Newsletter from MLA Steve Morissette
By MLA Steve Morissette
On Saturday we celebrated the grand opening of our brand-new Lower Columbia Community Health Center in downtown Trail! Photo is with the Lower Columbia Community Health Center Board who was the driving force in making this happen!
The Lower Columbia Community Health Centre will provide high-quality primary health care for people living in and around Trail, building on our work to connect more people with primary-care providers close to home. This centre will help to build more connections for people with family physicians and nurse practitioners in the Kootenay region, increasing access to health services and strengthening our health-care system.
Learn more: New community health centre opens in Trail
More U.S. doctors, nurses, allied health professionals on their way to B.C.
Since May 2025, the number of job applications received from U.S. health-care workers has doubled to more than 1,400 and more than 140 qualified U.S. doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals have accepted job offers. Health-care workers want to be in a system where their skills are valued, science is respected and their focus is on providing care – not fighting with for-profit insurance companies. That’s why we’re seeing incredible momentum with hundreds of American health-care workers on their way to B.C. and some already here. For people in British Columbia, this means shorter wait times, stronger team-based care and better health services in communities across the province.
KB Access is a medical clinic that offers primary care, as needed & by appointment, to patients in the Kootenay Boundary region who don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
Learn more about KB Access Clinic: https://kbaccess.ca
Upcoming clinic dates at COINS in Castlegar:
- Thursday October 2nd
- Tuesday October 21st
It has been a great Union of B.C. Municipalities conference so far, my first as an MLA not a local Government elected official. Great to re-connect with so many friends. It was wonderful to gather and discuss the issues that matter most to the communities we serve. Creating space to share ideas and engage in thoughtful dialogue is essential to building stronger, more connected communities.
Funding boost will help local governments deliver homes quicker
More local governments will receive support to help them break down barriers and create more efficient approvals processes that will help B.C. to deliver more homes quicker. This is about giving communities the capacity to speed up processes to get more homes built for people in their communities. Local governments are essential partners in delivering housing. We are continuing to help them speed up and streamline permitting and development approvals, so more homes get built sooner for people who need them.
B.C. is a great place to live, and we want it to be great for everyone in our communities. Organizations doing work to combat hate and promote inclusivity help us to make B.C. an even better and safer place for all of us to call home, here in our community and across the province.
That’s why I’m so pleased to share that applications are open once again for the B.C. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grants program. These grants give up to $5,000 to organizations to cover costs for projects, events, and initiatives that help address and reduce racism or promote multiculturalism and inclusivity. This could include celebration and holiday events, workshops, film screenings, creation of resources, and more amazing initiatives.
These grants can help get projects off the ground and made a reality for organizations big and small, and these grant projects benefit countless British Columbians every year. As an MLA, this work is connected to my work alongside government to fight hate and promote inclusion, with other work we’ve done like the Anti-Hate Community Support Fund, Anti-Racism Act, and Racist Incident Helpline.
I hope you can help me share the news of these grants with organizations and individuals who may benefit from having grant funding for an amazing project. You can visit this website to learn more and find the application, which closes on October 14, 2025.
Workers, communities affected by tariffs will benefit from expanded supports
People adversely affected by tariffs imposed by the United States will benefit from expanded supports through two new initiatives delivered by the Province in partnership with the Government of Canada. We know that people have been impacted by Trump’s unjust tariffs, so we are taking action to support them. Whether it’s supporting new career training or helping communities adapt to changing economic conditions, these new projects are about putting people first.
Additional support will address gender-based violence in B.C.
As part of the Canada-British Columbia bilateral agreement to end gender-based violence, B.C. will receive $18 million this year from the federal government to support survivors and break the cycle of violence through Safe and Supported: B.C.’s Gender-Based Violence Action Plan. B.C.’s action plan is focused on boosting services and supports for survivors, strengthening government’s response to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and ramping up prevention and awareness campaigns. Initiatives were developed in consultation and co-operation with Indigenous partners, and with advice from community-service providers and advocates.
B.C. launches mandatory early literacy screening to help students succeed
Starting this school year, Kindergarten students in BC will be screened for early signs of reading challenges, so they can get the support they need. This is part of a $30M investment in literacy supports to help every child thrive in school and beyond. A made-in-BC screening tool is also in development, so students from Kindergarten to Grade 3 can benefit from early support, no matter where they live.
B.C. supports literacy for lifelong learning
Children and families throughout B.C. will keep building stronger futures through reading and everyday learning with continued support for literacy programs. Literacy helps people thrive in every part of life and is the foundation of strong communities. From reading a bedtime story to filling out a job application, literacy is a powerful tool that supports children’s development and helps all of us connect to opportunity, community and each other.
Rail Safety Week promotes safety, awareness in B.C.
The BC Coroners Service, together with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit and CN, is encouraging people in B.C. to learn more about rail safety to help save lives and prevent serious injuries during Rail Safety Week 2025. Railways are an integral part of British Columbia’s transportation network that intersect in many of our communities. When approaching a crossing, or walking or biking near a rail line, I urge people to stay alert and obey safety signage, as danger can be just down the track.
