MLA Steve Morissette Newsletter: Trail airport, Record Ridge mine permit and more
By MLA Steve Morissette
Monday, October 20 Statement – I rise today to shine a light on a remarkable organization serving the Cherryville community, the Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society. This small but mighty centre is proof that when people care deeply about one another, they can build something truly special.
Cherryville is a tiny, unincorporated rural community with about a thousand people scattered in the area. But what happens there is a master class in connection, compassion, and community spirit.
From Monday to Thursday, the doors of the resource centre are open, and so are their hearts. Anyone can call or drop in, whether you need help filling out a pension application, applying for Fair PharmaCare, navigating disability supports or even finding out how to access subsidized housing. Someone is there to listen and lend a hand.
It’s a place where practical support meets genuine kindness. There’s a free income tax clinic, food security programs and help with everything from benefits to advanced care planning.
But what makes the Cherryville Resource Centre so special is that it’s not just about services; it’s about belonging. For seniors, that sense of belonging comes through in the seniors services and compassionate communities program. Imagine drive-through meal programs, transportation for appointments, sit-down dinners, recreation and case management all run by people who know your name and care about how you’re doing.
They even offer support for people and families facing end of life, ensuring that no one walks that road alone. For those living with disabilities, Cherryville’s outreach team helps navigate the often complicated process of applying for supports. A registered social worker is there to guide people every step of the way, turning what can feel like an overwhelming process into something achievable and dignified.
Of course, the Cherryville Resource Centre is investing in the future of the community through its youth and family programs. Under the leadership of their dedicated coordinator, Maya Arcand, they’re building opportunities for rural families to thrive, creating programs that support health, confidence and connection. They invite the community to get involved, to volunteer, to donate or collaborate. The result is a web of support that’s as strong as it is caring.
Behind all of this are the people, the staff, the volunteers and neighbours who make Cherryville shine. People like Amanda and Megan, who welcome residents with warmth and help them navigate forms, benefits and systems that can otherwise feel impossible to manage. They are the beating heart of Cherryville’s commitment to taking care of one another.
This is community in action. This is what it looks like when a town takes care of its own, with creativity, compassion and a dash of Cherryville grit.
To everyone at the Cherryville Resource Centre, the Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society and the board of directors, thank you. Thank you for showing us what’s possible when we put people first. Your work reminds us that rural doesn’t mean remote. It means resilient. And Cherryville proves that when we invest in community, we build a stronger, kinder British Columbia for everyone.
Job-protected medical leave lets workers return to work after serious illness
Workers with a serious illness or injury will have improved job protection under a proposed amendment to the Employment Standards Act. This proposed amendment ensures that people with a serious injury or illness have the peace of mind to focus on their recovery, and employers will be better able to retain their skilled talent. This change is about making B.C. a better place to live and work.
Minister’s statement on September Labour Force Survey results
BC and Canada are facing serious challenges in the face of Trump’s attacks on our economy and sovereignty. Despite this, BC leads Canada in private-sector job growth! We will continue pushing BC to be the economic engine of Canada.
Roll up your sleeves, B.C., the 2025-26 vaccination campaign is here
People in B.C. are encouraged to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities from influenza, COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses, as the 2025-26 immunization campaign is underway. Getting a vaccination is one of the simplest and most effective ways we can look out for each other, and it helps to keep our health-care system from being overwhelmed. I want to thank every British Columbian who rolls up their sleeves, as well as the nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals who make vaccinations possible in communities across B.C.
If you are not yet registered with the Get Vaccinated system, or are not sure if you are registered, you can register online here, or by calling 1 833-838-2323.
Last week I visited seniors in Trail and spoke at the AGM for the Society for the Protection and Care of Seniors. A thriving community that was created out of what is now known as The Albo Case. Yesterday my office had a table at Castlegar Seniors Resource and Wellness Expo. This year over 120 seniors walked through the doors! Thank you to Sandi and her Kootenay IRIS team who puts this on annually each October which includes Flu and Covid 19 vaccines.
Yesterday I met with Tamara Roscoe and Shalane Wesnoski at the BC Nurses’ Union Breakfast. Thank you for your continued advocacy for the health and wellbeing of our nurses. Your dedication is commendable. https://www.bcnu.org/.
Thursday was a busy lunch hour. I was able to meet with Sarah Courtemanche, Kootenay Family Place Neighbourhood House Manager and Riston Turner from Stanley Humphries Secondary School. It’s always fun to meet with my local constituents when they come to Victoria.
On Thursday I shared in the house about Don Nutini.
Today, as I am often inclined to do, I rise to celebrate an incredible rural leader, Don Nutini. Recently I had the pleasure of joining the community at the Trail airport, to dedicate their terminal in Don’s honour, now officially the Don Nutini Terminal. It’s a fitting tribute to someone who has been instrumental in developing that airport and the terminal building itself.
Now, I say this with great respect for my colleagues — mayors, councillors, regional directors and MLAs. We come and go. But Don, he is ever-present, doing good work for the community and, at 94 years young, he has no plans to slow down any time soon.
I met Don decades ago. From the first moment, he impressed me as calm, reasonable, funny and, above all, a man of action, not words. He’s the kind of person who doesn’t seek the spotlight but is always there in the background, quietly moving projects and people forward.
