Council met for about two hours during our Regular Council meeting on May 7, 2025.
My Mayor’s Report included the following:
- Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog and I recently wrote a joint letter to the BC Minister of Forests, the Honourable Ravi Parmar, to express our concern with the discrepancy between the annual allowable cut, which is the amount of timber that will be harvested on Crown land this year, and projections contained in the provincial budget materials. This year’s annual allowable cut is already a steep decline from last year, and we are worried the even lower projected rate will negatively impact the operations of the Crofton pulp mill and Western Forest Products facilities in North Cowichan. We subsequently had a productive meeting with the forests minister, who assured us he is working towards meeting the annual allowable cut.
- Earlier this week I had a chance to join North Cowichan’s youth outreach team for their regular programming at Chemainus Secondary School. Our Youth Services team delivers outreach programs throughout the year, focused on youth between 12-18 years of age, in the Chemainus and Crofton areas. Their services include a wide range of activities, from games and crafts to free lunches and snacks.
- Last week North Cowichan celebrated the official opening of the newly reconstructed Crofton Fire Hall. At a cost of $4.8 million, this new space provides a stronger, safer base of operations and supports the evolving needs of our firefighters, from proper gear storage to purpose-built training areas. I thanked everyone involved in this project – including municipal staff, the builders and contractors, and our firefighters who step up every day to serve and protect the community.
- North Cowichan is getting ready to begin automated curbside collection for garbage and organics beginning June 2. More than 20,000 garbage and organics carts are being delivered to residents this month, and by May 23, everyone should have their new carts. Learn more about the service at: www.connectnorthcowichan.ca/autocarts and sign up for collection reminders on our website at: www.northcowichan.ca/curbside
KPMG auditor Daniel Healey provided an overview of the 2024 Financial Statements of the Municipality of North Cowichan and the Joint Utilities Board. The audited statements will be presented in North Cowichan’s 2024 Annual Report, which will be available in June.
Emily Holmes from Harvest House, Kathy Asp, from Neighbourhood House and Veronica Haits and Noria Sanchez from First Food Chemainus, presented a plan to transform a portion of the old Chemainus Elementary School site into a multi-purpose community garden. Council referred the presentation to staff to prepare a report with options for allowing the project to move forward.
Council adopted three zoning amendments:
- To permit a detached accessory dwelling unit at 6495 Wicks Road.
- To permit child care centres in more locations throughout North Cowichan.
- To align zoning for a number of properties with the Official Community Plan land use designations..
The Nuisance Abatement and Cost Recovery Bylaw (and associated fines) was adopted. The bylaw changes add language that enhances the ability to address unsafe conditions and increases fines for some offences. This bylaw is the legal instrument that allows the municipality to impose a “clean up order” on property owners who create or permit a nuisance or unsafe condition.
A zoning amendment to permit a 28-unit affordable housing multi-family development at 2731 Vian Street received first three readings. The proposal is for a five-storey building being developed by the Clements Centre Society, who intend to secure funding through BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund.
First two readings were given to a zoning amendment bylaw that proposes to remove reference to and repeal the Temporary Mobile Home Bylaw. This bylaw will now go to a public hearing at a future date. Temporary mobile home permits are, for the most part, no longer needed as this use is outlined in the updated Zoning Bylaw.
The Chief Election Officer presented the 2025 by-election results report in which Becky Hogg was elected as councillor. The report includes information on election notifications, recruitment and training of election staff, a list of complaints, and offences. It was also noted that many families turned out to vote together, with older generations encouraging and guiding first-time voters. A total of 4,866 voters turned out, which is about 18% of the eligible voters.
Council authorized an application to the Agricultural Land Commission application for removal of aggregate and soil and placement of fill on 3711 Cowichan Lake Road to be forwarded to the Agricultural Land Commission with a recommendation that it be approved and provided additional comments that recommend controls be put in place to ensure that once material extraction has been completed, the land is returned to an improved level of agricultural productivity.
Council received a report on procurement and prioritization of Canadian goods and services in light of the current trade dispute with the U.S. The Procurement Policy will be amended to add new provisions to encourage staff to purchase locally, where possible, and that the Chief Administrative Officer impose a travel ban for employee conferences and training in the U.S. until the trade dispute is resolved.
Council passed a motion from Councillor Bruce Findlay to direct staff to set a strategic planning session in July.
Councillor Christopher Justice provided a notice of motion regarding historic contamination of the Crofton waterfront and recommend initial actions. The motion will be considered at the May 21, 2025 Council meeting.
The next regular council meeting will be on Wednesday, May 21 at 5 pm.
Thank you for reading and staying informed!
Rob Douglas, Mayor
Municipality of North Cowichan
250-746-3117
rob.douglas@northcowichan.ca