water flowing through holes in a beaver dam
Politics

Area C Director’s Report: OCP next steps + healthcare advocacy

From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney

A warm hello this frosty January. 

I trust you are rejuvenated after the festive break and energized for a wonderful 2026 (I am). This report brings news about the next steps in our Official Community Plan process (there are upcoming meetings on Quadra & Read Islands) and healthcare advocacy.

Onward with our Official Community Plan process

In late November there were two well-attended OCP Open Houses at the Quadra Community Centre, where folks weighed in on policies both current and ‘for consideration’. The responses have been compiled into a ‘What We Heard’ report (Peruse it here: bit.ly/QI-OCP-WWH). It’s interesting to see which policy objectives were most strongly supported and read the comments which were shared on each of the ten core topics.

Ten core topics will be further explored at a series of meetings in the first half of 2026. These core topics are Settlement, Housing, Agriculture, Coastal Planning, Transportation, Water and Waste, Parks, Local Economy, Healthy Communities, and Environmentally Sensitive Areas. There are two series of meetings scheduled: one at the Quadra Community Centre, the other at the Surge Narrows Bunkhouse. Visit srd.ca/area-c-ocp/ for the complete schedule, under the ‘in progress’ pop-down. Next meeting is February 18th at QCC on ‘Water and Waste’ at 6pm. I’m hoping to see many of you at the OCP meetings. 

Accessing public meetings can be extra challenging for remote-living residents of the Outer Discovery Islands & Mainland Inlets. In recognition of this, SRD Planning staff are creating a Community Consultation Workbook which covers the core OCP topics. If you can’t make the meetings, a workbook can be requested by emailing planning@srd.ca or calling 250-830-6718.

beauty day at Rebecca Spit

Financial planning season

During December and January, Directors are working on budgets for the upcoming year. Budgeting is local (Area C) and regional (SRD), as well as the Regional Hospital District and Comox Strathcona Waste Service (CSWM), which include the Comox Valley and Strathcona RDs. I am very mindful of the current affordability crunch: I’m focused on ensuring taxes are flat and that local government is working efficiently.

So far, the only budget finalized is CSWM’s, which has a zero percent increase in tax requisition for 2026. As the operation of the service slowly expands, the Board is moving to increase tipping fees rather than taxes, moving the service towards a user-pay model for solid waste within the CSWM catchment area.

storm season at Cape Mudge

Advocacy spotlight: Primary care access on Quadra Island

Access to primary healthcare on Quadra Island is a growing concern on Quadra Island since Dr Hughes notified patients that he is closing his full-time practice at the end of March 2026. Quadra residents are fortunate to have the Quadra Island Health Society (QIHS) tackling this issue. QIHS has kept the Quadra Island Medical Clinic running since 2018, supported expanded access to healthcare services on Quadra, and are working diligently to recruit a new primary care practitioner.

I want to assure Islanders that I’m supporting the QIHS as I can, including advocating to the Province through the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health. QIHS has a website to share information about our great community with potential practitioners, it’s quadraislandhealth.ca/recruitment. Sharing this site with friends and contacts is one way you can support the primary care practitioner recruitment process.

QIHS has also built the Quadra Island Health Hub website, packed with loads of helpful links and resources on mental wellness, social & community services, seniors & much more. Find it at quadraislandhealth.ca. QIHS has shared that at this point, closure of the QI Medical Clinic is not a planned option by the Society or the Vancouver Island Health Authority, great news for continued health services on our island.

Recycle Depot

Every time I drive by the new recycle depot on West Road I’m excited to see a little more progress. If you (like me) are excited for an improved recycling experience and curious when we’ll be able to recycle more products without leaving Quadra Island, follow this webpage for updates: cswm.ca/quadradepotconversion.

Connect

Thanks for reading! As always, you’re welcome to connect with me with questions or concerns: email RMawhinney@srd.ca, or call 250.203.2468. Visit RobynMawhinney.ca for links to helpful community resources and ‘back issues’ of Director Reports. Visit srd.ca/government/agendas-minutes to keep up to date on SRD governance happenings.
Until next time,
Respectfully,
Robyn Mawhinney

Links of Interest:

Top image credit: water management by beavers on a woodlot – all photos by Robyn Mawhinney