Don’s fingerprints are all over the Trail area, from the Colombo Lodge piazza to the heliport at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital to Trail Communities in Bloom and, of course, the Trail airport. Few people have given as much to their community as Don Nutini. At 94, he continues to inspire all of us with his energy, humility and lifelong commitment to service.
Thank you, Don, for everything you’ve done and continue to do. You are a shining example of selfless volunteerism, community spirit and the Italo-Canadian community in Trail. Congratulations, Don. You are truly an inspiration.
Opening of 31 affordable homes in Fruitvale today at Blizzard Mountain! · The incredible collaborative work of many including:
o Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society;
o Village of Fruitvale;
o Columbia Basin Trust;
o North Mountain Construction;
o The federal and provincial governments;
These new rental homes will make a real difference for families, seniors, and individuals living with disabilities. They offer stability and dignity, and they help ensure that people can continue to live and thrive in the community they call home.
Blizzard Mountain Place is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together with a shared vision for inclusive, vibrant communities. Your collaboration and commitment will continue to be essential in this work.
Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing Blizzard Mountain Place to life.
Learn more about Blizzard Mountain and The Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society: Fruitvale Housing — LCAHS
Record Ridge Mine Update
Hello constituents and fellow neighbours of Kootenay-Monashee,
Many of you may be aware of an application for a magnesium mine proposed just outside of Rossland at Record Ridge.
This week I received the difficult news that the Record Ridge mine has received a three-year permit. I know this is deeply disappointing for people in Rossland and the lower Columbia. I’ve heard from so many of you about the serious concerns around this project, particularly the importance of protecting Record Ridge and the surrounding wilderness and community that we all care about.
This isn’t the outcome we wanted. The situation continues to evolve and I want to share some additional information about what happens next.
In British Columbia, any mine producing more than 75,000 tonnes of ore per year must undergo a full Environmental Assessment before receiving approval. Many of us have been concerned that the company deliberately reduced its initial application to stay just below this threshold, allowing it to later expand production gradually and exploit existing laws to avoid triggering a proper environmental review. I have received confirmation that if the proponent wants to expand beyond 75,000 tonnes per year as we anticipate, a full Environmental Assessment will take place. This means that the Environmental Assessment process will NOT be circumvented in this way.
The judicial review launched by the Save Record Ridge Action Committee (SRRAC) is still before the courts. This case is the best way to test the Environmental Assessment Office’s decision not to apply a full Environmental Assessment for the initial permit. I know we all look forward to the outcome of that process.
Some of you have asked about how these permitting decisions happen. They’re made by a non-partisan statutory decision-maker who operates independently of elected officials. This process can be bureaucratic and frustrating, and in my view didn’t adequately consider social impacts in this case. Many strict conditions have been attached to the permit, including:
- Garbage and construction waste stored in airtight containers until removed from the site;
- Professionally designed and managed surface and groundwater water management plans;
- Professionally designed and managed asbestos control plans;
- Specific measures to mitigate dust, including active monitoring of wind speed and direction, and immediate remedial action to be taken if dust is a nuisance;
- Regular monitoring and reporting of geotechnical stability;
- Immediate notification of the Chief Inspector upon discovering conditions that could affect site stability, erosion, or site reclamation.
Approval documentation and a Reasons for Decision document can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/572u6jnc
It is important that community members are vigilant. There is a hotline established to report any violation of those conditions on the part of the company. Please immediately report any concerning activity to the mines inquiries line at 1-833-978-9798 or mines.inquiries@gov.bc.ca, as well as to my constituency office at Steve.Morissette.MLA@leg.bc.ca or (250) 304-2783. I am planning to escalate any evidence of breaches of those conditions to the Ministers and other officials. Please consider sharing this information with your neighbours and asking them to report anything concerning.
There’s no question that this project will present challenges for Rossland and the surrounding area. Our communities have shown our strength and passion, and I know that won’t waver. It’s this sense of community and defense of our way of life that makes the Kootenays such an incredible place to live.
I will do my best to keep you all informed. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office with any questions, concerns, or information.
Sincerely,
Steve
This October marks the 35th anniversary of Foster Family Month in our province. Foster Family Month is a time for us to celebrate the people who provide caring homes to children and youth who need a safe, emotionally supportive place to live until they can safely return home. Foster caregivers open their hearts and homes to children and youth who need stability and care. Their commitment makes a world of difference, and I’m so grateful for everything they do.
Being a caregiver is challenging work, but we hear incredible stories from caregivers across the province about how rewarding it is – the impact can last a lifetime. Fostering a child or youth can be an incredibly rewarding life experience. It is a unique opportunity to have an impact in the life of a child or youth in need of support – an impact that can last a lifetime. Even with the lowest numbers of children in care in decades, the need for caregivers is high.
I urge anyone with an interest in being a caregiver to reach out to the BC Foster Parents Association to learn more about how they might be able to provide a safe and supportive home for a child or young person who needs it.
Know before you go!
Travel safe by researching where you’ll get important updates while on the road.
DriveBC.ca and BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit for road info
EmergencyInfoBC.ca for emergency info
Weather.gc.ca for weather alerts
PreparedBC.ca for preparedness tips
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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