The presiding member will provide the territory acknowledgment and read the following Call to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action report.

Call to Action 22 - Health:


We call upon those who can effect change within the Canadian health-care system to recognize the value of Aboriginal healing practices and use them in the treatment of Aboriginal patients in collaboration with Aboriginal healers and Elders where requested by Aboriginal patients.

THAT the board adjourn to an in-camera session pursuant to the following sub-section of section 90 of the Community Charter:

90(2)(b) The consideration of information received and held in confidence relating to negotiations between the regional district and the provincial government or the federal government or both, or between a provincial government or the federal government or both and a third party;

AND FINALLY THAT the in-camera portion convene immediately following the open portion of the meeting.

Comox Valley Regional District Board minutes dated March 21, 2023 for adoption. [Item] 

Mike Keohane, President, Comox Valley Cycling Coalition, to present an update on activities, projects and high level discussions of active transportation efforts in CVRD, as well as an update on a recent CVRD grant for a mapping project. [Item] 

Report dated April 12, 2023 regarding a proposed approach to respond to the Accessible British Columbia Act by developing an accessibility framework and working with the community’s accessibility committees for receipt. [Item] 

THAT the Comox Valley Regional District Board support the development of a Comox Valley Accessibility Framework in partnership with member municipalities and community partners as described in the staff report dated April 12, 2023.

Report dated April 13, 2023 regarding the Comox Valley Community-Wide Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Inventory findings and next steps for climate action planning and improving emissions reporting for receipt. [Item] 

Daniel Hegg, Stantec, will be in attendance.

THAT Comox Valley Community-Wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory findings, attached as Appendix A and B, as a baseline for tracking regional greenhouse gas emissions and informing community-wide climate mitigation and adaptation actions, be received.

THAT staff be directed to scope a climate action strategy using data from the Community-Wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory to prioritize climate action efforts.

Report dated April 12, 2023 regarding an update on development of an electric bike subsidy and micro mobility pilot program for receipt. [Item] 

THAT the Comox Valley Regional District await the data and outcomes of the provincial electric scooter pilot, the University of British Columbia research on electric bike subsidies and the launch of the provincial electric bike rebates before considering a micro mobility project further.

Report dated April 11, 2023 regarding options for lobbying senior levels of government regarding shipbreaking activities for receipt. [Item] 

THAT the Chair send correspondence based on the staff report dated April 11, 2023 to the federal Ministry of Environment and Climate Change regarding the regulation of shipbreaking in Baynes Sound and correspondence to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy requesting that consideration be taken to enforce the Provincial Environmental Management Act;

AND FURTHER THAT K’ómoks First Nation be copied on the correspondence.

Report dated April 13, 2023 regarding recommendations for allocating the $4.5 million dollar Growing Communities Grant Fund (GCF) for receipt. [Item] 

Report dated March 12, 2023 regarding the rescheduling of a public hearing to meet the legislative requirements of public notice for consideration of proposed zoning bylaw amendments Bylaws No. 740 and 741 for receipt. [Item] 

THAT Bylaw No. 740 being “Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 520, 2019, Amendment No. 11” and Bylaw No. 741 being “Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 520, 2019, Amendment No. 12” be forwarded to a rescheduled public hearing;

AND FURTHER THAT the holding of the public hearing be delegated to the Directors from Electoral Areas A, B and C with Director Hardy designated as the Chair and Directors Grieve and Arbour designated as First Vice-Chair and Second Vice-Chair respectively for the public hearing.

Report dated April 13, 2023 regarding consideration of the Regional District’s financial commitment to the restoration of the Island Rail Corridor and an update on recent developments and announcements for receipt. [Item] 

THAT the Comox Valley Regional District Board maintain the existing commitment to the Island Rail Corridor whereby the $392,000 remain in the unallocated surplus reserve within the Administration and General Government Function pending the conclusion of the current corridor planning process initiated by the Province of BC.

THAT the Comox Valley Regional District Board ratify the Island Rail Corridor Conditional Grant Agreement attached to the report dated April 13, 2023 as Appendix B.

THAT the proposed 2023–2027 operating financial plan for the Hornby Island Comfort Station service, function 688 be approved.

AND THAT a commitment of $20,000 of the defined portion of Electoral Area A (Denman / Hornby Islands) Community Works Funds be included in the 2023–2027 recommended operating financial plan for the Hornby Island Comfort Station service, function 688, to support the Little Tribune Bay comfort station replacement project on Hornby Island;

AND FURTHER THAT the recommended 2023–2027 operating financial plan for the Hornby Island Comfort Station Service, function 688, reflect a reduction in the annual tax requisition from $38,000 to $27,500 in each of the five years of the financial plan.

Electoral Areas Services Committee minutes dated April 3, 2023 for receipt. [Item] 

THAT the Planning and Building Application Fee Rebates Policy P62 be updated to remove the incentive building permit application rebate for Step Code construction as compliance with Step 2 (large buildings) and Step 3 (small buildings) is now required by the province.

NOTE: Consideration of the above resolution is pending support of the Electoral Areas Services Committee at their meeting on April 17, 2023

THAT Bylaw No. 445 being "Black Creek/Oyster Bay Water Local Service Area Bylaw 1993, Amendment No. 15" be adopted. [Item] 

THAT Bylaw No. 747 being "“Comox Valley Regional District Information Access & Protection of Privacy Bylaw No. 747, 2023" be adopted. [Item] 

Correspondence dated March 23, 2023 from Mayor Wells regarding a resolution adopted by Courtenay Council regarding equitable access to mental health and substance use services in the Comox Valley, and request for CVRD Board support in submitting a shared letter, for receipt. [Item] 

THAT the Board support the request by Mayor Wells to submit a regional letter to the Premier, Ministers of Health and Mental Health & Addictions advocating for increased funding to Island Health, local non-profits and private providers for the purpose of filling the gap in mental health and substance use services in the Comox Valley.