Province says it’s ‘committed to building long-term care homes’ in response to PRRD letter about Peace Villa expansion

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The B.C. government has confirmed the delay to the Peace Villa expansion project in Fort St. John is due to ‘fiscal pressures’ and unsustainable costs, but says it remains committed to building long-term care homes, according to a letter from the Ministry of Infrastructure. 

The Ministry of Infrastructure sent a letter dated May 29, 2026, in response to the Peace River Regional District’s (PRRD) March 20, 2026, letter regarding the Peace Villa expansion. 

The letter from the ministry was presented to the PRRD board during the June 25 regional board meeting. 

On Feb. 17, Finance Minister Brenda Bailey tabled her first budget, which included delays to seven long-term care home projects across the province, one of which is in Fort St. John. 

In the PRRD letter, Board Chair Brad Sperling urged the province to reconsider and remove the pause on funding for the construction of six long-term care facilities, including the expansion project of the Peace Villa in Fort St. John. 

Bowinn Ma, the minister of infrastructure, in response said: “We recognize how important it is to ensure seniors can access the health care services and supports they need.” 

She highlighted that the province has completed 16 long-term care projects since 2017 and is currently constructing six more. 

Ma said that British Columbia is facing fiscal pressures, which require careful choices. 

For some projects, Ma said, estimates reached over $1.8 million per bed. 

“It is necessary for a different approach to be taken on the delivery of long-term care beds to ensure we can deliver these projects at the scale and volume that they are needed,” she added. 

She said the province remains committed to building long-term care homes in communities like Fort St. John. 

“The Ministry of Infrastructure is currently working to identify strategies that increase cost-efficiency while maintaining a high level of care for seniors,” Ma said. 

“Right now, this means adjusting timelines for the delivery of seven approved long-term care projects—including the Peace Villa expansion project— to allow us to do the work necessary to ensure these beds – and more – can be delivered sustainably.” 

Ma said delaying these projects now will allow the government to deliver more long-term care beds in the future, support seniors and ease the strain on the province’s health care system.