More B.C. youth trained for growing biomanufacturing industry
Young people facing barriers to employment throughout British Columbia will have more opportunities to find jobs in the life-sciences industry. We want all youth to have the support they need, especially amid global inflation, increased cost of living and uncertainty from tariffs. We’re funding technical skills training to give more young people the experience they need to join the growing workforce in the biomanufacturing industry.
B.C. economy in strong position to weather global trade uncertainty
B.C.’s economy remains steady despite disruption and uncertainty from the global trade conflict, its First Quarterly Report shows. While B.C.’s diversified economy is better positioned than many to weather these headwinds, there’s no doubt that tariffs are challenging our economy and there is pressure on our fiscal position. We’re being focused with our spending, making smart reductions where we can, being strategic with our investments to drive economic growth and foster innovation to build a stable economic future for B.C., and support the services people count on.
Funding helps prepare farms, animals for extreme weather
Farmers in British Columbia will receive support to better protect their farms and animals from extreme weather through the Beneficial Management Practices program. From wildfires and extreme heat to flooding and cold weather, B.C. farmers and ranchers are constantly working in these challenging conditions. Extreme weather calls for planned and determined preparation, and this program helps producers get ready for unexpected periods of harsh weather so they can continue providing the food that we all rely on.
Wood-product manufacturing gets a boost
Nine more forestry companies are being supported to modernize, innovate, and diversify their product lines and fibre sources to make more high-value, made-in-B.C. products, and help protect and create jobs. These companies are vital to their communities, and this funding is one way we are working with them to help protect jobs, support local economies and build a sustainable forestry sector for generations to come. The list of funding recipients will be updated regularly as new projects are approved. We’re opening new doors for B.C. forestry products and helping communities thrive with stable, well-paying jobs.
Expanded BC Timber Sales mandate builds stronger forestry sector
The province is expanding and strengthening the role of BC Timber Sales (BCTS), to ensure B.C.’s forests continue to support good forestry jobs and healthy resilient forests for future generations. B.C.’s forestry sector is experiencing significant change – a changing climate, a changing market and changing trade relationships. In this uncertain time, we’re giving BCTS the tools to meet this critical moment head on. This is about taking action to support a thriving forest economy and deliver on the public interest for workers, towns, families, and companies throughout the province.
Join us for a powerful day of reflection, learning, and community on Tuesday, September 30 from 11 AM – 2 PM at the Trail Riverfront Centre.
Métis Tipi & Sn̓ʕaýckstx (Sinixt) Canoe
Tea & native plant station with @elkrootconservation
Drum circle & birch bark beading demonstration in the Trail & District Public Library
94 Calls to Action Walk in the Trail Museum & Archives
Truth and Reconciliation game with Trail & District Arts Council
Free film viewing at the Royal Theatre Trail, sponsored by Teck
Community legacy weaving project led by VISAC Art Gallery and local artistsDominique Ring and Joeann Argue
USW Local 480 BBQ fundraiser in support of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
September 30th is Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We wear orange on this day to honour the Indigenous children who were sent to residential schools and to remember the survivors. It’s a day for us all to come together as one to reflect on the impact of these schools.
Please join us for our Orange Shirt Day Walk starting at 10:30 in the Sandman parking lot or meet us at our building, 1801 Connors Rd, Castlegar BC, for 11:00.
Huge thank you to the Sandman Hotel in letting us utilize their parking lot to gather for this walk!
Every Child Matters.
Let us honour the strength, dignity, and advocacy of survivors and intergenerational survivors by learning and talking about the history of residential schools and remembering the children that never came home. Every child matters.
This is about taking time to reflect how we got on this land, the land we live, play, and work on. It’s not just on Orange Shirt Day that we should do this type of work. It’s every day.
Our government is committed to advancing reconciliation and working with First Nations so that life in British Columbia in better for everyone. Our government passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act so that all of our work respects the human rights of Indigenous Peoples, and brings reconciliation work into all that we do.
I encourage everyone in our community to listen to the stories of survivors, find a moment to reflect, and start conversations with your friends and family about what we can all do to advance reconciliation.
Know before you go!
Travel safe by researching where you’ll get important updates while on the road. Visit:
DriveBC.ca and BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit for road info
EmergencyInfoBC.ca for emergency info
Weather.gc.ca for weather alerts
BC Wildfire Service for wildfire updates
PreparedBC.ca for preparedness tips
Learn more travel safety tips: https://blog.gov.bc.ca/emergen…/dont-sweat-the-unexpected/
If you have any questions or concerns about a provincial issue or need assistance with a provincial body, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help. My office can be reached online at Steve.Morissette.MLA@leg.bc.ca or at (250) 304-2783.
Helpful resources:
- Visit the BC Benefits Connector at gov.bc.ca/BCBenefitsConnector to find benefits and savings for things like energy bills, transportation, education and training, and health care.
- Stay up to date with weather conditions and forecasts: Weather.gc.ca
- Find mental health and substance-use supports: Helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca
- The United Way BC 211 Racist Incident Helpline is available by dialing (toll-free) 1 833 457-5463 (1 833 HLP-LINE). Learn more at https://racistincidenthelpline.ca/
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