Anne Skipsey Questionnaire

Misleading

1. Transparency

   “The tree protection bylaw […] was adopted quickly for the obvious reason of preventing trees being cut in anticipation of new regulations.”

   Misleading It was adopted two days after first reading. But the question was about public debate, and the public engagement Council promised at first reading, on her amendment, still hasn’t happened.

   • At first reading on March 22, 2023, on her amendment, Council directed staff to run a comprehensive public engagement process on the bylaw. It was adopted two days later. By October 2024 the review was scheduled for 2028.
   • It was moved up to 2025, then pushed to 2026 by the Eaglecrest funding plan, which she moved, and to 2027 in December 2025, when she was the only vote against the delay. In September 2026 Council referred possible changes to its 2027 strategic planning.
   • The record doesn’t show her stated reason. The staff memo at first reading put the urgency down to Council’s strategic planning.
   • Skipsey told us her statement “has nothing to do with a further review but was strictly about the bylaw adoption process.”
   • She also told us that at the Farmers’ Market she “spoke with a gentleman who had cut down all of the trees on his property in anticipation of the bylaw.” We can’t check that, and it doesn’t show that this was Council’s reason.
   On this site:

   • Tree Protection Bylaw update

   Sources: Regular Council minutes, Mar 22, 2023 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council agenda, Mar 22, 2023 (Tree Protection Bylaw memo; 365 First Avenue West) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Committee of the Whole agenda, Oct 21, 2024 (scoping of strategic plan initiatives, incl. Tree Protection Bylaw update) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Dec 11, 2024 (2025 strategic planning decisions) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Special Council minutes, Jul 23, 2025 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Special Council minutes, Dec 17, 2025 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Council Corner, Sep 9, 2026 (Town of Qualicum Beach)

2. Public input

   “Of note is the question related to the overall satisfaction with Town communication channels in the 2025 Quality of Life Survey, which resulted in 84% of respondents indicating they were somewhat satisfied or very satisfied.”

   Misleading The 84% is right, and the report calls it satisfaction with communication channels. But the question asked about news on Town events and services, not how letters to Council are handled.

   • The question asked: “How satisfied are you with the information you receive about Town news, events, and services?”
   • The same survey named communication with residents one of the top-priority services to improve. It found barriers to taking part included “perceptions of limited influence on decision-making.”

   Sources: 2025 Quality of Life Survey, final report (Deloitte) (Town of Qualicum Beach)

3. Eaglecrest

   “My preference would be to stay the course and stick to Plan A – financing through the sale of land (purchased for approximately $65,000 an acre).”

   Misleading Corrected $65,000 an acre is the Town’s cost after the $2.125 million donation, as the Town itself says. The price was $85,000 an acre.

   Corrected September 29, 2026. Skipsey told us: “I agree it could be clearer that it was $85,000 an acre less the donation amount leaving the cost to the town of $65,000.”

   • The Town paid $8.5 million for 100 acres. The $2.125 million donation brought the Town’s cost down to about $6.5 million, which the Town’s September 2026 FAQ calls the municipal contribution.
   • The land was appraised at $3.41 million in 2024 for golf use. After the rezoning, the Town says it was appraised at $12.98 million.
   • Skipsey told us Plan A “was not to sell off the parkland but to sell off up to approximately 10-15% of the land acquired to pay for the costs.”
   On this site:

   • Where the purchase money came from
   • The $2.125 million donation
   • What the seller got

   Sources: Eaglecrest Project FAQ, Sep 14, 2026 (Town of Qualicum Beach); FAQ: Eaglecrest Golf Course Lands (October 2025) (Town of Qualicum Beach)

4. Eaglecrest

   “the financial statements of the QBMGC show they are able to meet their financial obligations, operate a highly attractive and desirable amenity as well as put funds away for future capital expenses”

   Misleading The club has saved: $450,000 for irrigation. But in 2025 it asked the Town for $398,000, or a loan, to cover the rest of an $848,000 replacement.

