flawed. The CRD should step back from the process and verify the environmental assessment before proceeding further.
see Complaint to Information and Privacy Commissioner
see CRD February 18 2015 letter to Central Saanich Council
see July 10 2015 email to CRD asking for data references
see CRD letter of July 31 2015 proposing to charge $1,165 to supply data
CRD refuses to provide data to support claims about species at risk at island View Beach - complaint filed with Information & Privacy Commissioner
This is now the fifth year that the CRD has been working to present a new management plan for Island View Beach Regional Park. Previous efforts were mired in exaggerations and misstatements by the CRD about the natural environment at the park. In May 2014 the CRD approved a new approach intended to regain public confidence, where the first step was to:
Provide factual technical and scientific information about the natural environment found in the park
The CRD published a new environmental report in January this year.
Despite requests by ourselves and Central Saanich Council, the CRD has not provided verification for claims made by them that certain species at risk are confirmed resident in the park. We were told to find this information ourselves, and even told that if we wished to challenge the CRD claims we should hire an expert at our expense.
Eventually one of our members filed a Freedom of Information Request asking for data to verify the CRD claims, and the CRD have attempted to block that by proposing to charge $1,165 for this information that should have been made public in the first place.
This is a matter of public interest - this is a public park, and the claims of species at risk being in that park could effect the park management plan. It is the CRD who has made these claims, and they should provide the verification for them.
A complaint has been filed with the Information and Privacy Commissioner. If you share our belief that this is a matter of the public interest, and that the CRD should provide verification for the claims it has made about the environment, we encourage you to write to the Commissioner and tell her so. Her email address is:
The Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia
4th Floor, 947 Fort Street
Victoria, BC
By email to info@oipc.bc.ca
Complaint against the Capital Regional District
Their FOI # 0580.20/15-042
This FOI complaint deals only with one small issue. For a broader look at the information not made available by the CRD, see the email attached dated July 10, 2015. None of the information requested there has been provided by the CRD.
The purpose of the environmental assessment was to allow the public to come to informed opinions about Island View Beach Regional Park that would evolve into a new park management plan. If the environmental assessment is wrong or incomplete, then everything built on that is flawed. The CRD should step back from the process and verify the environmental assessment before proceeding further.
see Complaint to Information and Privacy Commissioner
see CRD February 18 2015 letter to Central Saanich Council
see July 10 2015 email to CRD asking for data references
see CRD letter of July 31 2015 proposing to charge $1,165 to supply data
July 31, 2015 - BREAKING NEWS
Friends of island View Beach recommendations to the CRD for improvements at Island View Beach Regional Park
The CRD intends creating a new park plan at Island View Beach Regional Park, and the most widespread comment we hear from the public is "Leave the park alone!". The CRD environmental report did not disclose any environmental issues that require additional protection, and we agree with the spirit of leave the park alone, but we do have ideas for improvement that we believe the public will agree with.
A group of 7 of our members pooled their knowledge of the park and peoples wishes, to come up with the recommendations.
We must express our deep disappointment at the environmental presentation made by the CRD at https://www.crd.bc.ca/project/island-view-beach-management-plan. We will address this in detail at another time, but for here we say this: The environment at Island View Beach Regional Park is what it is. It should neither be exaggerated nor understated. The CRD suppressed the only independent study they commissioned on the park, and that came to light just because one of our members had seen the expert working in the park last year and asked the CRD for a copy of that expert's report. That expert questioned the existence of two plants that the CRD claims are species at risk in the park. The expert also showed that a species at risk that really is in the park actually occupies only a fraction of the area that the CRD claimed in its presentation. That expert's report is a perfect example of how a factual technical and scientific report should be written. It identified the existence (or non existence) of a species at risk in the park. It mapped where it is. It commented on the health of the species. And it advised on what, if anything, is needed to protect the species. That report is worth reading and comparing that to the CRD presentation. It can be seen at http://www.friendsofislandviewbeach.com/uploads/2/4/3/5/24351508/island_view_beach_camissonia_and_lathyrus_survey_2014.pdf
The Friends of Island View Beach recommendations to the CRD for improvements at Island View Beach Regional Park can be seen here
Friends of island View Beach recommendations to the CRD for improvements at Island View Beach Regional Park
The CRD intends creating a new park plan at Island View Beach Regional Park, and the most widespread comment we hear from the public is "Leave the park alone!". The CRD environmental report did not disclose any environmental issues that require additional protection, and we agree with the spirit of leave the park alone, but we do have ideas for improvement that we believe the public will agree with.
