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- calendar_today October 20, 2026
Coralee Oakes Elected as Quesnel Mayor
Coralee Oakes was elected mayor of Quesnel on October 17, 2026, winning a decisive 84.2 per cent of the vote. Her victory marks the start of an agenda focused on improving mental health and homelessness services across northern British Columbia. Oakes emphasized that her first priority as mayor is to advocate for enhanced mental health support and homelessness services, which she says are currently lacking in the region.
Advocating for Addictions Care Through Access Central
A key component of Oakes' strategy involves calling on the next provincial government to expand the Access Central program to the Northern Health region. Access Central is a service that lets adults in need of addictions care connect directly with a nurse or trained clinician for assessment within 24 hours, using a single phone line. The program was launched in Greater Vancouver in 2023 and has since expanded to Fraser Health, Interior Health, and Island Health. However, as of January 2026, Northern Health remains the only health authority in British Columbia without Access Central’s services.
Oakes stated, “One of the gaps that we have in our region is we don't have those services. We also deserve to have those wrap-around supports in the north.” She is encouraging a united effort for the entire northern region to achieve parity with other jurisdictions in the province when it comes to mental health support and addictions care.
Increasing Access to Real-Time Homelessness Data
Another core priority for Oakes is ensuring that northern municipalities have access to real-time homelessness data. This is made possible through the software known as the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS). HIFIS, which was developed by the federal government, supports the operational needs of homelessness service providers. It enables them to access, collect, and share real-time data, allowing for efficient prioritization and referral of individuals to appropriate support services.
Oakes emphasized the need for accurate data to inform long-term planning, saying, “It’s really, really complicated and hard to start doing long-term [plans] if we don’t have the real data.” Although B.C. Housing currently utilizes HIFIS and historically it was accessed mostly by organizations funded by B.C. Housing, there has been recent movement to expand access to community partners in several regions, including the Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment & Training Association. Oakes noted that the City of Victoria received access to its HIFIS data in August and stated that similar access should be granted to northern communities to improve homelessness support.
Provincial and Political Responses
The expansion of provincial programs and community services in northern B.C. has received attention from political parties. The B.C. Conservative Party expressed a commitment to collaborating with mayors like Oakes to find creative solutions to these challenges. Meanwhile, the B.C. NDP government stated it would continue working with local governments to address community priorities, including homelessness services and mental health support.
Looking Ahead: A Focus on Regional Equity
Oakes pointed to the significant economic contributions and ongoing projects in northern B.C., highlighting the importance of ensuring that the region receives equitable access to support services that are already available elsewhere in British Columbia. “With the amount of wealth that’s generated in the north, with the amount of projects that are happening and, really, that reliance on both the people and the resources from the north — it’s time that we start getting some of these services that other jurisdictions in British Columbia have access to,” she stated.
As Oakes begins her term as mayor, bringing expanded mental health and homelessness support to northern B.C. will be at the forefront of her agenda.
About the Reporter
Hanna Petersen is a CBC News reporter based in Prince George, B.C.
Source: cbc.ca.
