‘Nobody’s coming to save us’: Fort Nelson tackles healthcare concerns with select committee

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Councillors in Fort Nelson are trying to tackle short-staffed healthcare in the region themselves because they “do not trust Northern Health to get it right.” 

During the January 12th meeting of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) regional council, a select committee was established to stabilize primary care in the region. 

A select committee is a small legislative committee that is created for a specific purpose. Municipal governments are authorized under community charters to appoint a select committee to explore “any matter” and to report its findings and opinion to the governing body which founded it.

According to staff, medical care in Fort Nelson is delivered through a privately-owned medical centre.

“Recently, several factors have emerged that increase uncertainty and risk to the continued provision of primary care services in the community,” the report stated. 

Staff noted primary care capacity is expected to reduce in June or July 2026 due to “anticipated physician departures.” 

Challenges with healthcare professional recruitment is one of the contributing factors staff stated was a “risk to primary care access in the community.” 

In a statement to Energeticcity.ca, Northern Health said it is “working proactively” to plan for the current and future primary care needs of the NRRM.

“A primary care working group for Fort Nelson has been established and Northern Health is working proactively to plan for current and future primary care needs in the community,” the health authority said. 

Northern Health also stated it met with a delegation from the municipality on January 20th to “discuss how to move forward collaboratively to ensure the sustainability” of the community’s primary care. 

During the January 12th council meeting, NRRM staff noted primary care delivery did not fall under the municipality’s responsibilities, but also acknowledged municipalities in rural and remote regions often provide support in a convening and planning role to “support continuity of essential services.” 

Mayor Rob Fraser expressed his support for the committee, noting the community has been struggling with inconsistent healthcare availability for “the past three years.”

“This is not something we are responsible for, but I don’t trust Northern Health to get it right,” Fraser said. 

“I’m saddened that we have to get involved to this degree, but I think it’s beholden on us to do it, because I don’t think Northern Health cares enough about our community.”

Lorraine Gerwing, a councillor and the deputy mayor, echoed Fraser’s sentiment.

“Nobody’s coming to save us, so we have to save ourselves,” Gerwing said.

The council acknowledged the committee would require financial consideration, and some members suggested utilizing health-related budget items which had not been fully utilized in recent years to cover the cost.

“As tight as money is, I think that this would be money well spent, and I feel confident that staff and the committee will keep the expenditures as tight as they possibly can,” Gerwing said.

Following the council’s unanimous vote of approval, staff will begin drafting documentation to guide the committee, with Gerwing appointed as its chair.