In their first meeting of 2026, the Peace River Regional District board set a clear goal: to improve access to health care in the region.
The board said it will support efforts to ease the process for B.C. residents to access cross-border medical services, ahead of the opening of the Maskwa Medical Centre just over the Alberta border in Grande Prairie.
“Take the barriers down between staff interactions, (and) staff transfers, as well as patient transfers. Let’s make it inter-provincial and as pain-free as possible,” said director Dan Rose, who sits as a representative for Electoral Area E.
“Our neighbours in Saddle Hills (County, Alta) have hired their own nurse practitioner who can fill out a prescription, but that prescription cannot be filled in B.C., because our legislation does not allow (out of province) nurse practitioners,” said director Darcy Dober. Dober is the mayor of Dawson Creek – his south Peace city is less than an hour outside of the county.
Board members called for a letter to be sent to Josie Osborne, B.C.’s Minister of Health, requesting “the creation of an agreement to allow access to cross-border medical services” for providers and patients.
“We need to make sure there’s no barricades to this happening, so start that conversation now,” said Rose.
During their first gathering of this year, the board heard a presentation from the chairman of the medical facility, who said he sat down with Northern Health last spring. The health authority continues experiencing staffing shortages and pausing emergency services in hospitals across the Peace. Various emergency departments were on diversion during the holidays.
Board members also directed staff to look into the possibility of contributing the funding of the new clinic – which its director said should open in March of 2027. A discussion on offering cash to the project will occur on a later date, but “sooner than later,” the board decided.
“We have the budget coming up pretty quick,” said Dober. “I know that there was a bunch of stuff getting renewed, so I don’t know exactly where it sits for 2026’s budget, but I’d like to see it. At least as an option in there.”
In their letter to the minister, the board requested a meeting where they may also discuss the emergency room diversions and supports for people who are struggling with mental health or addictions, with an emphasis on protecting youth.
