Prince George residents talk energy, economy and collaboration ahead of federal election

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Prince George residents want MP candidates to focus on collaboration, energy infrastructure and economic development after the 2025 Canadian federal election.

Enabled by a grant from the Public Policy Forum, the Rideau Hall Foundation and the Michener Awards Foundation, Energeticcity.ca travelled to Prince George as a part of our expanded election coverage of the Prince George – Peace River – Northern Rockies riding to speak with residents about their priorities ahead of final voting day.

Neil Godbout, the executive director for the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the region and candidates.

“[This is] one of the largest ridings in Canada, I mean it is pretty much the entire northeast quarter of the province,” Godbout said.

“The challenge to represent such a geographically large, and population-wise small, riding is difficult.”

Godbout stated he would like to see candidates explore a more collaborative approach rather than “sticking to the ideological side of politics,” whether their party forms government or not.

“A win for the government of the day and a win for the constituents of your riding is a win,” he said.

“I understand that…to be an opposition is to be the critic and to criticize, that needs to happen, but I would ask them, frankly, to walk and chew gum at the same time.

“Yeah, fulfill your role as opposition and as critics, but then also look for those partnerships and those collaborations that will help [the riding].”

Godbout emphasized the importance of energy projects in the region, and said he would like to see more projects that offer sustainable employment.

“Not that the pipelines aren’t major projects, but once they’re built it becomes just an operational thing, it’s far less staffed,” Godbout said.

Cameron Stolz, a local business owner and owner of the Prince George Citizen, also spoke with Energeticcity.ca, and said he would like to see more of an emphasis on natural resource projects in the region.

“Prince George is not to the extent that the Peace River region is, but Prince George is affected by the success of the oil and gas industry,” Stolz said.

“We need to diversify our markets to be able to get oil and gas out, either to the coast or shipped across the country one way or the other,” Stolz said.

“It needs to go somewhere other than south; east or west, but not south.”

He also expressed interest in seeing more of a focus on electricity infrastructure and expanded energy sources.

“When we’re looking at northern B.C., if we want anything to do with additional mining activity, the challenge with that is the amount of electrical demand required for it.

“Even if we want to do additional LNG product projects…or we must be willing to use LNG to generate the power necessary to be able to do liquid natural gas exportation.”

Stolz spoke about wind turbines, solar energy and the B.C. anti-nuclear mandate which could impact the “demand curve problem” with the province’s energy demand.

He also explained that while electric cars and a move to green energy would be beneficial, the province is lacking in essential infrastructure.

“We can‘t proceed with any [alternative sources of energy] without somebody at the federal government level saying ‘yes, that’s what we want to do for a national basis,’” Stolz said.

“The province of B.C. needs to be able to champion that and say ‘we want to be part of that solution,’ we can’t continue to live with our heads buried in the sand.”

With three forums completed across the riding and advance voting complete, the final chance to cast your ballots is April 28th.

To register to vote, prospective voters will need to provide information on their driver’s licence, be a resident of Canada and confirm they will be 18 years of age or older by April 28th. The deadline to register to vote by mail was April 22nd.

On voting day, all voters must identify themselves in one of a variety of ways at the polls.

They can present one piece of government-issued identification with a photograph, name and current address, such as a driver’s licence issued by any Canadian government – be it a provincial, federal or territory government.

If you do not have photo identification, voters can declare their identity and address in writing, and have someone who knows them or who is assigned to their polling station vouch for them.

Check out Energeticcity.ca’s new digital Election Guide, which includes everything voters need to know to make an informed choice ahead of voting day on April 28th.