Leslie Payne
Council · Nelson
Nelson Uphill 14 yrs
About
My family moved to Nelson in 2012 after falling in love with the natural beauty and small town charm on our annual "Discover BC" vacation. We now live in a multigenerational home with a large garden that brings me joy and abundant healthy food.
Policy commitments
Buildings
We all want healthy, affordable, and comfortable homes. These policies will help to lower energy bills, cut pollution, and improve indoor air quality.
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Incentivize renewable energy, battery storage, and smart-grid technologies in new and existing buildings to improve energy security.
Supportive
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Scale up energy retrofits for existing homes, businesses, and public buildings.
Supportive
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Implement a 'right to cool' bylaw to protect tenants during extreme heat events.
Supportive
Climate Justice
Our community is already experiencing the harmful impacts of climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution, and taxpayers are on the hook to upgrade and repair critical infrastructure.
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Pursue available legal options to recover a fair share of the climate costs facing our community from fossil fuel companies and other big polluters.
Supportive
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Collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation.
Supportive
Ecosystems
The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all rely on healthy ecosystems. Nature can also help protect our community from extreme weather by controlling floods, protecting shorelines, and cooling neighbourhoods. Access to nature improves the health and well-being of residents, and supports biodiversity.
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Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater.
Supportive
Land Use
We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.
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Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience.
Supportive
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Increase food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens.
Supportive
Transport
Connecting neighbourhoods through public transit and active transportation networks will cut pollution, improve public health, and make our communities more affordable (and fun!).
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Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities.
Supportive
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Build bike and roll networks that are safe for everyone.
Supportive
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Expand EV charging infrastructure.
Supportive
Watersheds
Climate change, increasing populations, and overconsumption threaten our water security. Healthy watersheds and forests are critical to support clean drinking water, stormwater management, climate resilience, and biodiversity for future generations.
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Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure.
Supportive
Zero Waste
Zero waste policies reduce pollution, keep waste out of landfills, build resilient local economies, and safeguard public health by shifting society away from a disposable culture toward a sustainable circular economy.
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Implement zero waste bylaws to divert organic waste and recyclables from disposal.
Supportive
✓
Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience.
Supportive
✓ Supportive
~ Neutral
× Opposed
– No response
Climate action
How have you contributed to climate action in your community through advocacy, past work, advisory committees, volunteer work, and/or reducing your personal carbon footprint?
Our family of 6 lives a low carbon lifestyle. We share 3 e-bikes, one electric vehicle, belong to the carshare, walk any trips under ten block and ride transit. We heat and cool our house with a heat pump, have a hot water heat pump and a condensing dryer, and just installed solar panels on the high efficiency laneway home on our property. We grow a lot of our own food and support our local farmers, both from buying direct at the farmer's markets and through retail locations, such as the Kootenay Coop. We recycle, compost our food waste to use as fertilizer for our garden, and do our best to reduce our waste by making conscious buying choices. We no longer have a gas line on our property. We are very conscientious water users. Five rain barrels on our property supply a lot of the water for our garden. If you come to our house in the winter make sure to wear wool socks and a warm sweater.
In the current term of city council, I proposed moving directly to the highest level of the step code for residential buildings. It passed unanimously. I supported the motion to Sue Big Oil. And have been very vocal about promoting conservation of water and energy as well as waste reduction.
As a climate activist for most of my life, I have marched, written letters, organized events, read books, watched documentaries and facilitated and attended climate focused book clubs.
In the current term of city council, I proposed moving directly to the highest level of the step code for residential buildings. It passed unanimously. I supported the motion to Sue Big Oil. And have been very vocal about promoting conservation of water and energy as well as waste reduction.
As a climate activist for most of my life, I have marched, written letters, organized events, read books, watched documentaries and facilitated and attended climate focused book clubs.
Questions for Nelson
In 2020, Nelson Council adopted the Nelson Next Climate Action Plan. How will you set timelines for implementing the plan and ensure they move forward this term?
I understand that Nelson Next is an aspirational plan created in 2020. Six years later, I feel we need to significantly raise our aspirations. Staff presented a report card in June 2026. Please take a look on the City of Nelson website. Let me know what you think. It is very challenging for me to see how we are tracking the progress towards our climate action objectives and target. And we certainly are not raising the level of action to the response required in a state of the emergency. Aspiration 3 describes Nelson as a connected community where all residents are prepared to work collaboratively to prevent or reduce climate change impacts. I believe this is true. We need inspired leadership to meet our goals. But first we need to know where we are on the journey with to meet our 2030 goals. We have a small window of time for focused action. We need a strong council who is committed to make bold steps to update and implement our climate plan. I brought forward a. motion early in the term to have staff bring anti-idling bylaw to council and there was no support from the rest of the councillors. We need at least 4 votes to move any of the tactics onto the staff work plan. This is low hanging fruit.
Our primary role is to ensure quality of life that we have enjoyed for future generations.
Everywhere, everything, all at once. Let's get it done.
Our primary role is to ensure quality of life that we have enjoyed for future generations.
Everywhere, everything, all at once. Let's get it done.
How will you advocate for better public transit (frequency, coverage, fares), both locally and intercity, including working with other levels of government?
Kingston, Ontario, piloted a program called "Get on the Bus" that has the transit commission go to schools every fall to offer training on how use the bus system. McDonalds knows that they need to market to youth very early to be come dedicated customers. We need to do the same with transit. Currently, youth under 12 ride free in Nelson. I think that should be extended to the end of high school. We could do a similar program for seniors who are ready to stop driving - better orientation, more seating and shelter at bus stops.