A group of 7 of our members pooled their knowledge of the park and peoples wishes, to come up with the recommendations.
We must express our deep disappointment at the environmental presentation made by the CRD at https://www.crd.bc.ca/project/island-view-beach-management-plan. We will address this in detail at another time, but for here we say this: The environment at Island View Beach Regional Park is what it is. It should neither be exaggerated nor understated. The CRD suppressed the only independent study they commissioned on the park, and that came to light just because one of our members had seen the expert working in the park last year and asked the CRD for a copy of that expert's report. That expert questioned the existence of two plants that the CRD claims are species at risk in the park. The expert also showed that a species at risk that really is in the park actually occupies only a fraction of the area that the CRD claimed in its presentation. That expert's report is a perfect example of how a factual technical and scientific report should be written. It identified the existence (or non existence) of a species at risk in the park. It mapped where it is. It commented on the health of the species. And it advised on what, if anything, is needed to protect the species. That report is worth reading and comparing that to the CRD presentation. It can be seen at http://www.friendsofislandviewbeach.com/uploads/2/4/3/5/24351508/island_view_beach_camissonia_and_lathyrus_survey_2014.pdf
The Friends of Island View Beach recommendations to the CRD for improvements at Island View Beach Regional Park can be seen here
March 3, 2015
Our email to the CRD Board
........ we say to all of you – are there none among you who will stand up and call for an inquiry into what is going on? The issue is critical – if the CRD cannot be trusted to produce accurate information, then how can the Board make informed decisions, and how can the public assess those decisions? See here
February 24, 2015
Our email to the CRD asking for references
We ask once more - please give us references that can be checked, to support your claim that the Common Nighthawk, the Fleshy Jaumea, the American Glehnia, and the Sand-Verbena moth, are resident now in Island View Beach Regional Park.
See here
January 20, 2015
Private email to CRD Board
Staff had 8 months to make this presentation. There can be no excuse for it not to be
complete and factual.
......
The environmental study will determine public access in Island View Regional Park so it
must be done right. We had foreseen the problems and in 2014 called for an
independent environmental review but that was not done, and now again we have
something unusable.
There is nothing factual to take to the public meengs scheduled for January 29th &
February 5th, so those should be postponed. See here
January 19, 2015
Our email to the CRD Board
Once again an environmental report by the CRD for Island View Beach Regional Park is misleading, and no reasonable person would be able make an informed decision based on it.
The public meetings scheduled for January 29 & February 5th should be postponed because there is no factual information about the park to put before them.
A new model is needed because the process is broken, and public trust has been long lost. See here
Our email to the CRD Board
........ we say to all of you – are there none among you who will stand up and call for an inquiry into what is going on? The issue is critical – if the CRD cannot be trusted to produce accurate information, then how can the Board make informed decisions, and how can the public assess those decisions? See here
February 24, 2015
Our email to the CRD asking for references
We ask once more - please give us references that can be checked, to support your claim that the Common Nighthawk, the Fleshy Jaumea, the American Glehnia, and the Sand-Verbena moth, are resident now in Island View Beach Regional Park.
See here
January 20, 2015
Private email to CRD Board
Staff had 8 months to make this presentation. There can be no excuse for it not to be
complete and factual.
......
The environmental study will determine public access in Island View Regional Park so it
must be done right. We had foreseen the problems and in 2014 called for an
independent environmental review but that was not done, and now again we have
something unusable.
There is nothing factual to take to the public meengs scheduled for January 29th &
February 5th, so those should be postponed. See here
January 19, 2015
Our email to the CRD Board
Once again an environmental report by the CRD for Island View Beach Regional Park is misleading, and no reasonable person would be able make an informed decision based on it.
The public meetings scheduled for January 29 & February 5th should be postponed because there is no factual information about the park to put before them.
A new model is needed because the process is broken, and public trust has been long lost. See here
------------ Shown below are some of the issues encountered with the recent CRD environmental assessment of Island View Beach Regional Park --------------
The Friends of Island VIew Beach position on Island View Beach Regional Park and on the public meeting process See here
In its environmental presentation, the CRD claimed repeatedly there were "33 confirmed species at risk" at Island View Beach. The presentation was written in a way to lead the reader to believe these 33 were in the park, and we challenged that. The CRD now says there are only 9 species at risk in the park, and the other the other 24 are outside the park, many of which are migratory marine birds out at sea that do not set foot on land here.
January 25, 2015 If you feel strongly about Island View Beach then you need to move quickly.
