Both the district of Saanich and the city of Langford have taken the lead in pressuring the B.C. government to enshrine its Coastal Marine Strategy into law, a move that would protect coastal habitats from shoreline development.
Both councils unanimously approved the resolution, which was introduced by Councillors Teal Phelps Bondaroff (Saanich) and Mary Wagner (Langford).
"Coastal communities, like Saanich, understand better than anyone the need for long-term solutions," said Couns. Teale Phelps Bondaroff in a news release on Feb. 3. "By supporting this call to enshrine the Coastal Marine Strategy into law, we are ensuring their voices, livelihoods and environments are protected for future generations."
Marine plastics, derelict vessels, shoreline development, ship traffic and climate change are just a few of the threats that B.C.'s coastal and marine areas must contend with. Local governments are frequently at the forefront of these issues.
Introduced in July 2024, the Coastal Marine Strategy was co-developed over four years by many coastal First Nations and the province through stakeholder and public engagement.
The strategy provides a unifying vision to help municipalities make informed decisions regarding B.C.'s waterways and coastal resources over the next 20 years.
However, environmental groups say the strategy does not outline a specific course of action and is not legally binding.
"Enshrining it into law is the critical next step to ensuring that it can endure the winds of political change and realize its 20-year vision," said attorney and Saanich resident Erin Gray of West Coast Environmental Law.
“Strong laws are critical to long-lasting environmental protection,” she said.
Couns. Wagner added that the province's previous investment would truly pay off if a legislative framework was used to carry out the Coastal Marine Strategy.
With the passage of these resolutions, Saanich and Langford are currently working towards discussing the issue with other local governments across the province. The resolutions will be presented to the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities in April and the Union of BC Municipalities in September.
