Quesnel’s newly elected mayor, Coralee Oakes, has identified her top priority as advocating for the implementation of two specific programs in northern British Columbia to address gaps in mental health and homelessness services.
Oakes is urging the upcoming provincial government to introduce Access Central to the Northern Health region. This program, which was launched in Greater Vancouver in 2023 and later expanded to other health regions in British Columbia, enables adults to access addiction care through a centralized phone line.
Notably, as of January 2026, Northern Health remains the sole health authority in the province without Access Central services. Oakes emphasized the need for such services in the region, stating, “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, I think it’s something I’d like to call on for all of the north. Let’s work together on that.”
In addition to Access Central, Oakes highlighted the importance of providing northern municipalities with real-time homelessness data, which can be accessed through the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS). This software, developed by the federal government, facilitates the day-to-day operations of homelessness service providers by allowing them to access, collect, and share real-time data to ensure individuals receive timely and appropriate assistance.
Oakes stressed the significance of making this crucial data widely available, citing the success of the City of Victoria in gaining access to their HIFIS information in August. She emphasized the need for all northern municipalities to have access to this vital information.
Regarding political commitments, the B.C. Conservative Party expressed its dedication to collaborating with mayors, such as Coralee Oakes, to find innovative solutions to these challenges. On the other hand, the B.C. NDP affirmed its ongoing collaboration with local governments to address community priorities.
Coralee Oakes secured a decisive victory in the mayoral election in Quesnel, garnering 84.2 percent of the vote and defeating the incumbent, Ron Paull.