The lurching towards a new park plan is now in its 5th year, and it seems to us that every presentation by the CRD to the public is seriously misleading. The frequency and nature of the misleading claims are becoming increasingly disturbing, raising questions about what the actual goals of the CRD are. And we question why two of the three presentations have been in winter when few park users are around.
Environmental conservation should be a shield for what is vulnerable, but the CRD seem intent on using it as a club to justify restricting public access to areas of the park, regardless of the need.
In January 2013 the CRD held an "information session". It was misleading both in what they said and what they ommited. See: The display boards and our email to the CRD
And in September 2013 there was a draft plan with misrepresentations so bad, the plan had to be abandoned: See here
In May 2014 the CRD committed to presenting to the public an environmental study of Island View Beach Regional Park, that would be factual, technical and scientific. This is critical because it will drive the new park management plan the CRD wants for Island View Beach, although we have not heard a plausible reason why a new plan is needed. Perhaps the existing park bylaw is unpopular at the CRD because it is written in understandable plain language?
In January 2015 the CRD produced an environmental presentation and have scheduled public meetings on January 29th and February 5th. We have told the CRD directors that this CRD environmental presentation is so bad that no reasonable person will be able to make an informed opinion about the environmental state of the park from it. We called on the Directors to postpone the public meetings and have an independent environmental study done, but so far they have refused.
Click here for our assessment of this CRD January 2015 environmental presentation
It is said we get the government we deserve. If we stay silent and allow the CRD to continually make misrepresentations to the public about Island View Beach, then we must also stay silent if we don't like the changes that will come to the park. So speak up!
Click here to email the CRD about this CRD environmental presentation
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IMPORTANT UPDATE January 19 2015
The CRD has published what they call a "Presentation on the Park's Natural Environment" as the first step in another effort to create a new management plan for Island View Beach Regional Park, and they have scheduled public meetings on January 29th and February 5th. We examined the presentation, and to our great disappointment, we found the presentation does not provide information on what species are in the park and what needs protecting. Instead it speaks, misleadingly, about things found at “Island View Beach” not “Island View Beach Regional Park”. “Island View Beach” is a much larger area than the park, and includes habitats and species not present in the park. Also the presentation failed to consider the effect of climate change and rising sea level on the ecosystem of the park. . We have written to the CRD Board, concluding:
The Friends of Island VIew Beach position on Island View Beach Regional Park and on the public meeting process See here
In its environmental presentation, the CRD claimed repeatedly there were "33 confirmed species at risk" at Island View Beach. The presentation was written in a way to lead the reader to believe these 33 were in the park, and we challenged that. The CRD now says there are only 9 species at risk in the park, and the other the other 24 are outside the park, many of which are migratory marine birds out at sea that do not set foot on land here.
January 25, 2015 If you feel strongly about Island View Beach then you need to move quickly.
The lurching towards a new park plan is now in its 5th year, and it seems to us that every presentation by the CRD to the public is seriously misleading. The frequency and nature of the misleading claims are becoming increasingly disturbing, raising questions about what the actual goals of the CRD are. And we question why two of the three presentations have been in winter when few park users are around.
Environmental conservation should be a shield for what is vulnerable, but the CRD seem intent on using it as a club to justify restricting public access to areas of the park, regardless of the need.
In January 2013 the CRD held an "information session". It was misleading both in what they said and what they ommited. See: The display boards and our email to the CRD
And in September 2013 there was a draft plan with misrepresentations so bad, the plan had to be abandoned: See here
In May 2014 the CRD committed to presenting to the public an environmental study of Island View Beach Regional Park, that would be factual, technical and scientific. This is critical because it will drive the new park management plan the CRD wants for Island View Beach, although we have not heard a plausible reason why a new plan is needed. Perhaps the existing park bylaw is unpopular at the CRD because it is written in understandable plain language?
In January 2015 the CRD produced an environmental presentation and have scheduled public meetings on January 29th and February 5th. We have told the CRD directors that this CRD environmental presentation is so bad that no reasonable person will be able to make an informed opinion about the environmental state of the park from it. We called on the Directors to postpone the public meetings and have an independent environmental study done, but so far they have refused.
Click here for our assessment of this CRD January 2015 environmental presentation
It is said we get the government we deserve. If we stay silent and allow the CRD to continually make misrepresentations to the public about Island View Beach, then we must also stay silent if we don't like the changes that will come to the park. So speak up!
