Mackenzie and Prince George mayors are calling for consistent cell coverage and communications throughout Northern B.C. as well as including a hospital helipad to remain a priority.
This is after Wednesday’s bus crash that saw 20 passengers being taken to hospital by ground and air.
“It Is not my place to comment on specifics of the injuries or the details of the accident, but I want to commend the actions of the first responders including all the paramedics and RCMP.” said Prince George Mayor Garth Frizzell.
“The fast-thinking decisions and work by the team of Mackenzie healthcare first responders and those in Prince George made a difference. Our thoughts are with those injured and we wish all those impacted well in their recovery. Northern communities always look out for one another, and people always rally together in a time of need.”
The City said this serves as a timely reminder on the need for consistent cell coverage and communications throughout Northern B.C., where universal broadband has not been achieved, while also highlighting the importance for a helipad to be included in the new acute care tower at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia.
“These are things our council and fellow northern and regional municipalities will continue to advocate for,” Mackenzie Mayor Pete Kyllo said. “When lives depend on minutes, transportation shouldn’t take hours.”
The City noted in 2024, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George had a resolution through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) calling on the province to advance the installation of new cellular infrastructure along sections of Highway 16 East from Prince George to the Alberta border, and other British Columbia highways, without adequate cell service, prioritizing the safety, connectivity, and economic well-being of our citizens and travelers.
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