Community Articles (listed by posting date)
General News · 8th December 2025
Maureen Bader
Our local government brain trust wants to get more information on incorporation. In other words, it wants to know -- should Cortes Island be governed by our very own municipal government, instead of the Strathcona Regional District Board, our current overlord.
To begin the process, our regional director, Mark Vonesch, wants to petition the provincial government to start the process towards incorporation as a municipality.
It seems that Quadra Island residents have visited and rejected incorporation a number of times over the years due to the cost and loss of rural character, should residents be forced to fund a big-city-style bureaucracy and yet more government-provided services that undermine freedom of choice and civil society.
If we were to incorporate, how much would it cost? For starters, according to the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs website, a village or town must have a mayor and four councilors.
How much would a small island have to pay a mayor and councilors? Well, Bowen island, a 20-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay and home to about 3,700 people, is the only island in BC to have incorporated as a municipality. The salary, benefit and expense cost of its mayor and six councilors was $241,209 in 2023.
But that is pocket change compared to the cost of the bureaucracy. Bureaucrat salary and benefit cost on Bowen Island totaled $4.9 million in 2023, according to its Statement of Financial Information.
What kinds of jobs would Cortes Island ratepayers be forced to fund? Well, a Chief Administrative Officer and a tax collector to start, but it is unlikely to end there. Expect also to pay for bylaw officers, accountants, planners … the list goes on and on. How much do top-level bureaucrats make? Well, the Chief Administrative Officer on Bowen Island made $184,553 (in 2023), at the SRD, $233,570 (in 2024) and for Metro Vancouver, $540,000 (just to show where these things can go – in 2024).
We would also have to pay for roads and policing. We already pay about $400,000 per year for the fire department, including a fire-chief salary of about $90,000 annually.
At the moment, Cortes Island ratepayers pay a total of $1.3 million in property taxes. What would that skyrocket to should we be forced to fund our very own king, councilors and bureaucracy?
But high-priced help isn’t the worst of all this. A municipality has borrowing powers. Bowen Island currently holds short and long term debt of about $12 million and paid about $400,000 in interest in 2023. Right now, Cortes Island ratepayers pay a 3.7 percent share of the SRD debt of $65,000, or about $2,405 annually.
Would we be forced to take on a big debt to fund an oceanfront municipal hall?
Traditionally, the people of Cortes Island have been proud and independent. Let’s keep government as small as possible to lessen the power of those who would be kings.
To begin the process, our regional director, Mark Vonesch, wants to petition the provincial government to start the process towards incorporation as a municipality.
It seems that Quadra Island residents have visited and rejected incorporation a number of times over the years due to the cost and loss of rural character, should residents be forced to fund a big-city-style bureaucracy and yet more government-provided services that undermine freedom of choice and civil society.
If we were to incorporate, how much would it cost? For starters, according to the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs website, a village or town must have a mayor and four councilors.
How much would a small island have to pay a mayor and councilors? Well, Bowen island, a 20-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay and home to about 3,700 people, is the only island in BC to have incorporated as a municipality. The salary, benefit and expense cost of its mayor and six councilors was $241,209 in 2023.
But that is pocket change compared to the cost of the bureaucracy. Bureaucrat salary and benefit cost on Bowen Island totaled $4.9 million in 2023, according to its Statement of Financial Information.
What kinds of jobs would Cortes Island ratepayers be forced to fund? Well, a Chief Administrative Officer and a tax collector to start, but it is unlikely to end there. Expect also to pay for bylaw officers, accountants, planners … the list goes on and on. How much do top-level bureaucrats make? Well, the Chief Administrative Officer on Bowen Island made $184,553 (in 2023), at the SRD, $233,570 (in 2024) and for Metro Vancouver, $540,000 (just to show where these things can go – in 2024).
We would also have to pay for roads and policing. We already pay about $400,000 per year for the fire department, including a fire-chief salary of about $90,000 annually.
At the moment, Cortes Island ratepayers pay a total of $1.3 million in property taxes. What would that skyrocket to should we be forced to fund our very own king, councilors and bureaucracy?
But high-priced help isn’t the worst of all this. A municipality has borrowing powers. Bowen Island currently holds short and long term debt of about $12 million and paid about $400,000 in interest in 2023. Right now, Cortes Island ratepayers pay a 3.7 percent share of the SRD debt of $65,000, or about $2,405 annually.
Would we be forced to take on a big debt to fund an oceanfront municipal hall?
Traditionally, the people of Cortes Island have been proud and independent. Let’s keep government as small as possible to lessen the power of those who would be kings.