   • She put the club’s request forward for the 2026 budget. The club offered to repay a loan from 2038. Council declined, on her motion at committee.
   • In 2024 the Town committed up to $350,000 as its half of a bridge on the course, which is on Town land, waived $76,000 in rent during the Town’s culvert work, and offered the club a loan of up to $350,000.
   • The Town hasn’t published the club’s financial statements. A resident obtained them through freedom of information. They back up part of what she said. In the year to February 2025 the club took in $1.22 million and had $242,500 left over. Its irrigation fund held $97,391 at that date. The $450,000 the club said it had for irrigation came in its request that fall. We can’t confirm that figure from these statements.
   • Skipsey told us the Town “requested the golf course pay for half of the bridge they never asked for,” built so the course didn’t close during the Town’s culvert work, so the club “felt it was worth asking the Town to contribute half to their upcoming project.”
   • The February 2024 resolution, which she moved, says the club “agrees to pay for 50%” of the bridge, and provides for a loan of up to $350,000 from the Town’s water reserve to pay for the club’s half.
   On this site:

   • The irrigation request
   • What the Memorial course got

   Sources: Committee of the Whole agenda and scoping sheets, Nov 12, 2025 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Committee of the Whole minutes, Nov 12, 2025 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Special Council minutes, Dec 17, 2025 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Jan 17, 2024 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Feb 7, 2024 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Memorial Golf Club audited statements and Town payment schedule (released under FOI-2026-02 to a local resident; published with permission by Town Hall Math) (Town of Qualicum Beach)

Accurate

1. Development

   “The recent approval of a multi-family development along the Island Highway is a good example of how quickly a development can be approved when it meets the intent of the OCP.”

   Accurate The three-storey version was approved about two months after it reached Council in February 2026, and about seven months after it was filed. A taller version was refused in 2024.

   • The development permit application for 3022 Island Highway West reached Council in August 2022. In September 2024 Council refused the height variance for five-storey buildings with 88 units, moved by Mayor Westbroek and seconded by Councillor Skipsey, with only Councillor Harrison opposed.
   • A revised plan for three-storey buildings with 66 apartments, presented as fitting the 2025 Official Community Plan, came to Committee of the Whole in February 2026. Council approved the variance and permit unanimously on April 22, 2026, with Councillors Harrison and Skipsey moving the permit.
   • Skipsey told us: “The development comes with a proposal at 5 storeys and it gets sent back. The developer comes back with 3 storeys and it is approved within 2 months.”
   • The minutes don’t say why the 2024 version was refused. The current Official Community Plan was adopted in December 2025, after that refusal.
   On this site:

   • 3022 Island Highway West

   Sources: Regular Council minutes, Aug 10, 2022 (East Village affordable units; 850 Eaglecrest Drive adopted; St. Andrews Lodge ballot question; emergency declaration) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Sep 11, 2024 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Committee of the Whole minutes, Feb 18, 2026 (3022 Island Highway West) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Mar 4, 2026 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Apr 22, 2026 (Town of Qualicum Beach)

2. Eaglecrest

   “By my calculations, budgeted expenditures not requiring future decision-making total approximately $12.4M ($14.5M less the $2,125,000 donation) including a contingency in the amount of approximately $1M.”

   Accurate Her arithmetic matches the Town’s budget.

   • The Town’s FAQ shows $15,329,800 approved for 2025 and 2026. Take out the $800,000 placeholder for a maintenance building and the $2,125,000 donation, and $12,404,800 is left.
   • The other $5.87 million of the $21.2 million is for 2027 and later, and still needs Council decisions. Separately, $2.86 million of water and storm main work on Eaglecrest Drive was moved out of the project in June 2026.
   On this site:

   • The full Eaglecrest budget
   • The $2.125 million donation

   Sources: Eaglecrest Project FAQ, Sep 14, 2026 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 921.01 (adopted Jul 15, 2026) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Jun 24, 2026 (Town of Qualicum Beach)

3. Transparency

   “A re-imagined Skateboard Park was the topic of the election in 2022, followed by a presentation at the November 30, 2022 Committee of the Whole […]”

   Accurate The committee recommended it for the strategic plan, and the 2023–2027 Financial Plan included a skate park study and renewal.

   Sources: Regular Council agenda, Jan 18, 2023 (skate park recommendation) (Town of Qualicum Beach); 2023–2027 Financial Plan (Town of Qualicum Beach)

4. Transparency

   “The Town had Community Amenity Contribution funds earmarked for “healthcare” and once our due diligence was complete, Council supported making a $400,000 contribution.”

   Accurate Council earmarked part of a developer’s amenity money for health care in 2022. The Mid Island Health Alliance presented to Council on February 11, 2026.

   • $300,000 goes to the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation for equipment at a new clinic at 661 Primrose Street. The other $100,000 is left for a later Council decision.

   Sources: Special Council agenda, Jul 31, 2026 (health care contribution) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Feb 11, 2026 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Qualicum Beach commits $400K to Primrose Medical Centre (Sep 10, 2026) (Parksville Qualicum Beach News)

5. Governance

   “This term, Council directed staff to review all of the committees of council. As a result of the review, Council dissolved those committees that were not functioning effectively enough to warrant continuing. Some boards, committees and commissions are legislated by the Province so the Board of Variance and Accessibility Team must remain.”

