Council met for about two-and-three-quarter hours during our Regular Council meeting on June 4, 2025.
My Mayor’s Report included the following:
- Last week, North Cowichan Council joined over 1,500 mayors, councillors, and elected officials at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Ottawa. This gathering provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from Prime Minister Mark Carney and representatives from various parties while exploring key municipal issues such as housing, infrastructure and public safety through workshops and tours. Thanks to our new Member of Parliament for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, Jeff Kibble, for organizing a tour of the House of Commons and hosting a dinner.
- Western Forest Products announced it will pause operations at Chemainus Sawmill on June 18 due to fibre shortages, impacting 55 workers. I have since been in contact with Forests Minister Ravi Parmar to discuss our concerns and how we can work together to ensure our local forest industry remains viable.
- Staff and I met with the Warmland Shelter, Lookout Health & Housing Society, and Island Health regarding the ongoing street disorder on Lewis Street and York Road, which has been impacting local residents and businesses. There was a strong consensus that we need to work collaboratively to address these challenges, and we explored several practical tools that could be implemented moving forward.
Valerie Russell, and Jane Kilthei of the Cowichan Climate Hub provided a presentation regarding keeping the current Zero Carbon Step Code provisions in the Building Bylaw in place. This item was discussed later in the meeting.
Council authorized a development variance permit for 7136 Richards Trail to reduce the minimum lot size on 7136 Richards Trail from 12 hectares to 5.8 hectares to support a lot line adjustment between 7136 and 7088 Richards Trail that allows local organic dairy farm, Promise Valley Farms, to acquire land they are currently leasing for grazing grounds for their herd of dairy cows.
The Reserve Fund Establishment Bylaw was adopted. The bylaw incorporates three changes:
- Consolidate the office vehicle and the machinery and equipment reserves into one reserve fund.
- Remove the COVID-19 safe restart grant fund, as this reserve was depleted in 2022 and is no longer needed.
- Include the building reserves fund, which was established during the 2024 budget process, in the reserve bylaw.
Council approved a development permit with variance at 2557 Alexander Street to facilitate the construction of a 46-unit apartment building and future public roadway at 2557 Alexander Street. The permit also decreases off-street parking requirements, increases the building height to 15.5 metres, and decreases the two-way drive aisle width to 6 metres.
Council approved a one-year licence of use agreement with Cowichan Neighbourhood House for a community garden at 9800 Willow Street. The request initially was to establish a community garden at the former Chemainus elementary school site on Elliott Street, however given the timing and the need to start this as soon as possible as growing season is now here this temporary site was offered. A report will be brought to Council on the suitability of the Elliott Street property, as well as other Chemainus properties, that could support a more permanent location for subsequent years.
A relaxing of the Noise Bylaw was authorized which will allow the Crofton pulp mill to conduct repairs to the waterline servicing the mill from June 11 to June 17, 2025. The work will take place on lands adjacent to 3205 Gibbins Road, 5800 block of Carmel Drive, 7011 Somenos Road, and 7708 Bell McKinnon Road. During this work, the mill will be shut down.
Councillor Bruce Findlay’s motion to amend the Building Bylaw (Zero Carbon Step Code) to remove recent step code changes was moved and discussed. Staff will return to Council on June 18 with a report that outlines the policy implications including the Climate Action and Energy Plan objectives; recent costing studies; as well as information on the energy level that is being achieved in recent building permits issued both prior to and after adoption of EL-4 step code, to assess the local building industry’s readiness with the new standard.
Councillor Tek Manhas’s motion to modify North Cowichan’s appointments to the Cowichan Valley Regional Board was also discussed. Council appointed Councillor Manhas as Municipal Director, replacing Councillor Chris Istace, and appointed Councillor Bruce Findlay as Alternate Director #1, Councillor Chris Istace as Alternate Director #2, and Councillor Becky Hogg as Alternate Director #3.
Councillor Istace provided notice of a motion to explore the feasibility of allowing the Cowichan Trail Stewardship Society to manage an “Adopt-a-Trail” program. The motion will be considered at the June 18 Council meeting:
The next regular council meeting will be on Wednesday, June 18 at 5 pm.
Thank you for reading and staying informed!
Rob Douglas, Mayor
Municipality of North Cowichan
T 250-746-3117
E rob.douglas@northcowichan.ca