Council met for just over half an hour during our Regular Council meeting on April 1, 2026.
During my Mayor’s Report, I shared the following updates:
- Last week, I toured the historic Tyee and Lenora mine sites on Mount Sicker with Sasquatch Resources. They are proposing an innovative approach to clean up the sites by recovering valuable minerals and removing contaminants like mercury and arsenic. If approved, the cleanup could be completed within one to two years.
- This past weekend, Councillors Bruce Findlay, Tek Manhas, and I attended the BC Wrestling Association Club Championships, hosted by the Cowichan Valley Wrestling Club at Queen Margaret’s School. The event brought together competitors from across BC, with North Cowichan supporting the tournament as a sponsor alongside other local organizations and businesses.
- Councillors Mike Caljouw and Christopher Justice, MLA Debra Toporowski, City of Duncan Council members, and I gathered to celebrate the amalgamation of the Duncan and Chemainus Legion Branches. Both branches have played vital roles in our communities, particularly in raising awareness of veterans’ sacrifices and organizing Remembrance Day ceremonies.
- At the Chemainus & District Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting, Councillor Chris Istace and I had the opportunity to share updates on projects in Chemainus, as well as discuss the broader challenges facing North Cowichan. I look forward to collaborating with the 2026 Board of Directors on these initiatives.
- The Cowichan Valley Regional District is currently considering a new Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw, which has raised concerns about its impact on North Cowichan lands. To clarify, bylaw would apply only to the unincorporated electoral areas, namely the nine Electoral Areas A though I. It would not apply to any lands in the Municipality of North Cowichan. North Cowichan does not have authority over land use planning in the CVRD, and the reverse is also true.
Laura Lenzi Loewen, Chair of the Parents' Advisory Council (PAC) at Crofton Elementary School, presented a petition regarding traffic along York Avenue adjacent to the school and requested Council consider traffic calming measures to address speeding. Last month Council received a letter from the PAC chair, which they actioned with a request for a staff report on options to address traffic safety. The staff report is in the works and will come back to a future Council meeting.
Council has rescinded third reading of a zoning amendment bylaw related to the Oak & Vine Estate located at #2‑6380 Lakes Road, which proposes to allow the hosting of weddings and other events on the site, and a second public hearing has been scheduled for May 20, 2026.
A public hearing for the zoning amendment was previously held on January 21, 2026, after which Council gave third reading to the bylaw, and the following conditions are required prior to adoption of the Zoning Bylaw:
- the business entering into a Good Neighbour Agreement;
- amendments to North Cowichan’s Business Licence Bylaw to authorize the Business Licence Inspector to impose additional conditions on business licences;
- registration of a Section 219 covenant on the property title to ensure that these conditions would apply to any future owner; and
- shoulder widening on Lakes Road to accommodate additional traffic turning into and out of the property.
Following the close of the January public hearing, new information was provided to an individual member of Council, including issues related to the applicant’s ability to consent to the registration of a new charge on title due to the terms of the property’s mortgage financing. Additional matters were also identified and are outlined in the staff report provided to Council.
Because this new information was received by an individual Councillor after the January public hearing had concluded, Council rescinded third reading of the zoning amendment bylaw and determined that a second public hearing is required to ensure the public has an opportunity to comment on the updated information before Council considers the bylaw further.
Next, Council adopted three bylaws that had previously been introduced:
- A zoning amendment bylaw which permits a detached second dwelling on the 23 properties affected by the repeal of the Temporary Mobile Home Bylaw in July 2025.
- An amendment to the Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement bylaw that renews the Nanaimo Bylaw Notice Dispute Adjudication Registration Agreement for a five-year term. This process provides an alternative way to dispute minor bylaw infractions. Through the agreement, North Cowichan, along with other Vancouver Island municipalities, pays a nominal fee to Nanaimo to cover administrative costs plus $25 for each dispute resulting in a hearing.
- An amendment to the Fees and Charges Bylaw to include a $2 fee for each paper utility bill issued by North Cowichan. The fee is to support cost recovery for the process of printing, stuffing, and mailing bills. Residents are encouraged to sign up for e-billing to avoid the fee. Visit northcowichan.ca/e-billing to learn how.
An amendment to the Municipal Fine and Fees Charges Bylaw to include fine and fee updates related to the recently amended Fire Protection Bylaw was introduced and given three readings.
Council authorized a three-year agreement to perform hydro excavating services to SaveOnSeptic Services Inc. The North Cowichan Operations Department requires a hydro excavating truck and driver to assist with the excavation of utilities during repair and installation of underground infrastructure - including storm, sanitary, and water systems - using high-pressure water to cut soil and a powerful vacuum to remove it.
The Climate Action and Energy Plan (CAEP) terms of reference was updated in order to enable climate adaptation expenditures to include wildfire preparedness. Last fall Council established wildfire preparedness as a strategic priority, and as part of the 2026 budget included the hiring of a wildfire specialist and to create a strategic wildfire plan, with funding provided through the CAEP.
Council confirmed in principle support for a renewal of the Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) with the Cowichan Valley Regional District and increase the rate from 2% to 3%, but with several conditions, including improved reporting and performance metrics, and increased funding to the Cowichan and Chemainus visitor centres. The MRDT is a visitor-funded provincial tax applied to short-term accommodation to support tourism marketing, programs and destination development.
Council has approved staff proceeding with the sale of a 1996 Superior E-One aerial fire truck apparatus to the Pacheedaht First Nation Emergency Services for $15,000. The apparatus no longer meets the minimum performance set out by the Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC). First Nations fall under federal authority and are not required to meet UCL requirements for fire apparatus.
Council approved the Election Personnel Remuneration Policy. This policy standardizes the rates of pay for election workers. The next general local election takes place on October 17, 2026, with several opportunities to vote in advance polls or by mail. Visit northcowichan.ca/election to learn more about this year’s election.
The next regular Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 15 at 5pm.
Thank you for reading and staying informed!
Rob Douglas, Mayor
Municipality of North Cowichan
T 250-746-3117
E rob.douglas@northcowichan.ca