   Accurate A 2024 review led Council to dissolve two committees, and a third in 2025. Provincial law requires a board of variance and an accessibility committee.

   Sources: Regular Council agenda, Feb 12, 2025 (summary of 2024 Council resolutions) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Nov 20, 2025 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Local Government Act, s. 536: board of variance required (Province of British Columbia); Accessible British Columbia Act, s. 9: accessibility committee (Province of British Columbia)

6. Governance

   “The Environment & Sustainability Committee functioned well when there was a Climate Action and Emergency Program Coordinator in place and I look forward to this vacant position being filled.”

   Accurate The Town’s 2026 Financial Plan lists the post as vacant.

   Sources: 2026–2030 Financial Plan (adopted Apr 1, 2026) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Emergency Management Oceanside community update (Jun 4, 2026) (City of Parksville)

7. FireSmart

   “Yes, through Provincial funding the Town hired a FireSmart Coordinator.”

   Accurate The Assistant Fire Chief of Prevention is also the FireSmart coordinator. In 2024 the Town applied for $151,493 in provincial funding to help pay for the role in 2025 and 2026.

   Sources: Regular Council agenda, Feb 12, 2025 (summary of 2024 Council resolutions) (Town of Qualicum Beach); 2026–2030 Financial Plan (adopted Apr 1, 2026) (Town of Qualicum Beach)

8. FireSmart

   “The Town is proactively tackling forested areas such as the Heritage Forest, Community Park, and treed areas within our trail systems.”

   Accurate The Town and volunteers cleared fire fuel within about 30 metres of the Palm Drive homes in 2022 and 2023, and trail work was done in 2025. Brush clearing in Community Park is under way but delayed.

   • At the September 9, 2026 Council meeting, Brown Property Preservation Society president Tom Whitfield said volunteers and Parks staff, using BC FireSmart standards, hauled and chipped windthrown branches near all trails in 2022 and 2023. He said “within about 30 metres of the Palm Drive residences” they cut small dead trees and pruned lower branches. A walk with the Fire Chief was set to decide on more chipping in October.
   • In April 2025 Council closed part of the Dollymount Trail for FireSmart work. The Town’s 2026 Financial Plan lists wildfire work along community trails as done in 2025.
   • The Town’s 2024 wildfire plan made Community Park its top area for treatment. Council endorsed the plan’s actions for consideration in the 2026 budget.
   • In May 2026 a councillor noted that brush cleanup in Community Park “remains ongoing.” The Assistant Fire Chief said it had been delayed by bird migration and equipment problems but remained a priority.
   • In June 2024, on her motion, Council asked the Province to take the Heritage Forest out of a provincial fuel-management grant and put in the forest behind the fire hall instead. On September 9, 2026, Council approved a new Heritage Forest Management Plan that includes a prescription for removing “fire ladders” along the forest’s edges.
   • The Eaglecrest funding plan pushed back two Parks studies: the Community Park needs assessment, to 2027, and the Urban Forest Master Plan update, to 2030. Neither is wildfire work, so they don’t settle this claim either way.
   • Skipsey told us: “There is now a 30m FireSmart buffer in the Heritage Forest next to the homes on Palm Drive.”
   • She said the Heritage Forest work is done with Brown Property Preservation Society volunteers as part of their and staff’s work plans, “so you won’t find requests for additional funds to do this work.”
   • She said the trail work “has been done mostly by private tree companies and has focused on the removal of dead or danger trees.”
   On this site:

   • Parks items pushed back
   • Community Park needs assessment
   • Urban Forest Master Plan update

   Sources: Video: Regular Council meeting, Sep 9, 2026 (State of the Heritage Forest, from 24:52) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Apr 16, 2025 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Jun 26, 2024 (Town of Qualicum Beach); 2026–2030 Financial Plan (adopted Apr 1, 2026) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Special Council minutes, Jul 23, 2025 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (Town of Qualicum Beach); Committee of the Whole (Parks and Recreation) minutes, May 27, 2026 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council agenda and staff reports, Sep 9, 2026 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Council Corner, Sep 9, 2026 (Town of Qualicum Beach)

Anne Skipsey’s record in office

• 2021–2026 · Council record

  On Council, 2021–2026

  Moved most of Council’s Eaglecrest decisions; no censure or conflicts.

• 2014–2018 · Council record

  First term, 2014–2018

  Stepped out 15 times for declared conflicts; ran for Mayor in 2018.

Everything on Anne Skipsey

More on Anne Skipsey

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  Anne Skipsey Website

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  • Misleading × 3
  • Corrected × 1