B.C. Conservatives call for update on Northern B.C. involuntary care facility

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Conservative Party of British Columbia is calling for the provincial government to address the status of the Prince George Involuntary Care Facility.

According to a May 20th press release by the Conservative Party of British Columbia, MLAs from Prince George are calling on the provincial government to immediately address the status of an involuntary care facility in Prince George. 

In a November 2025 press release, the Ministry of Health said work was “underway” to open mental health facilities in Surrey and Prince George capable of providing both voluntary and involuntary care.

Sheldon Clare, MLA for Prince George-North Cariboo, addressed concerns around the facility in a May 15th letter to Josie Osborne, the Minister of Health, Mental Health, Addictions and Recovery. 

“I am writing regarding the province’s announcement at the 2025 Union of BC Municipalities convention concerning the establishment of a new involuntary care facility in Prince George,” the letter read. “At that time, the Province announced that Prince George and Surrey would host new facilities providing a combined total of 100 involuntary care beds across British Columbia.” 

In the letter, Clare requested confirmation on specifics related to the project, including:

• How many involuntary care beds are planned for the Prince George facility.
• If the Prince George facility will operate as an involuntary care and treatment facility under the Mental Health Act.
• The timeline for:
  • Selection and acquisition of a site
  • Construction/renovation
  • Readiness of staffing and operations 
  • Official opening
  • Intake of patients

• Projected capital and operating costs of the facility. 
• Whether an existing building has been identified by the province for renovation, or if it plans to proceed with new construction.
• If consultation has occurred or is planned with partners, including Northern Health, local governments, Indigenous communities, first responders and community stakeholders. 

MLAs Rosalyn Bird of Prince George-Valemount and Kiel Giddens of Prince George-Mackenzie also weighed in on the subject.

“Business owners, workers, families and community organizations in Prince George are all feeling the effects of the growing addictions and mental crisis,” said Bird. 

“People want compassionate treatment options, but they also want safer streets and stronger support systems. The government needs to stop making announcements and start providing clear timelines and accountability.” 

According to Giddens, involuntary care is needed across the province.

“British Columbia as a whole needs more psychiatric care beds, including involuntary care, and the north is no exception,” Giddens said. 

“Northern communities deserve the same access to treatment infrastructure and mental health resources available elsewhere in the province. The current situation is putting tremendous strain on frontline workers, healthcare providers, local governments and local businesses.” 

In a statement provided to Energeticcity.ca on May 21st, the Ministry of Health said the province met with representatives of the City of Prince George in April 2026 to discuss the creation of the facility. 

It said details regarding the facility will be coming as soon as possible, including the proposed location, timeline and construction. 

According to the Ministry of Health, involuntary care may be necessary when an individual poses a risk to themselves or others.

“Everyone has the right to make decisions about their mental health care, including being able to access a range of voluntary services that can meet their individual needs,” the ministry said. “However, sometimes when a person is experiencing a serious mental health emergency, they pose a risk to themselves or others and can’t make decisions about their own care. It’s in these situations that involuntary care may be necessary, and only if they meet specific criteria.”

In summer 2024, Premier of British Columbia David Eby named Dr. Daniel Vigo as the province’s first chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders, the ministry said.

It also said the province has expanded services, based on Dr. Vigo’s advice, to help people get care that fits their needs when they are unable to find it themselves.

According to the ministry, this care includes opening beds across the province:

• 10 beds at the Surrey Pretial Services Centre
• 18 beds at Spiritwood Homes in Maple Ridge
• New facilities in both Surrey and Prince George are adding around 100 beds, with the capacity to provide involuntary treatment

It said these beds add to more than 2,000 mental health beds currently able to provide care to patients admitted voluntarily or involuntarily 

91 of the over 2,000 beds in the province are located in the Northern Health region, the ministry said.

 Energeticcity.ca reached out to Northern Health for comment, but did not hear back in time for publication.