A Dawson Creek city councillor is calling on the provincial government to provide more support for communities that host large industrial projects. Councillor Kyle MacDonald, who is also a local small business owner, says that northern communities often bear the long-term burden of infrastructure wear and service demands long after large temporary workforces have left.
The call for more provincial assistance was shared on March 27, 2026, by Resource Works, a non-profit organization that advocates for the natural resource sector. MacDonald points out that while major developments create significant economic benefits for the province, the local towns that host them are left to deal with strained hospitals and damaged road networks.
Dawson Creek has served as a central hub for major regional developments, including the 670-kilometre Coastal GasLink pipeline. That project, which was completed in 2023 and began commercial operations in 2024, moves natural gas to the LNG Canada export terminal in Kitimat. While the region currently receives over $50 million annually through the Peace River Agreement to help fund infrastructure, local officials are highlighting persistent challenges.
These infrastructure pressures are compounded by other urgent needs in the community, including a ongoing water crisis. Dawson Creek declared a state of local emergency in October 2025 due to low water levels in the Kiskatinaw River. Additionally, the city is managing the construction of a new $590 million hospital to replace the existing facility.
MacDonald, who was elected to the City of Dawson Creek council in 2022, noted that these burdens remain a primary concern for residents and local businesses as the region continues to support provincial industrial activity.