As electric transit buses arrive in Nelson, hopefully, riding the bus will be cool and youth will bring their parents and grandparents along for the experience.
The provincial model for transit is not appropriate for rural communities and we will continue to advocate for an increased portion of the Ministry of Transportation and Transit budget to increase frequency and coverage. A daily bus to and from Salmo and Sunday service on all routes would be a good start.
There was a lot of discussion at the UBCM conference this year on inter city transportation. Many, many communities are experiencing the challenges from the lack of affordable, reliable service for non-drivers.
As electric transit buses arrive in Nelson, hopefully, riding the bus will be cool and youth will bring their parents and grandparents along for the experience.
The provincial model for transit is not appropriate for rural communities and we will continue to advocate for an increased portion of the Ministry of Transportation and Transit budget to increase frequency and coverage. A daily bus to and from Salmo and Sunday service on all routes would be a good start.
There was a lot of discussion at the UBCM conference this year on inter city transportation. Many, many communities are experiencing the challenges from the lack of affordable, reliable service for non-drivers.
What policies will you implement to reduce the health risks of dangerous outdoor and indoor summer heat and poor air quality, particularly for renters, low-income households, and children attending outdoor summer day camps?
Currently, the city of Nelson is creating an inventory of city properties suitable to shelter in place. What we need next is a strategy to transport vulnerable people to those facilities.
Fortis BC offers free energy saving kits, hone energy evaluations and equipment upgrades to lower income households. The income for a single person is $51,100 and it increases to $94,000 for a family of four. Since we purchase electricity from Fortis, Nelson Hydro customers qualify for this program.
Under the 2024 BC Building Code, all new residential buildings must have a room capable of maintaining an indoor temperature of 26 degrees or less. Municipalities can enforce an overnight temperature of 26 degrees locally for rental properties, e.g. New Westminster. Nelson should move forward with this legislation.
Nelson Committee on Homelessness is working with BC Housing to on solutions for unhoused persons when the smoke levels reach a certain threshold. Unlike the temperature limits, smoke is a 24 hour condition when the wind blows our way. The library does an amazing job of providing shelter during the day. Can public buildings be utilized overnight to shelter the unhoused?
Fortis BC offers free energy saving kits, hone energy evaluations and equipment upgrades to lower income households. The income for a single person is $51,100 and it increases to $94,000 for a family of four. Since we purchase electricity from Fortis, Nelson Hydro customers qualify for this program.
Under the 2024 BC Building Code, all new residential buildings must have a room capable of maintaining an indoor temperature of 26 degrees or less. Municipalities can enforce an overnight temperature of 26 degrees locally for rental properties, e.g. New Westminster. Nelson should move forward with this legislation.
Nelson Committee on Homelessness is working with BC Housing to on solutions for unhoused persons when the smoke levels reach a certain threshold. Unlike the temperature limits, smoke is a 24 hour condition when the wind blows our way. The library does an amazing job of providing shelter during the day. Can public buildings be utilized overnight to shelter the unhoused?
Some municipality-owned utilities in Canada, like Summerside in PEI, are investing in solar, wind and batteries. As electricity demand increases, how would you support Nelson Hydro diversifying its generation to include other renewable sources?
There are a number of city owned buildings that are well placed for adding solar to their grooves. I have already spoken to a contractor about getting a quote for the Youth Centre and City Hall.
Nelson Hydro has discussed installing inline microturbines in the water supply lines which run on at significant pressure, once it becomes economically feasible. I would support that initiative.
Nelson Hydro can't match the grants that BC Hydro is providing for solar installation but one step that may be able to take it to offer no interest on-bill financing for solar installation.
I am also open to reviewing any new technologies as they become viable.
Nelson Hydro has discussed installing inline microturbines in the water supply lines which run on at significant pressure, once it becomes economically feasible. I would support that initiative.
Nelson Hydro can't match the grants that BC Hydro is providing for solar installation but one step that may be able to take it to offer no interest on-bill financing for solar installation.
I am also open to reviewing any new technologies as they become viable.
Natural spaces improve human health, biodiversity, and mitigating extreme weather like heat and flooding. What can you do to ensure the City prioritizes preserving natural areas, green space, and the lakeshore?
Staff are currently developing an Urban Forest Management Plan. With new developments on the horizon, it is particularly important to preserve and increase the amount and variety of green space that is accessible to all residents for their physical and psychological enjoyment.
I think it's important to consider Nature Based Solutions when maintaining or upgrading current city infrastructure.
The City of Nelson needs to work with a variety of partners in projecting our lake - the RDCK, Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society, the Kootenay Lake Partnership and the indigenous nations who have stewarded these waters for millennia. The provincial and federal government also have a role to play.All hands on deck with a common vision.
I think it's important to consider Nature Based Solutions when maintaining or upgrading current city infrastructure.
The City of Nelson needs to work with a variety of partners in projecting our lake - the RDCK, Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society, the Kootenay Lake Partnership and the indigenous nations who have stewarded these waters for millennia. The provincial and federal government also have a role to play.All hands on deck with a common vision.
If you wish to clarify or add information you may use this space.
At some point in the future, Nelson will need to install water residential water meters. Our population is growing and our supply is dependant on snow pack and precipitation. Drawing water out of the lake is a very expensive proposition as we would need to use energy to pump the water uphill to the water treatment plant. Studies have shown that people reduce their water usage by an average of 30% when meters are installed even if there is no increase in the cost. We need to be monitoring grant opportunities and be ready to implement.
I believe we should have a youth member on council. We are making decisions for future generations. We should have someone representing that future. Fernie has this in place.
I believe we should have a youth member on council. We are making decisions for future generations. We should have someone representing that future. Fernie has this in place.
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