Construction of Fort St. John long-term care home delayed

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — There is now no targeted year of completion for the Fort St. John long-term care home after the B.C. budget released today. 

Finance minister Brenda Bailey tabled her first budget on February 17th for 2026, including delays to seven projects around the province – one of which is in Fort St. John. 

In June 2025, Bowinn Ma, the provincial minister of infrastructure, had announced plans for a new long-term care home near the Fort St. John Hospital.

However, according to the 2026 budget document outlining the service plan for the Ministry of Infrastructure for 2026/2027 – 2028/2029, the ministry is now yet to determine the targeted year of completion for the long-term care home. 

The facility was to have private single bedrooms and bathrooms, new social and recreational spaces and 84 new beds and a 30-space adult day program. 

The facility was going to be constructed on the site adjacent to the Fort St. John Hospital and linked to the Peace Villa. 

According to the budget, the estimated capital cost for the project was $155 million. The province was to fund $109 million of the capital while the Peace River Regional Hospital District was to fund $46 million. 

Other long-term projects to be delayed in the 2026 budget include in Campbell River and Abbotsford. 

In a briefing note, the government says, the delays are to “incorporate the lessons learned from projects already underway” and reduce costs by preventing the government from competing with itself for resources such as steel.