Janice Morrison

I have been a leader,involved in climate action locally, provincially and nationally. I chaired my unions Climate action working group, sat on the National union’s Advisory Committee on the environment (ACE) as well as the BCFed’s climate change committee. I was one of four regional directors that contributed to and reviewed the initial RDCK Climate action plan that unfortunately received strong push back from many in the RDCK which led to significant revision. I was also on council when we developed Nelson Next.
As Mayor, I advocate and lobby senior levels of government for funding for adaptation as well as mitigation with the goal of carbon resilience. This past August we received 7M for replacement of our force main that takes the sewage to the treatment plant. Just this week we received a grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to continue our work on the urban forest plan. In the past term we have opened the new transit exchange to encourage people to get out of their cars and take public transit. We have won awards for our low carbon homes pilot and leadership in reducing embodies carbon in buildings. We have moved to Step code 4 and EL 4 for our part 9 buildings.
On a personal note we have Fire-smarted our home. We have taken the city’s water pledge.

The Nelson Next Climate action plan is an overarching seven themed aspiration document that was developed with resident and business input. It is a long term guide to future proof the city of Nelson. It has 23 strategies and each of those has multiple tactics that allow us to achieve our goals. I was a sitting councillor when this plan was developed.
In this past year we have imbedded the Nelson Next document as part of the Official Community Plan (OCP). This insures climate will be an important and required consideration in any future development that takes place in the city of Nelson.
Setting specific timelines is a challenge. Much of the work we need to execute is expensive and will be dependent on being able to secure grants form senior levels of government and other strategic partners.

We need to continue to work with our community partners - the RDCK and BC Transit - to develop a regional strategy. I would like to thank councillor Rik Logtenberg for his leadership at the West Kootenay Transit committee table and his advocacy/lobbying of the Provincial government when is comes to local, intercity and interprovincial public transit. We are all lobbying/advocating for more resources. Rural residents do NoT have equitable access to public transit and as such do not have equitable access to many services especially health health. In the past I have spoken at the West Kootenay Boundary Hospital Board regarding intercity transit the board recognizes the need for improvements. As local governments we are constantly lobbying for better intercity transit. I have also met and spoken with the BC Seniors Advocate, Dan Levitt regarding our rural issues and strategies we might consider moving forward
On another note, out first two electric buses should be in service by early 2027.

Well, the first policy that comes to mind is the “right to cool” for renters. As the owner of a home that does not have AC I am well aware of the physical effects of indoor spaces that exceed 26C, for long periods of the day and night.
We need to work with our Emergency Management team and social service agencies locally ( to identify appropriate locations - library/rec centre, hospital, churches) as well as demanding support from senior levels of government for funding to ensure buildings are equipped with appropriate HVAC systems to clean and cool the air.
As a health care advocate we need to properly funded check -in systems to support high risk individuals - seniors, our vunerable unhoused residents, and people with chronic respiratory/health issues.
We need to continue to work on our urban tree canopy and as mentioned elsewhere we have received an FCM grant to continue this important work.
i have continued to advocate for the protection of our watershed. This past UBCM I spoke with the ministries of Health, Forestry and Water.Lands and Resource stewardship regarding the watershed and the effects of long hot dry summers.
We need to look at how the municipality could work with other agencies to improve air quality monitoring within the city and regionally
As for summer camps and other outdoor activities we need to be considering other options. - have a plan B -as I believe physical literacy and phone down time is critcal for youth’s development

Nelson Hydro is constantly looking at affordable opportunities to diversify its generation.
We have examined battery storage in the past but the cost at that time did not make financial sense. I just recently asked our new Hydro manager if this is something we could look at again.
As part of the redesign for the five mile water intake - our main source of water here in the city - it is being contemplate to add some micro generation where slope would naturally create enough water (head) pressure to allow for generation. As technology advances additional oppurtunities will arise.

Green infrastructure is key to the vibrancy and liveability of Nelson!
This is in part why I do not support the increase in density that has been mandated by the provincial government. We have an OCP, we have Nelson Next and council - this and past ones - have always supported gentle density. Yes we have a housing affordability issues but building more on one lot does not necessarily make homes less expensive - it just makers the land more valuable. When lots are fully built out - how do we manage rain and storm water. These systems are expensive to upgrade and make resilent but we are slowly getting this work done. Where do our youth/seniors go to enjoy the outdoors if everything is a built environment. Like I have mentioned else where we have just received an FCM grant to continue our work on our urban canopy. We need to look to other communities that have “valued” their nature assets and develop a made in Nelson natural asset management plan
We can always do with more green, open, accessible and probably most importantly free space for all of Nelson and our visitors to enjoy. We currently exceeded the Provincial recommendation for green space but we can always use more !