Andy Morel
Council · Rossland
City of Rossland 28 yrs
About
I have served 12 years as a local politician and am current Mayor of Rossland. I was a previous 2 term Councillor and served on the RDKB as Regional Director. I was a small business owner and previous Green Party candidate - Federal and Provincial.
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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Support electrification of new buildings.
Supportive
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Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems.
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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Protect and restore ecosystems, which are essential to human survival, health, and economic well-being.
Supportive
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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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Build affordable homes near jobs, schools, shops, and transit.
Supportive
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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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Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit.
Supportive
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Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities.
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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Implement water conservation plans and educate the public to conserve drinking water.
Supportive
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Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure.
Supportive
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Develop and implement a water security plan.
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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Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience.
Supportive
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Implement bylaws to eliminate waste from new buildings, renovation, and demolition projects and to use existing buildings as efficiently as possible.
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?
Completed personal home retrofit. Removed natural gas to home. Supported Rossland Retrofit Project. Implemented organics program throughout RDKB including Rossland and East End communities. Build electric vehicle fleet at RDKB, purchased electric Rossland bylaw vehicle, support: electric bike purchase for Staff and Council, active transportation network throughout community and Green Link trail system development to lower Columbia communities. Develop Aqueduct recreational Trail on top of City intake waterline. Improved non- motorized access and accessibility to Red Resort on Centennial Trail. Advocate Provincially for $ for community green initiatives funding. Access $ from Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Funds for numerous efficiency upgrades to City Hall/Rossland Yards Workforce Housing project.
Questions for Rossland
Do you support saving Record Ridge, and if so what will you do a) locally to make sure it doesn’t happen and b) in your work with the Province?
Yes, I support all advocacy efforts to have the proposed mine project go through a full Environmental Assessment and Human Health Assessment prior to further permits being issued. I have attended fund raisers and rallies organized by Save Record Ridge Action Committee. I am advocating thorough scrutiny of the regulatory process to date. Written multiple letters on behalf of the City to numerous related Govt. agencies, and provincial politicians. Met with Ministers in advocacy at UBCM conference for past few years, including very recently. Met recently here in Rossland with Minister of Water, Land and Resource Management. Continuous communication with our MLA, Steve Morissette who is advocating for a stronger, rigorous critique of this mine proposal application process on the City and region's behalf.
What next steps will you prioritize over the next 4 years to move forward on Rossland’s 100% Renewable Kootenay Plan?
If elected, I will support continued advocacy at both the City Council and Regional District Board tables for all green initiatives including: new building construction electrification - no new gas installations, increasing electrification of fleet vehicles, advocating for increased provincial funding for residential and commercial retrofit building program, active transportation corridor - Green Link between Rossland, Warfield, Trail, Montrose and Fruitvale. Advocate for commercial and multi-family residential collection of organics to continue reduction of GHGs through the regional composting program. Advocate for an on-demand local, public transit option to support the reduction of generally empty, large, diesel fueled buses where not required.
What steps would you take to reduce environmental risks, support long-term prosperity and strengthen Rossland’s resilience as a mountain community closely connected to its natural environment?
Firesmart mitigation both on the private forestry property, residences and community interface. Prepare for emergency power or gas outages/ storm events/ heat events etc. Provide a Rossland emergency plan to support residents that may require heat, cooling or clean air refuge during emergencies. Continual support and coordination with Regional Emergency Management program through RDKB. Budgeting for ongoing danger tree evaluation and removal as required. Supporting tree retention bylaw - maintain shade canopy.
How should the City plan for long-term water security, and what investments, policies or changes in water management would you prioritize to ensure Rossland has a reliable and resilient water supply for both current and future residents?
Continual monitoring of surface water supply, protecting watersheds supplying City reservoirs, continuous monitoring of water usage - we were an early adopter of rural residential and commercial through metering - initiate water restrictions as required, maintain bylaw enforcement as required during restriction periods, recommend/support updated water usage analysis relative to increased community growth, current and emergency usage, storage capacity in face of climate change unpredictability.
How would you balance the financial benefits of development with protecting the natural environment and ensuring Rossland remains a strong, connected community for year-round residents?
Evaluate growth and development through an environmental and societal lens. Upcoming OCP, housing and other health determinate reviews are important to both community - residents and businesses/ economy (tourism growth and attraction) to maintain distinctive community appeal. Establish water resource usage and capacity to evaluate development and growth potential. Evaluate development sector plans to estimate growth limits relative to resource availability - water and wastewater capacity as examples. I'm hearing of Overtourism Risk concerns from other tourism economy based communities. Council needs to be vigilant to resident's concerns in this regard. Issues such as traffic safety, bylaw enforcement, traffic congestion, vehicle parking, pedestrian safety, etc. raise concerns that must be noted, anticipated if possible and proactive solutions found.
What role do you believe the municipal government should play in supporting the health of residents?
Mental, physical and social health must be priorities in any community. This has been a priority of Council for the past 3 terms I've served. Supporting a Recreation and Event Manager position along with a programming position, providing recreation amenities and programming options and support for all ages, both indoor and outdoor to encourage active lifestyles for all ages, contributing 5% of gross property tax (Grant in Aid funding) to community groups and non-profit societies to support events, programs and operating costs - ie. museum, library, sports, arts and culture groups, winter and fall community events, etc. Maintain and support our extensive in-town and external trail systems that allow access to nature supporting mental and physical health of all ages of residents. Maintaining a lifestyle attractive and active community to support the many medical professionals who call Rossland home who support a very valuable regional hospital and community clinics that service our residents with regular and emergency medical services. Continue to advocate strongly for a full Environmental and Human Health Assessments of the proposed Record Ridge mine project. Continuing support at the Regional District board and East End Committee tables as many shared services support the overall health of our community(ies).
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