Click here to email the CRD about this CRD environmental presentation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT UPDATE January 19 2015
The CRD has published what they call a "Presentation on the Park's Natural Environment" as the first step in another effort to create a new management plan for Island View Beach Regional Park, and they have scheduled public meetings on January 29th and February 5th. We examined the presentation, and to our great disappointment, we found the presentation does not provide information on what species are in the park and what needs protecting. Instead it speaks, misleadingly, about things found at “Island View Beach” not “Island View Beach Regional Park”. “Island View Beach” is a much larger area than the park, and includes habitats and species not present in the park. Also the presentation failed to consider the effect of climate change and rising sea level on the ecosystem of the park. . We have written to the CRD Board, concluding:
"Once again an environmental report by the CRD for Island View Beach Regional Park is misleading, and no reasonable person would be able make an informed decision based on it.
The public meetings scheduled for January 29 & February 5th should be postponed because there is no factual information about the park to put before them.
A new model is needed because the process is broken, and public trust has been long lost.
We believe a Parks sub-committee should be formed of the three Peninsula Mayors to make inquiries, and present recommendations to the Regional Parks Committee on how to move forward."
Click here to see our letter to the CRD Board of Directors of January 19, 2015
IMPORTANT UPDATE May 19 2014
The CRD are considering proposals for public consultation in the development of a new park management plan at Island View Beach.
Do the proposals go far enough to guarantee public participation?
And the "sand dune" restoration, you have to read about!
Click here to see the proposals then give your feed back
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From earlier .....
1) Our key message: Leave the park alone! This is what the public told the CRD on March 16, 2011. For almost 50 years Island View Beach Regional Park has been a major destination for generations of local families who want to enjoy the beach, fly kites, walk their dogs, launch small boats, or hold cook-outs and play with their kids in a safe oceanside environment. We want to keep it that way!
2) Our principal concern Instead of listening to the public, CRD staff have been attempting to force their vision on us based on environmental claims that remain unproved or may be disproven. See claims here and environment here. An independent environmental assessment is needed.
3) Specific issues to be Resolved
4) Immediate Questions:
Why didn't the CRD Board take immediate action when it was told of the problems?
Is it too much to expect that material put out by the CRD will be accurate?
Why can we not have documents written by the CRD in plain language that say what they mean?
How is it that CRD Parks Staff appear to ignore policies of the CRD Board?
The CRD should put its own house in order before going further.
If you value Island View Beach then take some time to browse this site from the site map and get to know what is going on. Email us if you have any questions via the button on the top right side of each page. And when you've got a handle on things then email the CRD and tell them what what you think!
3) Specific issues to be Resolved
- Staff put out a draft plan park last year to replace the current bylaw, but many of the claims they made in it did not check out - look at these here How can so many mistakes be made accidentally?
- The plan was written in a way that appeared designed to lull people into a state of false reassurance. For example, staff didn't disclose they were planning to reduce the area for public recreation from the 17% of the park it is now, down to 3%. Look here
- These are some of the things that have happened over the last few years - and what is still happening - that you should be aware of see here
- And look here at all the times the CRD Board were given notice of the problems and did nothing see here
- Great amounts of tax payer money have been spent on consultants at Island View with nothing to show for it. And staff are now asking for another $35,000 to do the public consultation they should have done 3 years ago.
4) Immediate Questions:
Why didn't the CRD Board take immediate action when it was told of the problems?
Is it too much to expect that material put out by the CRD will be accurate?
Why can we not have documents written by the CRD in plain language that say what they mean?
How is it that CRD Parks Staff appear to ignore policies of the CRD Board?
The CRD should put its own house in order before going further.
- Put an immediate halt to the process at Island View Beach
- Make full inquiry into the information provided in these links about the operations and the role of the Board
- Two years ago local residents offered to put in trails and foot bridges at no cost - why wasn't that followed up?
- A contractor offered to clean the ditches twice a year for 3 years for only $950 a time. Why wasn't that followed up?
- Call in the Auditor General for Local Government to conduct a full value-for-money audit.
- Find out how much has been spent on consultants and other third parties at Island View since 2006. Is it over $200,000?
- Restructure the Board processes to ensure that the information on which it makes its decisions is accurate, complete, timely and balanced.
- Institute a process to ensure the policies established by the Board are implemented by staff
- And when the Island View process starts up again, begin it with an independent environmental assessment that engages the public.
If you value Island View Beach then take some time to browse this site from the site map and get to know what is going on. Email us if you have any questions via the button on the top right side of each page. And when you've got a handle on things then email the CRD and tell them what what you think!
We work hard to ensure accuracy of the material on our web site. If any of the information or their interpretation is known to be incorrect, please contact us by email directly so it may be corrected.